Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball’s career stolen base leader and Hall of Famer, died Friday in Oakland, California, after a brief hospitalization for pneumonia. He was 65, five days short of his 66th birthday.
Henderson played 25 seasons in the major leagues from 1979 to 2003, appearing in 3,081 games for nine teams. His record 1,406 stolen bases stand 467 ahead of Lou Brock’s previous mark. He also holds MLB records for runs scored (2,295) and leadoff home runs (81). After breaking Brock’s stolen base record in 1991, Henderson played another 1,466 games, extending his lead even further.
Henderson’s longtime friend and former Oakland Athletics teammate Dave Stewart struggled to process the news. “I can’t wrap my head around it. We’ve known each other practically our entire lives. That was my dude,” Stewart told USA TODAY Sports.
The pair first met as teenagers in Oakland, competing against each other in the Babe Ruth League alongside future baseball stars like Rupert Jones, Gary Pettis, and Lloyd Moseby.
Stewart had spoken with Henderson’s daughter Alexis on Friday when calling to confirm a business meeting. She answered from an Oakland hospital where Henderson was scheduled for surgery. Later that day, Alexis called back to inform Stewart that her father had passed away.
Stewart explained that hearing about Henderson’s illness didn’t come as a surprise because Henderson never knew how to slow down and always pushed himself to stay at 100%, even when his health might have suggested otherwise. Henderson, who was asthmatic and had undergone sinus surgery the previous year, remained incredibly active. He loved fishing and had recently taken up hunting. On his very first hunting trip, he chose to go after wild boar—an exceptionally bold and challenging choice for someone new to the sport.
Henderson spent 14 seasons with the Athletics over four different stints, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in WAR, runs, walks, and stolen bases. The organization honored him by naming the Oakland Coliseum playing surface “Rickey Henderson Field” in 2017. He continued working with the team as a special assistant to the president after his playing career, often participating in pregame drills and mentoring players.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2009, Henderson appeared on 94.8% of ballots. His career statistics include a .279 batting average, 3,055 hits, 297 home runs, and 1,115 RBIs. He was a 10-time All-Star and won the American League MVP award in 1990. His best season came with the Yankees in 1985 when he led the league in runs, stolen bases, and hit .314 with 24 home runs. His career batting line of .279/.401/.419 placed him among baseball’s elite.
Henderson’s baserunning prowess was unmatched. He led the league in stolen bases in 12 of his first 13 seasons, including a single-season record of 130 steals in 1982. He continued stealing bases well into his career, leading the league at age 39 and recording 109 steals in his 40s, the most in history. His career on-base percentage of .401 places him among the top 63 players in that category. Henderson’s speed and power combination was unique – he remains the only player besides Vince Coleman to surpass 100 steals in a single season while accumulating nearly 300 career home runs.
Beyond his Oakland success, Henderson won another World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. He also earned three Silver Slugger Awards and one Gold Glove Award in 1981. Throughout his career with the Yankees, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Angels, and Dodgers, he maintained a career on-base percentage over .400. His final stat line included 510 doubles and 66 triples, and his runs scored total surpassed Ty Cobb’s previous record by 50.
Known for his distinctive, crouched batting stance and neon green batting gloves, Henderson’s style influenced generations of players who followed.
