Rickey Henderson, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer who was the league’s all-time stolen bases chief, has died at age 65, the MLB introduced Saturday.
MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred confirmed Henderson’s demise in a press release, calling him “the gold normal of base stealing and leadoff hitting.”
“Rickey was one of the vital achieved and beloved Athletics of all-time,” Manfred wrote. “He additionally made an impression with many different Clubs throughout a quarter-century profession like no different. Rickey epitomized pace, energy and leisure in setting the tone on the high of the lineup. When we thought-about new guidelines for the sport lately, we had the period of Rickey Henderson in thoughts.”
Jeff Chiu / AP
Henderson would have been 66 on Christmas Day.
No reason for demise was instantly offered. Henderson’s spouse, Pamela Henderson, launched a press release by means of the Oakland Athletics wherein she described her husband as “a faithful son, dad, pal, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a very humble soul.”
She additionally prolonged the household’s “honest gratitude to MLB, the Oakland A’s, and the unbelievable medical doctors and nurses at UCSF who cared for Rickey with dedication and compassion. Your prayers and kindness imply greater than phrases can specific.”
The Chicago native, who was one of many biggest gamers to don the A’s jersey, was additionally extensively thought-about to be the most effective leadoff hitters and base stealers within the sport. During his 25-year profession, he compiled 2,055 hits, 297 house runs and 1,115 RBIs. His 1,406 stolen bases and a couple of,295 profession runs stay Major League records.
He was a 10-time All-Star and received the league MVP in 1990 with the A’s, the place he performed the majority of his profession — 14 years over 4 totally different stints. He additionally spent seven years in New York — 5 with the Yankees and two with the Mets. He performed with a number of different groups together with the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Henderson received two World Series titles, one with Oakland in 1989, and once more with Toronto in 1993. After retiring from enjoying, Henderson coached one 12 months with the Mets.
He was inducted into Cooperstown as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2009, and simply six days later, the A’s retired his jersey.
