Rickey Henderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rickey Henderson
Henderson at the Hall of Fame parade in 2011
Left fielder
Born: (1958-12-25)December 25, 1958 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died: December 20, 2024(2024-12-20) (aged 65) East Bay, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Left
debut
June 24, 1979, for the Oakland Athletics
Last appearance
September 19, 2003, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Batting average	.279
Hits	3,055
Home runs	297
Runs batted in	1,115
Stolen bases	1,406
Runs	2,295
Teams
As player Oakland Athletics (1979–1984) New York Yankees (1985–1989) Oakland Athletics (1989–1993) Toronto Blue Jays (1993) Oakland Athletics (1994–1995) San Diego Padres (1996–1997) Anaheim Angels (1997) Oakland Athletics (1998) New York Mets (1999–2000) Seattle Mariners (2000) San Diego Padres (2001) Boston Red Sox (2002) Los Angeles Dodgers (2003) As coach New York Mets (2007)
Career highlights and awards
10× All-Star (1980, 1982–1988, 1990, 1991) 2× World Series champion (1989, 1993) AL MVP (1990) ALCS MVP (1989) Gold Glove Award (1981) 3× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1985, 1990) 12× AL stolen base leader (1980–1986, 1988–1991, 1998) Athletics No. 24 retired Athletics Hall of Fame MLB records 1,406 career stolen bases 2,295 career runs 130 stolen bases, single season
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2009
Vote	94.8% (first ballot)

Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson (born December 25, 1958 – died December 20, 2024) was an amazing American professional baseball player. He was a left fielder and played for 25 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Rickey played for nine different teams from 1979 to 2003. He spent four separate times with his first team, the Oakland Athletics.

People often called him the "Man of Steal" because he was so good at stealing bases. Many think he was the best leadoff hitter and baserunner ever. He holds MLB records for the most career stolen bases, runs scored, and leadoff home runs. He also had many walks. By the time he played his last game in 2003, Rickey was among the top 100 home run hitters. He was also the all-time leader in walks. In 2009, he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This happened in his very first year of being eligible.

Rickey Henderson holds the record for the most stolen bases in one season, with 130 in 1982. He is the only player in the American League (AL) to steal 100 bases in a season. He did this three times: in 1980, 1982, and 1983. His 1,406 career steals are 50% more than the old record of 938, held by Lou Brock. Rickey is the all-time stolen base leader for the Oakland Athletics. He also held the record for the New York Yankees for many years. He was among the top ten base stealers in the league for 21 different seasons!

In 1990, Rickey was named the AL's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was the leadoff hitter for two World Series champion teams. These were the 1989 Oakland Athletics and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. Rickey led the league in stolen bases 12 times and in runs scored five times. His long 25-season career put him in the top ten for many other stats. These include career at-bats, games played, and outfield putouts. His ability to get on base, hit with power, and steal bases made him a truly special player. He was also known for loving baseball and having a fun, unique personality.

Rickey Henderson: Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Rickey Henderson was born on December 25, 1958, in Chicago. He was actually born in the back seat of a car on the way to the hospital! Rickey later joked, "I was already fast. I couldn't wait." He was named Rickey Nelson Henley, after the singer and actor Ricky Nelson.

When Rickey was two, his father moved to Oakland, California. Rickey lived with his grandmother in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, until he was seven. Then, he moved to Oakland to live with his family. His mother later married Paul Henderson, and Rickey took the Henderson last name.

Developing Unique Baseball Skills

As a child learning baseball in Oakland, Rickey developed a rare skill. He learned to bat right-handed, even though he naturally threw left-handed. This is very unusual for baseball players who aren't pitchers. Rickey said, "All my friends were right-handed and swung from the right side, so I thought that's the way it was supposed to be done."

In 1976, Rickey graduated from Oakland Technical High School. He played baseball, basketball, and football. He was an amazing running back in football, with two seasons where he ran for over 1,000 yards. He also ran track, but baseball was his main focus. Rickey received many scholarship offers to play football. But his mother advised him to choose baseball, saying football players have shorter careers.

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Oakland Athletics picked Rickey Henderson in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft. He started his minor league career with the Boise A's. In 46 games, he hit .336 and had three home runs.

The next season, Rickey played for the Modesto A's. He hit .345 in 134 games. He also stole 95 bases, breaking the league record! He was named the Modesto A's Most Valuable Player.

In 1978, Rickey played for the Jersey City A's. He also played in the Mexican Pacific League during the winter. In 1979, he started the season with the Ogden A's. He had a .309 batting average and stole 44 bases in 71 games.

Rickey Henderson: Major League Career

Oakland Athletics: The Early Years (1979–1984)

Rickey Henderson made his first MLB appearance with the Oakland Athletics on June 24, 1979. He got two hits and stole a base in his first game. In 89 games that year, he hit .274 and stole 33 bases.

In 1980, Rickey became only the third player in modern baseball to steal 100 bases in a season. He stole 100 bases, breaking the team record and setting a new AL record. He also hit .303, scored 111 runs, and had 117 walks.

Henderson goes to steal second base for the Athletics in 1983.

In 1981, Rickey was a candidate for the MVP award. He hit .319 and led the league in hits (135), runs (89), and steals (56). His great fielding that season earned him his only Gold Glove Award. He was known for his "snatch catches," where he would quickly flick his glove at fly balls.

In 1982, Rickey broke Lou Brock's record for most stolen bases in a single season, with 130 steals. This number has not been reached since! He stole 84 bases by the All-Star break. No player has stolen that many in a whole season since Rickey himself did it in 1988. His 130 steals were more than nine of the 14 AL teams that season! He also led the AL in walks (116).

Rickey used a very low batting stance, almost like a crouch. This made his strike zone very small. This meant pitchers had a harder time throwing strikes against him. He said it helped him see the ball better and confused pitchers.

In 1983, Rickey had another amazing season. He led the AL in stolen bases (108) and walks (103). He also scored 105 runs. No other modern player has had three seasons with 100 runs, 100 stolen bases, and 100 walks.

In 1984, Rickey hit 16 home runs and led the league with 66 stolen bases. After this season, he was traded to the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees: A New Home (1985–1989)

In December 1984, Rickey was traded to the New York Yankees. In his first year with the Yankees, he led the league in runs scored (146) and stolen bases (80). He also hit .314 and had 24 home runs. He won the Silver Slugger Award. His 146 runs were the most since 1950. He was the first player ever to have 80 stolen bases and 20 home runs in a season. He did it again in 1986.

Henderson steals a base as a member of the New York Yankees in 1988

In 1986, he led the AL in runs (130) and stolen bases (87) again. He hit 28 home runs, with 9 of them being leadoff homers.

In 1987, Rickey had a tougher season, playing only 95 games. Still, he had a good on-base percentage (.423) and hit 17 home runs. It was the only season from 1980 to 1991 that he didn't lead the AL in steals.

In 1988, he led the AL in steals again (93). He also scored 118 runs and hit .305. Even though he was only with the Yankees for four and a half seasons, Rickey set their franchise record with 326 stolen bases.

Back to Oakland: World Series Wins (1989–1993)

On June 21, 1989, the Yankees traded Rickey back to the Oakland Athletics. After the trade, his 52 steals and 72 runs helped the A's reach the postseason. He was named MVP of the 1989 American League Championship Series (ALCS). He hit .400, scored eight runs, and stole eight bases. This broke the postseason series record. Rickey led the Athletics to a four-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants in the 1989 World Series. This was the team's first World Series title since 1974. He hit .474 and stole three more bases in the World Series.

A year later, in 1990, Rickey almost won the batting title. He hit .325, just missing out on the last day of the season. He led the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), and on-base percentage (.439). He also hit 28 home runs. Rickey won the AL's MVP award and helped Oakland win another pennant. He played well in the 1990 World Series too, but the A's were swept by the Cincinnati Reds.

On May 1, 1991, Rickey Henderson broke one of baseball's biggest records. He stole his 939th base, passing Lou Brock to become the all-time stolen base leader.

On July 16, 1993, Rickey broke the world stolen base record. He stole his 1,066th base, passing Yutaka Fukumoto from Japan. In 90 games with Oakland that year, he was hitting .327 with 17 home runs and 31 stolen bases.

Toronto Blue Jays: Another Championship (1993)

In July 1993, the Athletics traded Rickey to the Toronto Blue Jays. He didn't hit as well for the Jays, only .215 in 44 games. This was likely because he fractured a bone in his hand after being hit by a pitch. Still, he stole 22 bases and scored 37 runs.

His hitting struggles continued in the postseason. But Rickey was part of the final play of the World Series that year. He and Paul Molitor scored on Joe Carter's Series-ending home run. This is one of the most famous moments in baseball history.

Later Career and Final Seasons

After 1993, Rickey signed with Oakland again for his third time. In 1994 and 1995, he was still among the league leaders in walks, steals, and on-base percentage. In 1995, he hit .300, his sixth and final season doing so in the AL.

He then played for the San Diego Padres (1996–1997) and the Anaheim Angels (1997). In January 1998, Rickey signed with the Athletics for a fourth time. At 39 years old, he led all of MLB in stolen bases (66) and the AL in walks (118). He became the oldest player to lead a league in stolen bases.

In 1999, Rickey signed with the New York Mets. He hit .315 with 37 steals. He was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. After a brief time with the Seattle Mariners in 2000, Rickey returned to the Padres in 2001.

Henderson batting with San Diego in 2001

In 2001, Rickey broke three major league career records. He passed Babe Ruth for career walks, Ty Cobb for career runs, and Zack Wheat for career games in left field. On the very last day of the season, October 7, he got his 3,000th career hit. This was a leadoff double. At 42, he still stole 25 bases, his 23rd straight season with over 20 steals.

Henderson with Boston in 2002

In 2002, Rickey signed with the Boston Red Sox. At 43, he became the oldest player to play center field in MLB history. He wore number 35 because his usual number 24 was taken.

In 2003, Rickey played for the independent Newark Bears. He hoped to get back to the major leagues. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him later that year. He played 30 games for them, getting 15 hits and three stolen bases. This was his final major league season.

Retirement and Hall of Fame

Rickey Henderson's number 24 was retired by the Oakland Athletics in 2009.

Rickey played his last major league game on September 19, 2003. He was hit by a pitch and scored his 2,295th run. Even after leaving the Dodgers, he kept playing in independent leagues. He played for the Newark Bears in 2004 and the San Diego Surf Dawgs in 2005. He helped the Surf Dawgs win their league championship. This was his final professional season.

Rickey didn't want to officially retire for a long time. He kept saying he could still play in the major leagues. On August 1, 2009, the Oakland Athletics retired his number 24.

Rickey finally said he was officially retired on July 13, 2007. He joked, "If it was a situation where we were going to win the World Series and I was the only player that they had left, I would put on the shoes."

In 2009, Rickey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He received 94.8% of the votes, one of the highest percentages ever. At his press conference, he said, "I believe today, and people say I'm crazy, but if you gave me as many at-bats that you would give the runners out there today, I would outsteal every last one of them."

Henderson at his number retirement at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in August 2009

In 2011, on the 20th anniversary of his record-breaking stolen base, the Oakland A's had "Rickey Henderson Bobblehead Day." Rickey asked them to put a little dirt on the bobbleheads to make them look like he was playing.

Coaching Career

Henderson as the Mets' first base coach in 2007

The New York Mets hired Rickey as a special instructor in 2006. He worked with hitters and taught base stealing. He helped players like José Reyes. In July 2007, the Mets promoted him to first base coach. He was not kept as a coach for 2008. Rickey also worked as a special instructor for the Athletics during spring training.

Rickey Henderson: Personality and Legacy

Rickey Henderson was known for his unique personality. He often referred to himself in the third person, saying things like "Rickey wants to play baseball." He explained that he did this to scold himself, like "Rickey, what you doing, you stupid."

Rickey was very proud of his signing bonuses. He once framed a $1 million bonus instead of cashing it. He also saved his daily allowance money from road trips. He would put the cash in a box and let his children pick an envelope if they did well in school.

Many funny stories are told about Rickey. One time, a teammate offered him a seat on the bus, saying Rickey had "tenure." Rickey supposedly replied, "Ten years? What are you talking about? Rickey got 16, 17 years."

Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci said, "Rickey is the modern-day Yogi Berra, only faster." Rickey accepted his public image, saying, "A lot of stuff they had me doing or something they said I had created, it's comedy. I guess that's how they want to judge me, as a character."

Personal Life and Passing

In 1983, Rickey married his high school sweetheart, Pamela. They had three daughters: Angela, Alexis, and Adrianna.

Rickey Henderson passed away on December 20, 2024, just five days before his 66th birthday. He had been sick with pneumonia.

Rickey Henderson: Records and Achievements

On May 1, 1991, Rickey stole his 939th base. This made him the sport's all-time stolen base leader, passing Lou Brock. Rickey had 468 more stolen bases than Brock, who was second on the list. In 1993, Rickey stole his 1,066th base. This broke the world record held by Yutaka Fukumoto from Japan.

Rickey led the American League in steals almost every year between 1980 and 1991. He had one more league-leading season in 1998, when his 66 steals made him the oldest steals leader ever. Rickey also holds the record for most times caught stealing (335). However, his overall success rate on the basepaths was very high, at 81%.

Career Milestones

As of 2024, Rickey Henderson ranks first all-time in runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406). He is fourth in career games played (3,081) and 26th in hits (3,055). He is second in career walks (2,190), behind Barry Bonds. He still holds the record for most unintentional walks (2,129).

Even though his batting average was .279, his many walks gave him a great on-base percentage (OBP) of .401 for his career. He had an OBP of at least .400 in 16 different seasons. His best was .439 in his 1990 MVP season.

Rickey also holds the record for most home runs to lead off a game, with 81. During the 2003 season, he passed Babe Ruth for the career record in secondary bases. This includes bases from extra hits, walks, stolen bases, and being hit by a pitch.

Bill James, a famous baseball statistician, wrote in 2000, "Without exaggerating one inch, you could find fifty Hall of Famers who, all taken together, don't own as many records, and as many important records, as Rickey Henderson."

Rickey's eight steals during the 1989 ALCS broke Lou Brock's postseason record for a single series. He is the only American League player to steal more than 100 bases in a single season, doing it three times. He is also the all-time stolen base leader for the Oakland A's.

In 1999, Rickey was ranked number 51 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. In 2005, he moved up to number 50. On January 12, 2009, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

When asked to pick the best player ever, Rickey said, "There are guys who have done different things very well, but I don't know of anyone who mastered everything." He said he valued his career-runs-scored record the most, saying, "You have to score to win."

Records

Awards and Honors

See also