Hall of Fame outfielder Rickey Henderson has died, the league announced Saturday. He was 65 years old.
Henderson has good reason to be recognized as the greatest hitter in Major League Baseball history. Over his 25-year career, he accumulated a .279/.401/.419 slash line (127 OPS+) with 297 home runs and 1,406 stolen bases. His ability to steal bases earned him the nickname “The Steal Man”, and to this day he remains the all-time leader in stolen bags (as well as runs scored and steals caught). Additionally, he is one of three players to steal 100 or more bases in three separate seasons, the others being Vince Coleman and the original Billy Hamilton (who did it four times in the late 1800s) .
“For several generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the benchmark for base stealing and leadoff hitting. Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved athletes of all time. He also made an impact over many other clubs over a quarter century career like no other. Rickey epitomized speed, power and fun in setting the tone at the top of the lineup in recent years. of the game in recent years, we had in mind the Rickey Henderson era,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Saturday.
“Rickey has earned the universal respect, admiration and awe of sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Rickey’s family, friends and former teammates , to A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere.”
Legendary baseball author Bill James observed that “if you could split it in half, you’d have two Hall of Famers.” This statement is valid. Henderson’s contributions were estimated at 111.1 wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference calculations, 19th most in sports history.
Henderson’s brilliant play earned him 10 All-Star Game titles, three Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award and the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1990. He won two World Series titles in the during his career: one with the Oakland Athletics in 1989, the other with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. In 2009, during his first participation in the elections, he was elected to the Baseball of Fame.
“A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, father, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle and a truly humble soul,” Henderson’s wife, Pamela, said in a communication with his daughters. “Rickey lived his life with integrity and his love for baseball was paramount. Today, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and accomplishments he leaves behind. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support and heartfelt memories from family, friends and fans – all of whom have brought immense comfort. We also extend our sincere gratitude to MLB, the Oakland A’s and the incredible doctors and. UCSF nurses who cared for Rickey with dedication and compassion. Your prayers and kindness mean more than words can express.
Although Henderson is best remembered for his 14 seasons with the Athletics, the team that recruited him from nearby Oakland Technical High School, he also suited up for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, then the Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and the aforementioned Blue Jays. In an effort to extend his career, he would later appear for various independent league teams, such as the Newark Bears (of the Atlantic League) and the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden League.
In addition to being an all-time great player, Henderson featured one of the greatest personalities in the sport. Journalist Tom Verducci wrote about Henderson in 2003: “There are certain figures in American history who have passed into the realm of cultural mythology, as if reality could no longer contain their stories: Johnny Appleseed. Wild Bill Hickok. Davy Crockett. Rickey Henderson. They exist on the sometimes narrow margin between Fact and fiction.”
Henderson truly existed and will continue to be a part of baseball’s great history.
