Rickey Henderson, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and the league’s all-time stolen base leader, has passed away at the age of 65, his family confirmed in a statement.
The baseball legend died in the Oakland, California area on Friday after contracting pneumonia, according to a report from TMZ.
Super Sky Point to Rickey Henderson, the greatest leadoff man and base stealer to ever set foot on a baseball diamond. I’m stunned. Some guys seem larger than mortality. Rickey was one of them. #RIP pic.twitter.com/CFnizuJAog
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) December 21, 2024
Henderson’s lengthy MLB career began in 1979 with the Oakland Athletics — with whom he accomplished the heights of his career — and ended in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The legendary leadoff man ultimately spent four stints with the Athletics, the first coming from 1979-1984 before a multi-year stint with the New York Yankees. He returned to the Athletics 1989-1993 before returning to the team a year later after a short run with the Toronto Blue Jays.
A 10-time All-Star, Henderson shattered a number of MLB stolen base records, both in terms of single season performance and all-time