Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball’s record holder for stolen bases and RBIs, has died at the age of 65.
Nicknamed “The Stealer,” Henderson had 1,406 stolen bases and 2,295 RBIs during an illustrious career that included World Series championships with the Oakland Athletics in 1989 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993.
A 10-time All-Star and the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1990, Henderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
“For generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard for base stealers and leadoff hitters,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“He epitomized speed, power and entertainment and set the tone at the top of the lineup.”
During his MLB career, Henderson had a batting average of .297, 297 home runs, and 1,115 RBIs, including 81 leadoff home runs.
He played for nine MLB teams from 1979 to 2003, but was most associated with the Oakland Athletics, where he spent four stints.
“We are shocked and heartbroken by his passing,” Oakland said. “His loss will be felt not only by A’s fans, but baseball fans around the world.
“Ricky Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His accomplishments on the field speak for themselves, and his record will forever stand at the top of baseball history.”
“He is arguably the most legendary player in Oakland history and left an indelible mark on generations of A’s fans.”
