Rickey Henderson, the Oakland kid who became the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history and his hometown A’s biggest star, has died.
Henderson would have turned 66 on Christmas Day.
The left fielder with the unmistakable crouched batting stance and affable swagger set MLB career records with 2,295 runs and 1,406 stolen bases and is the single-season stolen base king. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility.
Rickey Henderson (35), outfielder for the Oakland A’s, poses in March 1, 1979, at an unknown location. (AP Photo)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson hits a home run during game four of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. (Gary Reyes/Oakland Tribune)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson runs to first in this undated file photo in Oakland, Calif. (Dino Vournas/file)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson, right, and Dave Henderson head to the outfield on April 5, 1992, in Oakland, Calif. (Matthew J. Lee/file)Jose Canseco with Rickey Henderson (Peter DaSilva)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson makes a running catch during a game against the Seattle Mariners on July 30, 1989, in Oakland, Calif. (Gary Reyes/file)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson, left, greets Dave Stewart before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 28, 1993, in Oakland, Calif. (Nick Lammers/file)OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 15, 1989: Oakland Athletics’ ouitfielder Rickey Henderson waves to his family after stealing second base during the World Series with the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. (Dino Vournas/Daily Review/Bay Area News Group)Oakland, CA June 12, 1990: Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson slides into third base at the Oakland Coliseum after being caught in a rundown during a game against the Texas Rangers. (Tom Duncan / Oakland TribuneSan Francisco, CA October 27, 1989 – Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson makes a gesture to the crowd at Candlestick Park during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series. (Tom Duncan / Oakland Tribune)Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson throws his helmet after being picked off at third base by Kenny Rogers during a game on June 12, 1990, in Oakland, Calif. (Roy H. Williams/Staff Archives)
A.P. Photo
Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson holds up third base after breaking Lou Brock’s all-time career record for stolen bases during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Oakland, Calif. It was his 939th career stolen base. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)A’s left fielder Ricky Henderson walks toward the on-deck circle during what could be his last appearance at the Coliseum in an A’s uniform on Sept. 20, 1995. (Michael Rondou/Mercury News archives)Rickey Henderson is back for his fourth stint with the A’s. (Contra Costa Times/KarL Mondon./March 3, 1998)Newly enshrined Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson holds a golden second base during a ceremony retiring Henderson’s #24 held at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, August 1, 2009. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)Oakland A’s Rickey Henderson looks out at his family during the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in Cooperstown, N.Y. Both Henderson and Boston Red Sox Jim Rice were inducted. (Jane Tyska/Staff)Oakland A’s Rickey Henderson delivers his speech during the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction at the Clark Sports Center on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in Cooperstown, N.Y. Both Henderson and Boston Red Sox Jim Rice were inducted. (Jane Tyska/Staff)Rickey Henderson, left, and Jim Rice hold their plaques after their induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)Former Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson kisses a rose before laying it next to other roses in honor of teammate Bob Welch who died on June 9, 2014, during a pre-game celebration honoring the 1989 World Series championship team held before the start of the A’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 19, 2014. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)A Rickey Henderson Field banner was unveiled during opening night ceremonies as the Oakland Athletics named the field in his honor before the game against the Los Angeles Angels in their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, April 3, 2017. (Josie Lepe/ Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson signs autographs before the A’s game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Hall of Famer and former Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson meets up with Athletics’ Rajai Davis (11) after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the Athletics’ MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 15, 2017. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)Oakland Athletics fans cheer as a Rickey Henderson caricature runs past before the start of the A’s 50th Anniversary baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson holds up the Oakland Technical High School baseball jersey with his high school number 14 on it during the tenth-anniversary celebration of the Rickey Henderson Field in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Henderson’s number was retired. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)Former Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson walks onto the field as he is inducted as a member of the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame before the A’s game against the New York Yankees at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Rickey Henderson waves to the crowd as he is inducted as a member of the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame before the A’s game against the New York Yankees at the Coliseum in Oakland on Wednesday. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) leans against the backstop before their MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson in the dugout before the start of the A’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group
The grounds crew prepares Rickey Henderson Field prior to the Oakland Athletics opening day MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 28, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 26: Former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson waves to fans before their game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 26, 2021. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 1: Former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson hugs Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) before their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 1, 2022. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson stands on the field before their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Former Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson before their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Oakland Athletic greats Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson throw out the first pitch for the final game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics legends Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson share a moment in the dugout before the Oakland Athletics’ last game played at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game before moving to Sacramento next season. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)