Rickey Henderson, the baseball Hall of Famer who holds the career stolen bases record and played the last of his 25 Major League seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died at the age of 65, his family announced Saturday.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson. A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind,” his wife Pamela said in a statement released by the Athletics, who he spent 14 seasons with, including his first six.
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and heartfelt memories from family, friends and fans — all of which have brought immense comfort. We also extend our sincere gratitude to MLB, the Oakland A’s, and the incredible doctors and nurses at UCSF who cared for Rickey with dedication and compassion. Your prayers and kindness mean more than words can express.”
The cause of Henderson’s death and where he died were not announced. The entertainment news website TMZ was the first to report Henderson’s death, saying he died after a bout with pneumonia Friday in the Oakland area, and had been getting treatment at a hospital for a brief period, citing “sources with direct knowledge.”
Born Rickey Nelson Henley in the back of his family’s Oldsmobile in Chicago on Christmas morning in 1958, according to The New York Times. Rickey’s parents John and Bobbie Henley, broke up when he was 2 years old. His mother moved with Rickey and his siblings to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she had grown up
Not long after, she moved to California to find work, leaving her children behind with her mother. In California, she married Paul Henderson, and the new family eventually settled together in Oakland, The Times reported.
Henderson was selected by the Athletics in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft out of Oakland Technical High School, and made his major league debut June 24, 1979, batting leadoff, doubling on his first at-bat. He singled on his second at-bat, then stole the first of his record 1,406 stolen bases, eventually getting the nickname “Man of Steal,” which is on his Hall of Fame plaque.
Henderson set the modern single-season steals record in 1982 with 130, breaking the previous record of 118 set by Hall of Famer Lou Brock in 1974. (Hugh Nicol is credited by MLB with the single-season record of 138, set in 1887 when he played for the Cincinnati Reds of the American Association, then a major league. Before 1898, a stolen base was credited to a baserunner who reached an extra base on a hit from another player.)
Henderson also has the career records for runs with 2,295, unintentional walks 2,129 and leadoff home runs, 81. In 2001, he became the 25th major leaguer with 3,000 hits, while playing for the San Diego Padres in the final game of fellow Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn’s career.
The 10-time All-Star posted a career on-base percentage of .401. Henderson was pivotal to the Athletics’ 1989 World Series championship, going 15-for-34 (.441) in the postseason, along with nine walks, and was selected as the MVP of Oakland’s five-game victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.
Henderson was selected as the American League MVP in 1990 as the A’s won their third consecutive AL pennant. Henderson was a three-time Silver Slugger and 1981 Gold Glove recipient.
Henderson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, his first year of eligibility, receiving votes from 94.8% of members of the Baseball Writers Association of America casting ballots.
Henderson was signed by the Dodgers on July 14, 2003, hitting .208 with two home runs with five RBIs. He was successful on all three of his stolen base attempts.
On his final stolen base, Aug. 29, 2003, against the Colorado Rockies, Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully declared that Henderson, “wrote the book” on stolen bases.
“The Dodgers mourn the passing of Rickey Henderson, legend and Hall of Famer,” the Dodgers posted on the social network X. “The organization was privileged to have a small part in his career, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans.”
Henderson also played 32 games for the Anaheim Angels in 1997, hitting .183 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 16 steals in 20 attempts.
“The Angels are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson,” the team posted on X. “While his time with our organization was brief, we feel fortunate to be a small part of one of the most dynamic careers in the history of baseball.
“We would like to express our deepest condolences to Rickey’s wife Pamela and the entire Henderson family.”