Rickey Henderson, the iconic baseball player who earned himself the name 'Man of Steal' for having stolen more than 1,400 bases in his career, passed away at 66. According to People Magazine, the 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Rickey Henderson passed away of pneumonia.
Many notable baseball players have paid tribute to Henderson on their social media. Teammate, longtime friend, and fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield wrote:
"I still cannot believe I’ve lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace."
Bob Kendrick, the leader of one of the best baseball history museums wrote:
"Saddened by the passing of our friend, Rickey Henderson, the greatest leadoff hitter in @MLB history! Was proud to induct him into our Hall of Game in 2015 along with Fergie Jenkins, Ozzie Smith and the late Luis Tiant. Condolences to his family, friends and legion of fans!"
Jose Canseco, a former teammate of Henderson at Oakland Athletics also took to his X account to share:
"I’m heartbroken and devastated. Rickey Henderson was an incredibly talented player but an even better human. I’ll never forget all the incredible memories we created together. Memories I’ll never forget. Rest easy my friend"
Ricky Henderson: the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in MLB history
Rickey Henderson was a remarkable talent when he first joined the Oakland Athletics in 1979. Even by his second year in the MLB, Rickey had already achieved the seemingly impossible by stealing a whopping 100 bases within a single season.
With an astonishing total of 1,406 stolen bases throughout his career, Rickey holds the all-time career record for most stolen bases in the history of the game. In addition to that, in 1991 he became the player with the most runs scored at 2,295, not to forget that he also scored 130 in a single season during 1982.
Rickey was the crux of virtually every facet of his game, especially in winning the World Series title in 1989. He went on to win a title with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. He had the potential to turn a game upside down from one instant to another and that is how fairly quick he could get in a clutch.
Rickey had 3,055 hits when he retired and batted .279 for his career. Rickey Henderson extended his baseball journey by joining independent minor league teams.
In 2004, he played for the Newark Bears, followed by a stint with the San Diego Surf Dogs in 2005, proving his love for the game even when MLB teams stopped calling. In 2009, the Oakland Athletics honored his legacy by retiring his iconic No. 24 jersey, ensuring his impact on the franchise would be remembered forever.
Rickey Henderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 in his first year on the ballot. After being elected to the Hall of Fame, here's what he said:
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“My career of being a baseball player in Oakland was fantastic. I wouldn’t give it back for anything else. I had a wonderful time, the fans of Oakland were the best fans who were ever behind me and even when I was on another team, they always cheered."
Few players have had such an impact on the game itself as Rickey Henderson. He set the standard for leadoff hitters and created a legacy of speed, swagger, and unforgettable moments.
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