Rickey Henderson, considered by baseball experts, including journalists and fellow players, as one of the greatest to ever play the game, died Friday, Dec. 20 at the age of 65.
Henderson moved to Oakland with his family when he was 7 years old and grew up on 61st and Dover streets near Bushrod Park. He attended Oakland Technical High School, where he played football and baseball. In 1976, as an Oakland Tech senior, he was named “California State Baseball Player of the Year” while also playing football and running track.
Multiple sources confirmed Henderson’s passing to The Oaklandside. His death, which led to hours of speculation on social media, was also confirmed by the East Bay Times.
Henderson started in the major league with the Athletics in 1979 and played in the big leagues for 24 years, setting records that will likely never be matched. Among them are stolen bases. Henderson electrified fans with 1,406 stolen bases, 50% more than the number of bases stolen by the player in second place, Lou Brock. He was also considered the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, with the most home runs leading off a game, 81, and an uncanny ability to get on base. And