The baseball community mourns the loss of Rickey Henderson, a legendary Hall of Famer and the unrivaled king of stolen bases, who has passed away at the age of 65. This heartbreaking news was first shared by his friend and former teammate, Dave Winfield, and later confirmed by the New York Post. Henderson’s incredible contributions to the game of baseball will always be remembered and cherished by fans and players alike.

Born on Christmas Day in 1958 in Chicago, Henderson spent a significant part of his formative years in Oakland. The arrival of the Oakland Athletics coincided with his childhood, and upon completing high school, he was selected by his hometown team in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB Draft. Just three years later, he made his grand entrance into the major leagues at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, marking the beginning of a storied career.

After a rookie season that did not live up to expectations, Henderson exploded onto the scene in 1980 with a performance that solidified his status as a superstar. At just 21 years old, he showcased extraordinary bat-to-ball skills and an impressive eye for the plate, ranking third in both walk rate and on-base percentage (OBP). He utilized this OBP effectively, leading the majors with an astonishing 100 stolen bases that year— the first of seven seasons where he topped the league in steals. Additionally, he earned his first of ten All-Star selections that summer and finished 10th in the MVP voting, a position many believe should have been much higher given his outstanding performance.

In his third season, the strike-shortened 1981 campaign, Henderson’s performance reached new heights. He not only led the majors in runs scored but also topped the American League in hits and stolen bases. By season’s end, he had secured both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. However, despite his impressive stats, he was once again overlooked in the MVP voting, finishing a narrow second to Rollie Fingers. Advanced metrics such as fWAR and bWAR suggest he was the most effective player in the American League that year, highlighting a recurring theme in Henderson’s career: exceptional talent often went unrecognized. His accolades include ten All-Star selections, three Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove, and a single MVP award, though these honors may not fully encapsulate his greatness.

Emerging as a dominant star in his early twenties, Henderson maintained his exceptional level of play well into his forties. Throughout his prime years from 1980 to 1994, he was undeniably the most productive player in baseball. His remarkable combination of speed, defensive prowess, contact hitting, and on-base discipline made him a multi-faceted threat on the field. While he is best remembered as the all-time leader in stolen bases, he also holds the MLB records for runs scored, unintentional walks, and leadoff home runs, showcasing his versatility and impact on the game.

Beyond his regular season accolades, Henderson was a transformative force in postseason play. As a two-time World Series champion, he celebrated victories with the Oakland Athletics in 1989 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. His remarkable achievement of 11 stolen bases during the 1989 postseason is tied for the most by a player in a single postseason, and he held the record for 33 career playoff steals until Kenny Lofton surpassed it in the 2007 ALCS.

In addition to his base-stealing prowess, Henderson proved to be a clutch hitter in high-stakes situations, boasting a .284/.389/.441 batting line across 60 postseason games. His performance in the World Series is particularly astonishing: in 14 games, he posted a .339/.448/.607 slash line, with more walks than strikeouts, and successfully stole seven bases out of nine attempts. His exceptional performance in the Fall Classic translates to a remarkable 194 wRC+, placing him just behind legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig among players with at least 60 plate appearances in World Series history.

Though Henderson was the epitome of baseball excellence throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, his career extended well beyond the typical retirement age for most players. After his age-35 season with the Athletics, he continued to play in over 1,000 major league games while representing various teams, including the Padres, Angels, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, and Dodgers. While his performance in these later years did not match his peak, he remained a valuable player, maintaining a .254/.390/.369 batting line from 1995 to 2003, along with 289 stolen bases. Even during his brief stint with the Dodgers at age 44, he contributed above replacement level, demonstrating his enduring talent.

Henderson’s passion for the game drove him to continue competing in Independent Leagues after his major league career concluded. He recorded an impressive .897 OPS in the Atlantic League and an .856 OPS in the Golden League before officially retiring in 2005 at the age of 46. His unwavering love for baseball prompted him to explore opportunities to return to the major leagues even after retiring, as he accepted a role as a hitting instructor for the Mets in 2006. Henderson even suggested that he could lead the league in stolen bases at the age of 50 during his first-ballot induction into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

This deep-seated passion for baseball and his extraordinary talent earned Henderson the admiration of teammates, coaches, and fans alike. His incredible career statistics, including 3,055 hits, 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs scored, and a remarkable .401 on-base percentage across 3,081 major league games, cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Henderson’s family, friends, and teammates as we collectively mourn the loss of a true baseball icon.