Rickey Henderson, the best base stealer in Major League Baseball historical past and one of many recreation’s most enduring gamers, has died, Major League Baseball confirmed Saturday. He was 65.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred known as Henderson the “gold commonplace of base stealing and leadoff hitting” in an announcement Saturday that expressed the league’s condolences.
“Rickey epitomized pace, energy and leisure in setting the tone on the prime of the lineup.” The Athletics, who subsequent season will play in Sacramento after transferring from Oakland, stated Henderson was “undoubtedly probably the most legendary participant in Oakland historical past.”
A star highschool athlete in Oakland, California, Henderson was drafted in 1976 by the A’s and made his MLB debut three years later, at simply 20 years outdated. After 10 All-Star appearances, World Series championships with Oakland and Toronto, and a profession practically past examine, his remaining MLB recreation got here in 2003, at age 44.
“Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount,” his daughters and spouse, Pamela Henderson, stated in a statement posted to X by the Athletics. “Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind.”
Nicknamed the “Man of Steal” and recognized for occasionally referring to himself within the third individual, Henderson ranks first all time in each stolen bases, with 1,406, and runs scored, with 2,295. His reward of pace and anticipation on the bottom paths was instantly obvious when, in his first full season in 1980, Henderson stole 100 bases to interrupt Lou Brock’s MLB single-season file. In 1982, he stole 130 bases, which stays the single-season file of the fashionable period.
“Rickey set an ordinary for energy, pace and dynamic play that may by no means be duplicated,” Tony Clark, the chief director of the MLB Players Association, stated in an announcement. “He revolutionized expectations on the prime of the order.”
Eleven years later, after he broke Brock’s profession file, Henderson stood on the sphere in Oakland and left little question about his place. “Lou Brock was the image of nice base stealing,” Henderson stated, holding a microphone. “But in the present day, I’m the best of all time.”
But Henderson was a feared leadoff hitter not solely due to his pace, but additionally due to his endurance on the plate to get on base. In 2001 whereas enjoying for San Diego — one of many 9 groups he performed for over a 25-year profession — Henderson handed Babe Ruth as MLB’s all-time walks chief. He now sits second, behind Barry Bonds, however Henderson stays the chief in unintentional walks drawn, with 2,129.
After main MLB in runs, stolen bases and on-base share in 1990, and tying his profession excessive with 28 house runs, Henderson was named probably the most priceless participant of the American League.
Upon profitable the dignity, Henderson informed reporters on the time that, in his opinion, he had performed higher in not less than three different seasons.
Henderson was best-known for his 4 stints enjoying with the Athletics, one thing of a hometown workforce for Henderson, who was born in Chicago however spent highschool in Oakland. A discipline close to his highschool, Oakland Tech, nonetheless bears Henderson’s title. The Athletics received the 1989 World Series with Henderson hitting .441 throughout the postseason, together with 9 walks.
Henderson is one in all simply 33 gamers with 3,000 hits. In 2002, one 12 months after he joined that unique membership, Henderson tried to work his method again to the majors by way of the minor leagues, first on a minor-league cope with Boston.
In 3,081 profession video games, Henderson racked up 13,346 plate appearances, marks that solely Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski and Henry Aaron have exceeded in MLB historical past.
“There was just one Rickey Henderson in baseball,” George Steinbrenner, the previous Yankees proprietor, as soon as stated, in accordance with the Baseball Hall of Fame. “He was the best leadoff hitter of all time.”
In 2003, with MLB curiosity slim, he performed for the independent-league Newark Bears. He ultimately latched on with the Dodgers, his remaining MLB workforce.
Dave Winfield, a former teammate of Henderson’s, posted information of Henderson’s dying on Instagram.
“I nonetheless can not imagine I’ve misplaced one in all my favourite teammates and nice pal Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace,” Winfield posted.
