Rickey Henderson, Baseball Hall of Famer and ‘Man of Steal,’ Dies at 65

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former Oakland Athletics star Rickey Henderson has died. He was 65 years old.

The 1990 American League MVP died of pneumonia on Friday, Dec. 20, in Oakland, Calif., according to reports from New York Post and NBC News Bay Area. He would have turned 66 on Christmas Day,

Henderson’s former teammate Dave Winfield offered his condolences and reflected on the star’s time in the MLB, writing on December 21st in an Instagram post: “Still can’t believe I lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson . Rest in peace.”

Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland, Henderson began his career as a star athlete at Oakland Technical High, playing both baseball and football while running track, according to local newspapers Mercury News. His mother Bobbie later talked him into focusing on baseball because she didn’t want him to get injured playing football.

“I guess mom knows best,” Henderson joked during his 2009 Hall of Fame induction speech. Mercury and NBC. “Thanks, Mom.”

Rickey Henderson 2022.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty

First drafted by the Athletics in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft, he made his debut at age 20 on June 24, 1979, against the Texas Rangers. Although the A’s lost the game, Henderson soon became known for his stolen bases and runs, setting records throughout his career and earning the title of “Stealing Man” for his records.

Henderson played for the A’s four separate times during his career totaling 14 seasons and also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, the Boston Red Sox in 2022, the San Diego Padres for three seasons from 1996-1997 and 2001, the Seattle Mariners in 2000 ., New York Mets for two seasons in 1999 and 2000, Anaheim Angels in 1997, Toronto Blue Jays in 1993 (where he took home his second World Series victory) and the New York Yankees for five seasons from 1985-1989.

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Ricky Henderson in 1989.

Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty

During his second tenure in Oakland, Henderson broke Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base record when he took his 939th base against the Yankees in 1991. The moment after the record-setting steal would go down as one of baseball’s most iconic moments, Henderson plucked the third base marker from the ground and held it in the air as he addressed the crowd.

“Lou Brock was the epitome of the great base stealer,” he famously said, according to MLB. “But today I’m the greatest of all time.”

During his 24 seasons in MLB, he stole 1,406 bases, scored 2,295 runs, had a team-leading 81 home runs and was a 10-time All-Star, according to The Guardian.

“My favorite hero was Muhammad Ali,” Henderson said during his commencement speech in Cooperstown, NY. “He once said, and I quote, ‘I’m the greatest,’ end of quote. It was something I always wanted to be, and now that [Baseball Writers’ Association of America] voted me into the baseball hall of fame, my journey as a player is over. Now I’m in the class of the greatest players of all time and I’m very, very humbled at this moment.”

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Source: HIS Education