Rickey Henderson, Athletic Icon and Hall of Famer, Dies at 65 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Ricky Hendersonone of greatest players in athletics franchise history and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, died Friday at age 65, NBC Sports California confirmed.
MLB all-time leader in stolen bases would have been 66 on Christmas Day.
The Henderson family released the following statement:
Statement from the Henderson family:
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson. A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, father, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with…
– Athletics (@Athlétisme) December 21, 2024
Henderson played 25 seasons in MLB with the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Oakland Tech alum was selected by the Athletics in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft, and three years later made his big league debut with Oakland.
It didn’t take long for Henderson to establish himself as one of the best players in MLB. In 1980, his first full season, he earned an AL All-Star selection and finished 10th in MVP voting.
Henderson’s first stint in the Athletics ended in 1984 when they traded him to the Yankees. After five seasons in New York, he was sent back to Oakland during the 1989 season. That year, he helped Oakland beat the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.
During his second tour of duty in Oakland, Henderson broke Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base recordsliding in his 939th base against the Yankees on May 1, 1991. This produced one of the most iconic moments in baseball history when Henderson pulled the third base bag out of the ground and held it above his head.
Henderson gave a speech to a packed Oakland Coliseum and he called himself “the greatest of all time”.
The Athletics traded Henderson again in 1993, this time to the Blue Jays on July 31, and he won his second World Series title a few months later.
Henderson finished his MLB career with 1,406 stolen bases, which still stands as the benchmark to this day.
Arguably the greatest lead in MLB history, Henderson holds the MLB record for most runs scored with 2,295. He also finished with 297 home runs and 1,115 RBIs.
Henderson was selected to 10 MLB All-Star Games, won the 1990 AL MVP, won three Silver Slugger Awards and won a Gold Glove.
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame inducted Henderson in 2020.
Declaration of the A:
Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His accomplishments on the field speak for themselves and his records will forever stand at the pinnacle of baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and achieved a…
– Athletics (@Athlétisme) December 21, 2024
Henderson’s legacy in Oakland was cemented in 2017 with the Athletics renamed the Colosseum field “Rickey Henderson Field.” A logo remained on the field until the final game at the Coliseum in September.
The Athletics honored Henderson last season by giving bobbleheads to fans who attended their Sept. 20 event. Before the competition, Henderson’s daughter, Adrianna, threw the ceremonial first pitch to her father.
Henderson’s influence on current athletics has continued in recent years, as he provided advice to Lawrence Butler And Esteury Ruiz.
Henderson left a mark on baseball and the city of Oakland that will not soon be forgotten.
The “Man of Steal”, stolen too soon from the world of baseball.
