Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases, has passed away at the age of 65.

 Nicknamed the "Man of Steal" and famous for frequently speaking in the third person, Henderson holds the all-time records for stolen bases (1,406) and runs scored (2,295).

Dec. 22, 2024, 5:10 AM GMT+6

Rickey Henderson, widely regarded as the greatest base stealer in Major League Baseball history and one of the sport's most iconic players, has passed away at the age of 65, MLB confirmed on Saturday.

In a statement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred described Henderson as the "gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting," offering condolences on behalf of the league. "Rickey epitomized speed, power, and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup," Manfred said.

The Oakland Athletics, who will move to Sacramento next season, honored Henderson as “undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history.” Born in Oakland, California, Henderson was a standout high school athlete before being drafted by the A’s in 1976. He made his MLB debut just three years later at the age of 20. Over the course of his career, which included 10 All-Star appearances and World Series championships with both Oakland and Toronto, Henderson became a legend. His final MLB game came in 2003, when he was 44.

Henderson’s family released a statement through the Athletics, with his wife, Pamela, and daughters expressing that "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."

Known as the “Man of Steal” and famous for referring to himself in the third person, Henderson remains MLB’s all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs scored (2,295). His speed and ability to anticipate on the base paths were evident early on, as he set a new single-season stolen base record in 1980 with 100, surpassing Lou Brock’s mark. Henderson’s record of 130 stolen bases in 1982 still stands as the most in modern MLB history.

Tony Clark, Executive Director of the MLB Players Association, described Henderson as setting a "standard for power, speed and dynamic play that can never be duplicated,” adding that Henderson revolutionized the leadoff hitter position.

In 1991, after breaking Brock's career stolen base record, Henderson declared, “Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing, but today, I am the greatest of all time.” He was not just known for his speed, but also his patience at the plate. In 2001, while playing for San Diego, Henderson surpassed Babe Ruth to become MLB’s all-time leader in walks, a record he still holds in terms of unintentional walks (2,129).

Henderson was named the American League MVP in 1990, after leading the league in runs, stolen bases, and on-base percentage. Despite this honor, he believed he had played better in other seasons, as he expressed to reporters at the time.

The Athletics, who Henderson played for in four separate stints, won the 1989 World Series with Henderson playing a key role, hitting .441 in the postseason, including nine walks. He is also one of only 33 players to reach 3,000 career hits.

In 2002, after joining the 3,000-hit club, Henderson attempted a return to the majors with a minor-league contract with Boston. Over his 25-year career, Henderson played in 3,081 games, compiling 13,346 plate appearances—numbers that only a few players, including Pete Rose and Hank Aaron, have surpassed in MLB history.

Former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once said, "There was only one Rickey Henderson in baseball. He was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time."

After his time in the majors ended in 2003, Henderson played briefly for the independent-league Newark Bears before finishing his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dave Winfield, a former teammate, shared his grief on Instagram, saying, “I still cannot believe I’ve lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace.”