Rickey Henderson dies at 65

Corridor of Famer Rickey Henderson, thought of the best leadoff hitter in historical past and MLB’s all-time chief in stolen bases, leadoff house runs and runs scored, has handed away. He was 65.

“For a number of generations of baseball followers, Rickey Henderson was the gold commonplace of base stealing and leadoff hitting,” Commissioner Rob Manfred stated in a press release. “Rickey was one of the crucial achieved and beloved Athletics of all-time. He additionally made an influence with many different Golf equipment throughout a quarter-century profession like no different. He epitomized pace, energy and leisure in setting the tone on the prime of the lineup. After we thought of new guidelines for the sport in recent times, we had the period of Rickey Henderson in thoughts.

“Rickey earned common respect, admiration and awe from sports activities followers. On behalf of Main League Baseball, I ship my deepest condolences to Rickey’s household, his pals and former teammates, A’s followers and baseball followers all over the place.”

“It’s with profound disappointment that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson. A legend on and off the sector, Rickey was a faithful son, dad, pal, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a really humble soul,” Pamela Henderson stated in a press release. “Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind.”

Henderson performed for 9 groups in a 25-year profession that included the 1990 AL MVP Award, 10 All-Star picks, two World Collection titles, three Silver Slugger Awards, one Gold Glove Award and the 1989 ALCS MVP Award. He was elected to the Corridor of Fame in 2009, his first yr of eligibility, showing on 94.8 p.c of ballots.

“Rickey Henderson is without doubt one of the best baseball gamers of all time,” the A’s stated in a press release. “His on-field accomplishments converse for themselves, and his data will without end stand atop baseball historical past. He was undoubtedly probably the most legendary participant in Oakland historical past and made an indelible mark on generations of A’s followers over his 14 seasons sporting the Inexperienced and Gold.

“For many who knew him personally, Rickey was rather more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Corridor of Famer. He was a pal and mentor to each participant, coach, and worker who handed by means of the Oakland Coliseum or performed a recreation on the sector that got here to bear his title.

“We’re shocked and heartbroken by his passing. His loss shall be felt not solely by A’s followers but additionally by baseball followers around the globe. Your complete A’s group sends its honest condolences to Rickey’s household and family members presently.”

For his profession, Henderson batted .279/.401/.419 with 3,055 hits, 510 doubles, 66 triples, 297 house runs and 1,115 RBIs. He posted a profession .820 OPS and 127 OPS+.

His 1,406 stolen bases are 467 greater than Lou Brock swiped, and his 2,295 runs scored are 50 greater than Ty Cobb’s complete. On the time of his dying, Henderson additionally ranked within the prime 10 in video games performed (fourth, 3,081), plate appearances (fourth, 13,346), walks (second, 2,190), leadoff house runs (first, 81) and unintentional walks (first, 2,129).

Former A’s basic supervisor and president Sandy Alderson had excessive reward for Henderson in a press release Saturday evening.

“I traded Rickey Henderson twice and introduced him again extra instances than that. He was the very best participant I ever noticed play,” Alderson stated.

“He did all of it — hit, hit for energy, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a aptitude that enthused his followers and infuriated his opponents. However everybody was amused by his character, type, and third-person references to himself. He was distinctive in some ways.

“Rickey tales are legion, legendary, and principally true. However behind his popularity as self-absorbed was a beautiful, type human being who liked children. His true character turned extra evident over time. 9 totally different groups, one unforgettable participant. Sandy gonna miss Rickey.”

Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson was born in Chicago on Christmas Day 1958. He moved to Oakland together with his household on the age of seven. Rising up within the shadows of the Oakland Coliseum, house of the A’s from 1968-2024, Henderson starred at close by Oakland Technical Excessive Faculty as a three-sport standout in baseball, basketball and soccer. Regardless of his old flame being soccer with a dream of someday taking part in for the Raiders and lots of believing he had the pace and expertise to excel as a operating again within the professionals, Henderson caught with baseball and was drafted by the A’s out of highschool within the fourth spherical of the 1976 Draft.

Although he performed for 9 totally different Main League groups, Henderson will without end be remembered for his time within the inexperienced and gold. He spent 14 seasons of his 25-year Corridor of Fame profession and made six of his 10 All-Star groups with the A’s. Of the 12 seasons he led the league in stolen bases, 9 got here taking part in for Oakland, together with a Main League-record 130 swiped luggage in 1982 that continues to be the single-season file.

Henderson spent the primary six seasons of his profession with the A’s earlier than a commerce despatched him to the Yankees for Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk and José Rijo. After 4 years in New York, Henderson was dealt again to the A’s – with Plunk returning to the Yankees – halfway by means of the ’89 season and electrified from the leadoff spot as Oakland went on to win the World Collection. A free agent after the season, Henderson signed a four-year, $12 million contract – a file on the time – to remain in Oakland. He backed it up the following season, capturing the AL MVP Award by main MLB in runs (119), on-base proportion (.439), OPS (1.016) and OPS+ (189).

The following season, on Might 1, 1991, Henderson stole third base within the backside of the fourth towards the Yankees. It was the 939th swipe of his profession, surpassing Brock for the all-time file. He’d steal one other 467 after that – which might rank forty eighth all time.

Enjoying within the remaining yr of his contract in 1993, Henderson was traded on the Deadline to Toronto and helped the Blue Jays win their second consecutive World Collection. It was a brief keep – after the season, he signed a two-year deal to return to the A’s.

A free agent once more in ’95, Henderson signed with the Padres, who traded him to the Angels in August 1997. In January 1998, he signed on with the A’s for the ultimate time, taking part in yet another season together with his authentic workforce. On the age of 39, he led the Majors with 66 stolen bases and the AL with 118 walks. He was again in New York in 1999 on the age of 40, signing with the Mets. He hit .315/.423/.466 on the age with 37 steals in his age-40 season, serving to the Mets attain the NLCS. He fell out of favor in the course of the 2000 season and was launched that Might. He spent the remainder of the season with the Mariners.

In 2001, Henderson was again in San Diego; in 2002, he was with Boston. Unable to attract any curiosity from a Main League workforce on the age of 43, Henderson signed with the unbiased Newark Bears in 2003 and did sufficient there – hitting .339/.493/.591 in 56 video games – to signal on with the Dodgers on the All-Star break, taking part in the ultimate 30 video games of his MLB profession with Los Angeles. He returned to Newark in 2004 and spent ’05 with the unbiased San Diego Surf Dawgs on the age of 46 earlier than placing away his cleats.

Few connections between participant and workforce have carried a love as robust because the one Henderson developed taking part in for his hometown workforce in entrance of the Oakland devoted. After his taking part in profession, Henderson remained a mainstay within the A’s clubhouse as a particular assistant to the president, usually suiting up in full uniform to participate in pregame drills with the workforce each in Spring Coaching and in the course of the common season. The A’s additionally honored their group’s best participant by naming the Oakland Coliseum taking part in floor “Rickey Henderson Discipline” in 2017. Earlier than the A’s performed their remaining recreation on the Coliseum in 2024, Henderson and former teammate Dave Stewart had been enlisted to throw out the ceremonial first pitches.

Henderson stays the A’s all-time chief in bWAR (72.7), runs (1,270), walks (1,227) and stolen bases (867).

Former longtime A’s GM and govt vp and present senior advisor to the managing accomplice Billy Beane, who was additionally a teammate of Henderson’s in ’89, is one among many figures round baseball who’ve declared Henderson to be the best leadoff hitter of all-time, including “I’m undecided there’s an in depth second.”