OAKLAND, Calif. —
Corridor of Famer Rickey Henderson, who shattered stolen base data and redefined baseball’s leadoff place, has died. He was 65.
Henderson died on Friday. The Athletics mentioned Saturday they had been “shocked and heartbroken by his passing,” however didn’t specify a reason for loss of life.
Referred to as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a prolonged listing of accolades and accomplishments over his 25-year profession — an MVP, 10 All-Star choices, two World Collection titles and a Gold Glove award.
However it was stealing bases the place Henderson made his title and dominated the game like no different.
He broke by with 100 steals in his first full season within the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season document with the Oakland Athletics. He barely slowed, taking part in for 9 franchises over the subsequent twenty years. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season document of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven straight seasons and 12 total.
He broke Brock’s profession document when he stole his 939th base on Might 1, 1991, for Oakland. He famously pulled third base out of the bottom and confirmed it off to the adoring crowd earlier than giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was an awesome base stealer, however right this moment I’m the best of all time.”
Henderson completed his profession with 1,406 steals, a 468-steal edge over Brock.
Henderson mentioned in September he would have had many extra steals in his profession and within the record-breaking 1982 season if guidelines launched in 2023 to restrict pickoff throws and improve the dimensions of bases had overlapped along with his profession.
“If I used to be taking part in right this moment, I’d get 162, proper now, no doubt,” he mentioned.
Henderson’s accomplishment that record-breaking day in 1991 was barely overshadowed that night time when Nolan Ryan threw his document seventh profession no-hitter. Henderson had been Ryan’s 5,000th profession strikeout sufferer, which led him to say, “If you happen to haven’t been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you’re no one.”
That was clearly not the case for Henderson. He’s additionally the profession chief in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff house runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks and is fourth in video games performed (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346). He completed his profession with 3,055 hits over 25 seasons spent with Oakland, the New York Yankees, Toronto, San Diego, Anaheim, the New York Mets, Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He fittingly completed his profession with the Dodgers at age 44 in 2003 by scoring a run in his last play on a serious league subject.
Henderson is the third distinguished baseball Corridor of Famer with ties to the Bay Space who died this 12 months, following the deaths in June of former Giants stars Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda.
Henderson was the uncommon place participant who batted from the suitable aspect and threw along with his left arm — however then once more, every thing about Henderson was distinctive.
He batted out of an excessive crouch, making for a tighter strike zone that contributed to his excessive stroll complete. He struck concern in opponents along with his aggressive leads off first, his fingers twitching between his legs as he eyed the pitcher and the subsequent base.
Born on Christmas Day in 1958 in Chicago behind his dad and mom’ Chevy, Henderson grew up in Oakland and developed right into a star athlete. He performed baseball, basketball and soccer at Oakland Tech Excessive Faculty and was a extremely sought-after soccer recruit who may have performed tailback at Southern California, the place he may have performed finally with soccer Corridor of Famer Marcus Allen.
However Henderson mentioned his mom beloved baseball and thought it might be the safer profession in a call that proved to be prescient.
“She didn’t need her child to get harm,” Henderson instructed the San Francisco Chronicle in 2019. “I used to be mad, however she was good. Total, with the profession longevity and the success I had, she made the suitable choice. A few of the gamers in soccer now have quick careers they usually can barely transfer round once they’re accomplished.”
