Rickey Henderson, baseball’s greatest player and stolen base king of all time, died Friday in Oakland at the age of 65 after suffering from pneumonia, multiple sources confirmed Saturday.
Henderson’s career was a testament to speed, power and charisma. Over 24 seasons, he racked up a record 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs scored and 81 leadoff home runs. A 10-time All-Star champion, two-time World Series champion and 1990 American League MVP, Henderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2009.
“My favorite hero was Muhammad Ali,” Henderson said during his induction speech in Cooperstown, New York. “He once said: quote, I am the greatest, end quote. That was something I always wanted to be, and now the [Baseball Writers’ Association of America] voted me into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my journey as a player is complete. I am now in the league of the greatest players of all time, and right now I am very humbled.”
Born Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson on Christmas Day in 1958, he often joked that his speedy arrival in the backseat of an Oldsmobile in Chicago foreshadowed his legendary speed. He grew up in the Bay Area and played as a multi-sport athlete at Oakland Technical High School before choosing baseball at his mother’s urging. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fourth round in 1976, Henderson made his debut in 1979 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Henderson’s career was marked by his fearless baserunning, including his record-breaking 130 stolen bases in 1982, a single-season record that still stands. On May 1, 1991, he surpassed Lou Brock’s career stolen base record with his 939th steal, cementing his place as MLB’s all-time steal leader.
“Rickey was the best leadoff hitter of all time. There is no debate,” said Billy Beane, former A general manager. “He transformed the game and made every team he played on better.”
Henderson played for nine teams, including notable stints with the Yankees and Mets, but he is forever linked to his hometown A’s, where he spent fourteen seasons in four stints. The playing field at the Oakland Coliseum was renamed Rickey Henderson Field in 2017, a tribute he called “a special, amazing moment.”
Henderson was a colorful personality, both on and off the field. He often referred to himself in the third person and made memorable jokes. “If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game,” he once said.
Former teammates and opponents alike shared tributes. “Rickey Henderson was a hitter’s dream and a catcher’s nightmare,” Mets teammate Mike Piazza said. “He will be greatly missed.”
Henderson’s passing marks a poignant moment for Oakland fans as the A’s prepare to leave town after 57 years. His death follows those of other franchise legends, making the loss particularly bittersweet for a loyal fan base. He is survived by his wife Pamela and three children.