Baseball Legend Passes Away At 65

Go to Article

Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the all-time MLB leader in stolen bases, passed away on Friday.

He was 65.

According to the New York Post, the MLB legend battled pneumonia.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson,” his wife, Pamela, and family said in a statement, the outlet noted.

“A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. 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,” the statement added.

“Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A’s fans over his 14 seasons wearing the Green and Gold,” a statement from the Athletics read.

“For those who knew him personally, Rickey was much more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Hall of Famer. He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach, and employee who passed through the Oakland Coliseum or played a game on the field that came to bear his name,” the statement continued.

“We are shocked and heartbroken by his passing. His loss will be felt not only by A’s fans but also by baseball fans around the world. The entire A’s organization sends its sincere condolences to Rickey’s family and loved ones at this time,” it added.

From the New York Post:

In a 25-year MLB career, Henderson stole a record 1,406 bases and was selected to the 10 All-Star teams.

He sailed into Cooperstown in 2009 after receiving 94.8 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

More than just a threat on the bases, Henderson set a standard as a leadoff hitter. He finished with an .820 career OPS — which included 297 homers, a lifetime .279 batting average and .401 on-base percentage.

One of the game’s most colorful personalities, Henderson was famous for referring to himself in the third person.

“Nothing is impossible for Rickey,” he said. “You don’t have enough fingers and toes to count out Rickey.”

“Rickey Henderson caught the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter on his bobblehead night!” the MLB posted in September.

WATCH:

Per ESPN:

Following his final season in 2003, Henderson finished with 3,055 hits and left the game holding the all-time marks in steals, runs scored (2,295) and walks (2,190), a record now held by Barry Bonds (2,558). He was named to 10 All-Star Games and finished his career with 111.1 Wins Above Replacement, third most of anyone in the past half-century, behind only Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, both of whom used performance-enhancing drugs.

Henderson was a first-ballot inductee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, receiving votes from 94.8% of electors.

“I’ve been saying this for years: Rickey wasn’t just great. That doesn’t say enough for me,” Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson once said. “He’s one of the top 10 to 12 players of all time. That’s how good Rickey was.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred called Henderson “the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting” in a statement Saturday.

“Rickey epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. When we considered new rules for the game in recent years, we had the era of Rickey Henderson in mind,” Manfred said, referencing recent rule changes that have encouraged more stolen base attempts. “Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey’s family, his friends and former teammates, A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere.”

Over his quarter century in the game, which included four separate stints with his hometown A’s, Henderson won World Series championships with Oakland in 1989 and Toronto in 1993. The American League MVP with Oakland in 1990, Henderson redefined the role of a leadoff hitter by injecting unprecedented offensive power to the traditional leadoff role of reaching base. He launched 297 home runs, including a major-league-record 81 to lead off a game.



Comment on this Article Via Your Disqus Account