Rickey Henderson, a legendary figure in baseball and the all-time leader in stolen bases, passed away Friday night at the age of 65, as confirmed by his family on Saturday.

Throughout his impressive 25-season career spanning from 1979 to 2003, Henderson stole a remarkable 1,406 bases and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. He played for nine teams, notably having four stints with the Oakland Athletics, who selected him in the 1976 draft.

Henderson’s death followed a recent hospital admission due to pneumonia, according to sources close to his family relayed to YSL News Sports’ Bob Nightengale.

“A true icon on and off the diamond, Rickey was a loving son, father, friend, grandfather, brother, and uncle, possessing a pure humility,” stated Henderson’s wife, Pamela Henderson.

“Rickey conducted himself with integrity, and his passion for baseball defined him. Now, he is at peace with the Lord, embracing the remarkable memories and milestones he leaves behind.”

Originally from Chicago and raised in Oakland, Henderson was unique as a player who batted right-handed and threw left-handed. He set the modern era single-season stolen base record with 130 in 1982, achieving over 100 steals in three of his first four complete MLB seasons, and holds the record for the most leadoff home runs in history with 81.

Henderson claimed the career stolen base record in 1991 with his 939th theft, surpassing Lou Brock’s previous record.

“Lou Brock represented excellence in base stealing,” Henderson remarked on that milestone. “But today, I stand as the greatest of all time.”

His final game in the MLB was in 2003 when he was 44, after securing a midseason contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers following a stint with the Newark Bears in an independent league.

“I had the privilege of playing alongside many great players over the years,” shared Dennis Eckersley, a Hall of Fame pitcher and Hudson’s teammate in Oakland. “I told Rickey this once, although I don’t think he fully absorbed it: he is the greatest player I ever played with.”

Kown for his charismatic persona, Henderson often spoke in the third person and collected World Series championships with the Athletics in 1989 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993.

“Rickey once told me that he enjoyed being entertaining because it enhanced the viewing experience,” said Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Henderson’s teammate in Toronto.

Henderson also holds the MLB record for the most runs scored in history with 2,295. He was awarded the AL MVP in 1990 while playing for Oakland, hitting 28 home runs alongside 65 stolen bases and leading the league with a 1.016 OPS. He achieved his 3,000th career hit with the San Diego Padres at the end of the 2001 season.

“For countless baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the benchmark for base stealing and leadoff batting,” stated MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Rickey was amongst the most admired players in Athletics history.

“He made significant contributions to multiple teams throughout his extraordinary 25-year career. Rickey embodied speed, power, and excitement in leading the batting order. When we deliberated about new game rules in recent times, we had Rickey Henderson’s era in consideration.”

When Henderson declared himself “the greatest of all time” after surpassing Brock’s record, it stirred considerable discussions, yet he had conferred with Brock about his intended remarks. Henderson later mentioned that the phrase continued to “haunt” him and referenced it during his memorable Hall of Fame induction address.

“My ultimate hero was Muhammad Ali, who proclaimed, ‘I am the greatest!’ That was something I aspired to be,” Henderson said in Cooperstown, New York, during his 2009 induction. “Now that the Association has honored me with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my player journey is complete. I am now amongst the greatest players ever. At this moment, I’m immensely humbled.”

Rickey Henderson’s Achievements

Here are some key milestones from Henderson’s career:

• 1,406 stolen bases – the highest in MLB history
• 2,295 runs scored – the highest in MLB history
• 3,055 career hits
• 297 home runs (81 of which were leadoff)
• .401 on-base percentage
• 10-time MLB All-Star
• 1990 AL MVP with the Oakland Athletics
• 1980 AL Gold Glove winner
• Three-time Silver Slugger award recipient

Cause of Death

Henderson’s passing occurred after his recent hospitalization for pneumonia, as told by individuals close to his family to YSL News Sports’ Bob Nightengale.