Rickey Henderson

Henderson was born on December 25, 1958, in Chicago in the back seat of an Oldsmobile on the way to the hospital. Henderson later joked, "I was already fast. I couldn't wait."Rickey Henderson: Leadoff Legend, 2009, MLB Network The son of John L. Henley and Bobbie Henley, he was named Rickey Nelson Henley, after singer-actor Ricky Nelson.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070721&content_id=2100450&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Notes: Henderson's rockin' past|access-date=August 16, 2008|last=Noble|first=Marty|date=July 21, 2007|work=MLB.com}} When he was two years old, his father moved to Oakland, California. Rickey lived with his grandmother in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, from when he was two until he was seven, when he migrated to Oakland with his family. His father died in an automobile accident 10 years after leaving home.{{cite book|last=Henderson|first=Rickey|author2=John Shea|title=Off Base: Confessions of a Thief|pages=[https://archive.org/details/offbaseconfessio00hend_0/page/22 22–23]|publisher=HarperCollins|date=June 1992|isbn=0-06-017975-9|url=https://archive.org/details/offbaseconfessio00hend_0/page/22}} His mother married Paul Henderson in Rickey Henley's junior year of high school and the family adopted the Henderson surname.

As a child in Oakland, Henderson learned to bat right-handed although he was a naturally left-handed thrower—a rare combination for baseball players, especially non-pitchers.{{cite news|title=Zounds! Sox have 2 righty-lefty ballplayers|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=March 5, 2002}} Through the 2008 season, only 57 position players are known to have batted right and thrown left in the Major Leagues. Henderson is by far the most successful (and the only one inducted into the Hall of Fame).{{cite web |last1=Treder |first1=Steve |title=Bats right, throws left: The best players in major league history |url=https://tht.fangraphs.com/bats-right-throws-left-the-best-players-in-major-league-history/ |website=The Hardball Times |publisher=FanGraphs |date=10 February 2009}} Henderson later 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."Henderson et al, Off Base: Confessions of a Thief, pp. 52–53.

In 1976, Henderson graduated from Oakland Technical High School in Oakland, California, where he played baseball, basketball and football, and was an All-American running back with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He also ran track, but did not stay with the team as the schedule conflicted with baseball.{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Wilstein|title=Stop, Thief! Rickey Henderson Is Stealing Everything He Can Get His Hands And Feet On|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bkUsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qs0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6563,1574058|work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=August 8, 1982|page=B4}} Henderson received over a dozen scholarship offers to play football. Despite a childhood dream to play for the Oakland Raiders, he turned down the scholarships on the advice of his mother, who argued that football players had shorter careers.{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-07-26/sports/17928690_1_rickey-henderson-major-league-steals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814044444/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-07-26/sports/17928690_1_rickey-henderson-major-league-steals|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2012|title=Former Yankees, Mets outfielder Rickey Henderson, Red Sox great Jim Rice lead Hall of Fame class|date=July 26, 2009|work=New York Daily News|access-date=December 16, 2011}}

Henderson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fourth round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?year_ID=1976&round=4&draft_type=junreg|title=4th Round of the 1976 June Draft|access-date=June 22, 2010|work=Baseball Reference}} For the first season of his minor league career he was with the Boise A's of the Northwest League. In 46 games, he batted .336 and hit three home runs and two triples.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hender003ric|title=Rickey Henderson Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 22, 2010}} Henderson spent the following season with the Modesto A's, where he batted .345 in 134 games during a record-setting season. Henderson, along with Darrell Woodard, nearly broke the league record for team stolen bases. The Modesto A's finished the season with 357 stolen bases,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=25356|title=1977 Modesto A's Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 22, 2010}} just shy of the league record of 370.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5oQ5AAAAIBAJ&sjid=k38FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3716,1454894|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720075146/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5oQ5AAAAIBAJ&sjid=k38FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3716,1454894|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=Modesto A's 'Crime Report'|work=The Modesto Bee|date=August 21, 1977|page=A1}} While Woodard tied the single-season player record with 90 stolen bases, Henderson beat the record by stealing 95 bases, and was awarded the Sundial Trophy, given to the Modesto A's Most Valuable Player.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7oQ5AAAAIBAJ&sjid=k38FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5120,5003831|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711011748/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7oQ5AAAAIBAJ&sjid=k38FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5120,5003831|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2012|title=A's split with Fresno|work=The Modesto Bee|date=August 29, 1977|page=B1}}

Henderson spent the 1978 season with the Jersey City A's of the Eastern League. After the minor league season ended, he played the 1978–1979 winter season for the Navojoa Mayos of the Mexican Pacific League. He played in six games for the team, which won its first championship.{{cite news|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/news/story?id=642222&s=gen&type=column|title=Dejan su huella|first=Rubén|last=Castro|work=ESPN Deportes|date=January 28, 2009|access-date=June 22, 2010|language=es}} In 1979, Henderson started the season with the Ogden A's of the Pacific Coast League. In 71 games for Ogden, he had a batting average of .309 and stole 44 bases.

Henderson made his major league debut with Oakland on June 24, 1979, getting two hits in four at-bats, along with a stolen base. He batted .274 with 33 stolen bases in 89 games.{{cite web|url=http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14026.pdf|title=A Resolution Authorizing the Renaming of Lucky A's Baseball Field in Arroyo Viejo Park Located at 7701 Krause Avenue, Oakland to the Rickey Henderson Baseball Field|author=Office of Parks and Recreation|publisher=City of Oakland|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=March 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226232443/http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14026.pdf|archive-date=February 26, 2008|url-status=dead}} In 1980, Henderson became the third modern-era player to steal 100 bases in a season (Maury Wills 104 in 1962 and Lou Brock's 118 in 1974 had preceded him).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_leagues.shtml|title=Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=August 25, 2008}} His 100 steals broke Eddie Collins' franchise record of 81 in 1910 with what were then the Philadelphia Athletics and set a new American League (AL) record, surpassing Ty Cobb's 96 set in 1915. He also batted .303, had 179 hits (tied for ninth in AL), scored 111 runs (fourth in AL), drew 117 walks (second in AL), had a .420 on-base percentage (third in AL) and led the AL by reaching base 301 times.

That winter, Henderson played in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League; his 42 stolen bases broke that league's record as well.{{cite book|title=Puerto Rico's Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball's Launching Pad|first=Thomas E.|last=Van Hyning|author2=Eduardo Valero |publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7864-1970-8|page=221}}

File:Rickey Henderson and Eddie Murray, 1983.jpg

Henderson was an MVP candidate a year later, in a season shortened by a players' strike. He hit .319, fourth in the AL, and led the league in hits (135), runs (89) and in steals (56). Henderson was also third in on-base percentage (.408), tied for second in triples (7), fourth in walks (64), eighth in total bases (185) and second in times reaching base (201). In so doing, he became the emblematic figure of Oakland manager Billy Martin's aggressive "Billy Ball" philosophy, which received much media attention.{{cite web|title=Rickey was a run walking|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 25, 2008|last=Wiley|first=Ralph|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/wiley/011005.html}} Finishing second to the Milwaukee Brewers' Rollie Fingers in the MVP voting, Henderson earned his only Gold Glove Award in fielding that season. He later became known for his showboat "snatch catches", in which he would flick his glove out at incoming fly balls, then whip his arm behind his back after making the catch.Henderson et al., Off Base: Confessions of a Thief, 1–10

In 1982, Henderson broke Lou Brock's modern major league single season record by stealing 130 bases, a total which has not been approached since. He stole 84 bases by the All-Star break; no player has stolen as many as 84 bases in an entire season since 1988, when Henderson himself stole 93.{{cite news|url=https://baseballbiography.com/lou-brock-1939 |title=Lou Brock |publisher=Baseball Biography |year=2006 |access-date=March 19, 2008 }} He also led the AL in walks (116), was fourth in runs (119) and third in on-base percentage (.398).

Inspired by Dodgers leadoff hitter Rudy Law, Henderson adopted an exaggerated crouch as his batting stance, which reduced his strike zone without sacrificing much power.{{cite book |last=Henderson |first=Rickey |date=1992 |title=Off Base: Confessions of a Thief |publisher=HarperCollins |page=61 |isbn=0-06-017975-9}} Sportswriter Jim Murray described Henderson's strike zone as being "smaller than Hitler's heart".{{cite magazine|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/6/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021051420/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/6/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |title=What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark? |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=6 |first=Tom |last=Verducci |author-link=Tom Verducci |date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=October 13, 2008 }} In 1982, he described his approach to Sports Illustrated:

{{Blockquote|I found that if I squatted down real low at the plate... I could see the ball better. I also knew it threw the pitcher off. I found that I could put my weight on my back foot and still turn my hips on the swing. I'm down so low I don't have much of a strike zone. Sometimes, walking so much even gets me mad. Last year Ed Ott of the Angels got so frustrated because the umpire was calling balls that would've been strikes on anybody else that he stood up and shouted at me, "Stand up and hit like a man." I guess I do that to people.{{cite news|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125503/4/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207223827/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125503/4/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |page=4 |title=The defensive brilliance shared by A's outfielders – 05.10.82 – SI Vault |publisher=Sports Illustrated |first=Ron |last=Fimrite |date=May 10, 1982 |access-date=October 9, 2008 }}}}

Regarding Henderson's 1982 season, the mid-1980s book The Hidden Game of Baseball looked at such statistics as .78 expected runs with a runner on first and no outs, 1.07 expected runs with runner on second and no outs, and only .25 expected runs with no one on and one out. The authors concluded that with Henderson's 130 stolen bases he contributed 22.2 runs to the A's offense. By being caught stealing 42 times, he cost his team 20.6 runs, and therefore, the authors concluded, the net effect of his running activity was merely 1.6 extra runs for the season.{{cite book |editor-last1=Keri |editor-first1=Jonah |title=Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game Is Wrong |date=2007 |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=978-0-465-00373-0 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsmnfVUKJskC&dq=%22But+the+42+times+he+was+caught+cost+the+team%22&pg=PA113 |language=en |chapter=What if Rickey Henderson had Pete Incaviglia's Legs? |last1=Click |first1=James}}, James cites the earlier baseball book: {{cite book |last1=Thorn |first1=John |last2=Palmer |first2=Pete |title=The Hidden Game of Baseball |date=2015 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-27683-0 |language=en}} See also: {{cite magazine |last1=James |first1=Bill |title=So What's All the Fuss: Rickey Henderson may be the man of the hour but, argues the author, base stealing has never really amounted to very much |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/09/06/so-whats-all-the-fuss |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 6, 1982}} which gives a historical overview primarily of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. A later analysis determined his net contribution was 5.3 runs for the season.{{cite web |last1=Dubuque |first1=Patrick |title=Cold Takes: Rickey, Unwritten Rules, and the 130 |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/30406/cold-takes-rickey-unwritten-rules-and-the-130/ |website=Baseball Prospectus |date=September 20, 2016}}

In 1983, he led the AL in stolen bases (108), walks (103) while finishing fourth in runs scored (105). He was also second in on-base percentage (.414), tied for ninth in triples (7) and fifth in times on base, reaching 257 times.

In 1984, Henderson hit 16 home runs while leading the league in stolen bases (66), finishing second in runs scored (113) and third in on-base-percentage (.399). After the season, he was traded to the New York Yankees along with Bert Bradley for five players: Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk, and José Rijo.

In his first season with the Yankees, Henderson led the league in runs scored (146) and stolen bases (80), was fourth in batting average (.314), walks (99) and on-base percentage (.419), seventh in slugging (.516), third in OPS (.934).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1985.shtml|title=1985 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=Baseball Reference|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080811004758/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1985.shtml|archive-date=August 11, 2008|url-status=dead}} Combining his stolen bases with his 24 home runs, he became the first AL player to join the 20–50 club,{{cite web|title=Rickey Henderson Career Notes|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/profiles/notes/1650.html|access-date=January 5, 2025}} and its first member to reach 20–80.{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=#CARDCORNER: 1987 TOPPS ERIC DAVIS|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1987-topps-eric-davis|access-date=January 5, 2025}} He also won the Silver Slugger Award, and was third in the voting for the MVP award. His 146 runs scored were the most since Ted Williams had 150 in 1950,{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/rickey-henderson-1958 |title=Rickey Henderson |access-date=July 7, 2010 |work=Baseball Biography }} and he became the first player since Jimmie Foxx in 1939 to amass more runs scored than games played.{{cite web|first=Steven|last=Goldman|title=Teams: A Critical Guide: Lights Dimmed on Broadway|date=May 24, 2004|work=Baseball Prospectus|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/date/2004/05/24/|access-date=December 25, 2024}} Henderson also became the first player in major league history to reach 80 stolen bases and 20 home runs in the same season.{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Carchidi|title=Plain old Eric a baseball player of a different kind|newspaper=The Republic|page=B2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic/161557692/|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 10, 1987|access-date=December 26, 2024}} He matched the feat in 1986, as did Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds; they remain the only players in major league history to reach those thresholds.{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=#CARDCORNER: 1987 TOPPS ERIC DAVIS|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1987-topps-eric-davis|access-date=December 26, 2024}} It was with the Yankees that Henderson, who had previously worn number 35 with Oakland, which was already taken by his Yankees teammate Phil Niekro, switched to his now famous 24, a number he would wear for the rest of his career (with exceptions: (1) he briefly wore number 14 in 1993 while playing with the Blue Jays, (2) he wore his "old" number 35 in 2000 and 2002 while playing with the Mariners and the Red Sox, and (3) he wore number 25 while playing with the Dodgers).{{cite web |title=Rickey Henderson |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/henderi01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=December 22, 2024}} The circles at the top of the article represent the numbers he wore with each team.

In 1986, he led the AL in runs scored (130) and stolen bases (87) for the second year in a row, and was seventh in walks (89) and extra base hits (64) while hitting 28 home runs (9 of which led off games) and recording a career-high 74 runs batted in (RBIs).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1986.shtml|title=1986 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=Baseball Reference|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815105221/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1986.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2008|url-status=dead}}

File:Baseball steal.jpg

In 1987, he had a below-average season by his standards, fueling criticism from the New York media, which had never covered Henderson or his eccentricities kindly.Henderson et al., Off Base: Confessions of a Thief, 90–91, 164–165 Yankees owner George Steinbrenner issued a press release claiming that manager Lou Piniella wanted to trade Henderson for "jaking it" (playing lackadaisically).{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_22_224/ai_62650037|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708140259/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_22_224/ai_62650037|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|title=Mariners hope Rickey helps lead them back to the playoffs – Brief Article|work=The Sporting News|access-date=February 17, 2008|first=Larry|last=Stone|year=2000}} Still, Henderson had his best on-base percentage to that point in his career (.423), with a .291 batting avg., was fifth in the AL in stolen bases (41) and hit 17 home runs despite playing only 95 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1987.shtml|title=1987 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=Baseball Reference|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080816134149/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1987.shtml|archive-date=August 16, 2008|url-status=dead}} It was the only season from 1980 to 1991 in which Henderson did not lead the AL in steals. Seattle's Harold Reynolds led the league with 60 steals; Reynolds tells the story of getting an impish phone call from Henderson after the season:

The phone rings. "Henderson here." I say, "Hey, what's going on, Rickey?" I think he's calling to congratulate me, but he goes, '"Sixty stolen bases? You ought to be ashamed. Rickey would have 60 at the break"... then click, he hung up.

In 1988, Henderson led the AL in steals (93), was third in runs scored (118), fifth in OBP (.394) and seventh in walks (82), while hitting .305. Though only in New York for {{frac|4|1|2}} seasons, Henderson set the Yankees' franchise record with 326 stolen bases; the previous high (248) had been held by Hal Chase, who last played for the Yankees in 1913, when the team was still known as the Highlanders. On May 28, 2011, Henderson's total was surpassed by Derek Jeter,{{cite web|title=New York Yankees Batting Leaders|work=Baseball Reference|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_bat.shtml|access-date=August 25, 2008}} who by that point had already played 1,700 more games as a Yankee than Henderson.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/17158/jeter-becomes-yankees-all-time-steals-leader|title=Jeter becomes Yanks' all-time SB leader|date=May 29, 2011 |first1=Wallace|last1=Matthews|work=ESPN }}

On June 21, 1989, the Yankees traded Henderson back to Oakland for Plunk, Greg Cadaret, and Luis Polonia.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/22/sports/yankees-send-henderson-back-to-oakland.html|title=Yankees Send Henderson Back to Oakland|work=The New York Times|first=Michael|last=Martinez|date=June 22, 1989|accessdate=April 7, 2024}} After the trade, his 52 steals and 72 runs scored led the Athletics into the postseason; his 126 walks for the year were the most for any AL hitter since Frank Howard's 132 in 1970.{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Kurkjian|title=Get up and cheer: Rickey deserves it|date=August 23, 2001|work=ESPN The Magazine|url=https://www.espn.com/magazine/kurkjian_20010823.html|access-date=December 22, 2024}} Henderson was named MVP of the 1989 American League Championship Series (ALCS) after hitting .400, scoring eight runs and delivering two home runs, five RBIs, seven walks and a 1.000 slugging percentage. He had eight stolen bases in the five-game series, breaking Brock's postseason series record of seven, which he set in 1967 and repeated in 1968.{{Efn|Both occurred in seven-game series: the 1967 World Series and 1968 World Series.{{cite news|first=Malcolm|last=Moran|title=Dazzling, Daring A's Win Crown|date=October 9, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/09/sports/dazzling-daring-a-s-win-crown.html|access-date=December 22, 2024}}}} Leading the Athletics to a four-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants and the franchise's first World Series title since 1974,{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=Bay's Ball Turns to Broomball|date=October 29, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-29-sp-534-story.html|access-date=December 25, 2024}} Henderson hit .474 with an .895 slugging average (including two triples and a homer), while stealing three more bases. On August 22, 1989, he became Nolan Ryan's 5,000th strikeout victim, but Henderson took an odd delight in the occurrence, saying, "If you haven't been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you're nobody."{{cite news|first=Michael A.|last=Lutz|title=Nolan Ryan Speeds Into Hall of Fame|agency=Associated Press|date=July 17, 1999}}

A year later, Henderson finished second in the league in batting average with a mark of .325, losing out to the Kansas City Royals' George Brett on the final day of the season. Henderson had a remarkably consistent season, with his batting average falling below .320 for only one game, the third of the year. Reaching safely by a hit or a walk in 125 of his 136 games, he led the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), on-base percentage (.439) and OPS (1.016) was second in slugging percentage (.577), fourth in walks (97) and extra base hits (66), sixth in home runs (28) and total bases (282) and had 61 RBIs. Henderson won the AL's MVP award and helped Oakland to another pennant. He again performed well in the World Series (.333 batting, .667 slugging, a home run and three steals in four games), but the A's were swept by the underdog Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1990_WS.shtml|title=1990 World Series|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 22, 2010}}

On May 1, 1991, Henderson broke one of baseball's most noted records when he stole the 939th base of his career, one more than Brock's total compiled from 1961 to 1979, mainly with the St. Louis Cardinals. After his historic achievement, Henderson shouted out: "I'm the Greatest".{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/261179/Rickey-Henderson#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Rickey%20Henderson%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia |title=Rickey Henderson|encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia|access-date=February 17, 2008}}{{cite web |first1=Eric |last1=Chesterton |title=In 1991, Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson set new MLB records on the exact same day |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/in-1991-nolan-ryan-and-rickey-henderson-set-new-mlb-records-on-the-exact-same-da |website=MLB.com |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=April 30, 2021 |language=en}}

On July 16, 1993, Henderson broke the world stolen base record by stealing his 1,066th base, breaking the record held by Yutaka Fukumoto.{{cite news|title=AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Morris Returns to Old Form to Win|date=June 17, 1993|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-17-sp-4093-story.html|access-date=December 25, 2024}} In 90 games with Oakland, he was batting .327 with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs. He also had scored 77 runs, stolen 31 bases, drew 85 walks, had a .469 on-base percentage and was slugging .553.

In July 1993, the Athletics traded Henderson to the playoff-bound Toronto Blue Jays for Steve Karsay and José Herrera. He performed disappointingly for the Blue Jays, hitting only .215 in 44 games, which was probably due to the fact that he fractured a bone on his hand early on with the team, after being hit by a pitch, although he still contributed 22 stolen bases and 37 runs scored. However, his hitting woes continued in the post-season, batting .120 in the American League Championship Series and .227 in the World Series. Nevertheless, Henderson was involved in the final play of the World Series that year. He and Paul Molitor scored on Joe Carter's Series-ending home run, one of the most famous moments in baseball history.{{cite magazine|title=Home Sweet Homer|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1993.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714102848/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1993.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2012|access-date=August 28, 2008|date=November 1, 1993|last=Rushin|first=Steve}}

After the 1993 season, Henderson re-signed as a free agent with Oakland in December 1993. In 1994 and 1995, Henderson finished in the top 10 in the league in walks, steals and on-base percentage. His .300 average in 1995 marked his sixth and final season in the AL with a .300 or better average.

Henderson signed with the San Diego Padres in the offseason. In 1996, he again finished in the top ten in the National League (NL) in walks, OBP, steals and runs.{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2001/04/25/Sports/Stolen.Base.King.Rickey.Henderson.Knots.Up.Ruths.Walk.Mark-700155.shtml|work=Daily Texan Online|title=Stolen base king Rickey Henderson knots up Ruth's walk mark|date=April 25, 2001 |access-date=February 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506160031/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2001/04/25/Sports/Stolen.Base.King.Rickey.Henderson.Knots.Up.Ruths.Walk.Mark-700155.shtml|archive-date=May 6, 2008 |agency=The Associated Press}}

On August 13, 1997, the Padres traded Henderson to the Anaheim Angels for minor leaguers Ryan Hancock and Stevenson Agosto, as well as a player to be named later.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/14/sports/angels-trade-for-henderson.html|title=Angels Trade for Henderson|work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=August 14, 1997|accessdate=April 7, 2024 |page=B-11}} The Padres acquired George Arias to complete the trade.{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1998/apr/09/stars-arias-has-big-dreams/|title=Star's Arias has big dreams|first=Steve|last=Guiremand|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=April 9, 1998 | accessdate=April 7, 2024}} As an Angel, Henderson batted only .183 for the rest of the season.

In January 1998, Henderson signed as a free agent with the Athletics, the fourth time he played for the franchise. That season he led the majors in stolen bases (66) and the AL in walks (118), while scoring 101 runs. In so doing, the 39-year-old became the oldest player to lead a league in stolen bases, and the oldest player to reach 50 steals.{{Cite web|url=https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rickey-henderson-becomes-the-oldest-player-ever-to-steal-over-50-bases-and-lead-the-league-in-stolen-bases/|title = Rickey Henderson finishes the campaign with a league-leading 66 stolen bases when he swipes second and third in the bottom the third inning of the A's 4–3 victory over the Angels at Network Associates Coliseum. The 39 year-old 'Man of Steal' becomes the oldest player ever to lead the league in purloined bags|date = September 26, 1998}}

In 1999, he was seventh in the NL in on-base percentage.{{cite web|title=1999 On Base Percentage Leaders: Top 25 in the National League|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=August 25, 2008|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/top25.php?s=OBP&l=NL&y=1999}} Henderson was voted the 1999 National League comeback player of the year by The Sporting News. He wore number 24, which—although not officially retired—had not been regularly worn by a Mets player since Willie Mays' retirement in 1973. Nonetheless, Henderson and the Mets were an uneasy fit. After the Mets' loss in the 1999 NLCS, the New York press made much of a card game between Henderson and Bobby Bonilla. Both players had been substituted out of the lineup, and they reportedly left the dugout before the playoff game had concluded.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/10/21/mets_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001003172545/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/10/21/mets_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2000|title=Card game: Henderson, Bonilla show up Valentine in Game 6|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=August 25, 2008|date=October 22, 1999}}

Henderson sought a raise on his $1.9 million salary for the 2000 season, but the Mets refused to renegotiate. He also feuded with manager Bobby Valentine and complained about traveling to Tokyo for the 2000 season opening series against the Chicago Cubs. Worse, he put in minimal effort, effectively tanking, and forcing his release. Henderson batted .219 with no home runs and two RBIs. The Mets offered him to every team in the league, with no takers. The team then put him on waivers and granted him his release in May,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0509/523608.html|title=Mets waive unhappy Henderson|work=ESPN.com|date=May 10, 2000|access-date=April 7, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0513/530443.html|title=Phillips: 'Something had to be done'|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=May 15, 2000|accessdate=April 7, 2024}} which Mets' general manager Steve Phillips called "addition by subtraction".{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Liz |title=Baseball; With Patience Long Gone, Mets Release Henderson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/14/sports/baseball-with-patience-long-gone-mets-release-henderson.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=24 December 2024 |date=14 May 2000}}

After his release from the Mets, Henderson signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0518/538762.html |title=Mariners happy to have Henderson|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 18, 2000|accessdate=April 7, 2024}} In his second game as a Mariner, on May 20, Henderson hit a leadoff home run, thus becoming the third player to hit a home run in four different decades (Ted Williams and Willie McCovey were the others).{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=3377636|title=Griffey simply breathtaking in his prime|first=Tim|last=Kurkjian|work=ESPN.com|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=June 11, 2010}} Despite starting the season in the National League, Henderson finished fourth in the AL in stolen bases (31).{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/top25.php?s=SB&l=AL&y=2000|title=2000 Stolen Bases Leaders: Top 25 in the American League|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=August 25, 2008}}

File:Rickey Henderson crouching at first for the San Diego Padres (37575490516) (cropped).jpg in 2001]]

A free agent in March 2001, Henderson returned to the Padres. During the 2001 season, he broke three major league career records and reached an additional major career milestone. He broke Babe Ruth's record of 2,062 career walks, Ty Cobb's record of 2,245 career runs,{{cite news|title=Henderson Breaks Cobb's Record in Style|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 28, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/05/sports/national-league-roundup-henderson-breaks-cobb-s-record-in-style.html |date=October 5, 2001 |agency=The Associated Press}} and Zack Wheat's record of 2,328 career games in left field, and on the final day of the season (October 7) collected his 3,000th career hit, a leadoff double off Rockies pitcher John Thomson in San Diego.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/08/sports/baseball-henderson-it-s-an-even-3000-hits.html|title=Henderson: It's an Even 3,000 Hits|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 28, 2008|date=October 8, 2001 |agency=The Associated Press}}{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-7-2001-colorado-rockies-14-san-diego-padres-5-at-qualcomm-stadium/|title = October 7, 2001: Rickey Henderson records 3,000th hit in Tony Gwynn's final game |work=Society for American Baseball Research |first1=Frederick C. |last1=Bush}} That final game was also Tony Gwynn's last major league game, and Henderson had originally wanted to sit out so as not to detract from the occasion, but Gwynn insisted that Henderson play.{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Springer|title=Finishing Touches; Padres Combine Gwynn's Farewell With the 3,000th Hit by Henderson|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 8, 2001|page=D1}}

Image:Rickeyhenderson2002.jpg

At age 43, Henderson was the oldest player in the American League.{{cite news|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/Oldest_leagues.shtml|title=A Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Oldest Player|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=July 7, 2010}}

While playing in Boston, Henderson wore his old number 35, as his regular number 24 was already taken by Red Sox teammate Manny Ramirez.{{cite web |title=RICKEY MIGHT LOSE THAT NO. |url=https://www.courant.com/2002/02/26/rickey-might-lose-that-no/ |website=Hartford Courant |date=February 26, 2002}}{{cite web |first1=Jim |last1=Caple |title=10 Burning Questions for Rickey Henderson |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/questions/rhenderson.html |website=ESPN |access-date=December 12, 2024}}

As the 2003 season began, Henderson was without a team for the first time in his career. He played in the independent Atlantic League with the Newark Bears, hoping for a chance with another major league organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2003/04/29/henderson-runs-back-to-minors-for-another-shot/30514975007/|title=Henderson runs back to minors for another shot|website=Wilmington Star-News |agency=The Associated Press |date=April 29, 2003}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2003/06/23/what-is-rickey-henderson-doing-in-newark-the-greatest-leadoff-hitter-of-all-time-is-beating-the-bushes-trying-to-get-back-to-the-majorsand-still-leaving-em-laughing-at-every-stop|title=What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark? The greatest leadoff hitter of all time is beating the bushes, trying to get back to the majors—and still leaving 'em laughing at every stop|first=Tom|last=Verducci|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 23, 2003}} After being named the Atlantic League All-Star Game MVP, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him in July.{{cite news|title=Henderson, 45, played with Bears last year|date=May 2, 2004|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1794116|access-date=December 25, 2024}} In 30 games with the Dodgers, he had 15 hits and three stolen bases, with a .208 batting average.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/henderi01.shtml|title=Rickey Henderson Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=March 10, 2008}}

Note: All-time MLB leader in category is in bold.

Source:{{cite web|url=https://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/H/Phendr001.htm|title=Rickey Henderson Career Statistics at Retrosheet|website=retrosheet.org|accessdate= December 22, 2024}}

In 60 postseason games, including 3 World Series (1989, '90, and '93), Henderson batted .284 (63-for-222) with 47 runs scored, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, 20 RBI, 33 stolen bases, 37 walks, .389 on-base percentage, .441 slugging percentage, and .831 on-base plus slugging percentage.

{{MLBBioRet

|Image = OaklandRetired24.png

|Name = Rickey Henderson

|Number = 24

|Team = Oakland Athletics

|Year = 2009

}}

Before the 2003 season, his last in the majors, Henderson discussed his reputation for hanging onto his lengthy baseball career:

{{Blockquote|Each and every day I set a record, but we never talk about it. We'll talk about a home run hitter 24/7. Well, they haven't broken any all-time records, but they hit homers, and that's what matters nowadays. You continue playing, you accomplish a lot, and you'd think people would look at it as a fantastic career. Instead, Rickey thinks people want Rickey to quit more than anything."}}

Henderson played his last major league game on September 19, 2003; he was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance, and came around to score his 2,295th run. Though it became increasingly unlikely that he would return, he continued to publicly debate his own official retirement.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/12/07/SPGALG46E51.DTL |title=Rickey's retirement plans: will he or won't he? |first=Rob |last=Kroichick |access-date=February 17, 2008 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316211112/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2005%2F12%2F07%2FSPGALG46E51.DTL |archive-date=March 16, 2006 }} After leaving the Dodgers, Henderson started his second consecutive season with the Newark Bears in May 2004.{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2004 |title=Henderson, 45, played with Bears last year |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1794116 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} In 91 games he had a .462 OBP, with more than twice as many walks (96) as strikeouts (41), and stole 37 bases while being caught only twice. On May 9, 2005, Henderson signed with the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League, an independent league. This was the Surf Dawgs' and the Golden Baseball League's inaugural season, and Henderson helped the team to the league championship. In 73 games he had a .456 OBP, with 73 walks while striking out 43 times, and 16 steals while being caught only twice.{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiego/PlayersBio.aspx?PlayerID=280&SecID=397 |title=San Diego Surf Dawgs |publisher=Golden Baseball League |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914020940/http://www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiego/PlayersBio.aspx?PlayerID=280&SecID=397 |archive-date=September 14, 2007 }} It would be his final professional season.

Henderson would not accept the end of his major league career. In May 2005, he was still insisting that he was capable of playing in the major leagues. NBC and ESPN reported that Henderson had announced his much-delayed official retirement on December 6, 2005, but his agent denied the report the following day. On February 10, 2006, he accepted a position as a hitting instructor for the Mets, while leaving the door open to returning as a player. In July 2006, Henderson discussed an offer he'd received to rejoin the Surf Dawgs for the 2006 season, which would have been his 31st in professional baseball, but suggested he'd had enough. Six weeks later, though, on August 11, he claimed "It's sort of weird not to be playing, but I decided to take a year off", adding, "I can't say I will retire. My heart is still in it... I still love the game right now, so I'm going to wait it out and see what happens."{{cite web |url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5417&mode=print|title=The Week in Quotes: August 7–13|last=Erhardt|first=John|work=Baseball Prospectus|date=August 14, 2006|access-date=March 10, 2008}}

File:Rickey_Henderson_Day_Saturday,_Aug._1.jpg in August 2009]]

On May 18, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Oakland general manager Billy Beane was considering adding Henderson to the roster for one game in September, provided it did not "infringe on the integrity of the roster or of the season", so that Henderson could retire as an Oakland A's player.{{cite news|title=A Rickey Reunion?|last=Slusser|first=Susan|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 18, 2007|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/18/SPG11PTFL91.DTL|access-date=June 24, 2007}} A month later, Henderson appeared to reject the overture, saying, "One day? I don't want one day. I want to play again, man. I don't want nobody's spot... I just want to see if I deserve to be out there. If I don't, just get rid of me, release me. And if I belong, you don't have to pay me but the minimum—and I'll donate every penny of that to some charity. So, how's that hurtin' anybody?... Don't say goodbye for me... When I want that one day they want to give me so bad, I'll let you know."{{cite news|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/SPORTS/707010404|title=Rickey not ready for token farewell|work=The Times Herald Record|date=January 1, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 17, 2008|archive-date=April 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422002511/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/SPORTS/707010404|url-status=dead}} The Athletics retired Henderson's #24 on August 1, 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4372024|title=Henderson receives second honor|access-date=September 5, 2009|agency=Associated Press|date=August 1, 2009|work=ESPN.com}}

Henderson finally conceded his "official retirement" on July 13, 2007: "I haven't submitted retirement papers to MLB, but I think MLB already had their papers that I was retired." Characteristically, he added, "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."{{cite news|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS/707140340|title=Mets name Henderson new first-base coach; HoJo replaces Down as hitting coach|work=The Times Herald Record|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 17, 2008|archive-date=April 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422002519/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS/707140340|url-status=dead}}

Contrary to speculation,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2056132|title=Henderson signs contract to play in San Diego|date=May 9, 2005|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 17, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/18/SPG11PTFL91.DTL|title=A Rickey Reunion?|first=Susan|last=Slusser|author-link=Susan Slusser|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=February 17, 2008|date=May 18, 2007|archive-date=January 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127060827/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/18/SPG11PTFL91.DTL|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050509/news_1s9rickey.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050509222743/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050509/news_1s9rickey.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 9, 2005 |title=Rickey to play for Surf Dawgs |first=Kirk |last=Kenney |work=The San Diego Union Tribune |date=May 9, 2005|access-date=February 17, 2008 }} Henderson's refusal to officially retire had not been delaying his eligibility for Hall of Fame induction. Since the 1970s, the five-year waiting period has been based on major league service only. Henderson was elected as part of the 2009 Hall of Fame vote, in his first appearance on the ballot. At a press conference two days after his election, the 50-year-old Henderson told reporters, "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 ... they can always ring my phone and I'll come on down and help their ballclub, that's how much I love the game."{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142009/sports/yankees/rickey_to_big_league_gms__dont_lose_my_n_150123.htm|title=Rickey to Big League GMS: Don't Lose My Number|newspaper=New York Post|access-date=February 15, 2009|last=Kernan|first=Kevin|date=January 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118220924/http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142009/sports/yankees/rickey_to_big_league_gms__dont_lose_my_n_150123.htm|archive-date=January 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}

In 2011, on the 20th anniversary of his record-breaking stolen base, the Oakland A's held "Rickey Henderson Bobblehead Day". At Henderson's insistence, the giveaway plastic dolls had one atypical modification: "I told them, put a little dirt on mine, make sure that [it looks] like I'm playing the game." Almost eight years after his final game, Henderson also reiterated his desire to return: "Sometimes when I sit around and look at the game and things ain't going right, I just think, 'Just let me put on the uniform and go out there and take a chance'."{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/30/SPR31JA5CI.DTL|work=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Steve|last=Kroner|title=Rickey Henderson bobblehead a big hit|date=May 12, 2011}}

File:Rickey Henderson (New York Mets coach).jpg

The New York Mets hired Henderson as a special instructor in 2006, primarily to work with hitters and to teach base stealing. Henderson's impact was noticeable on José Reyes, the Mets' former leadoff hitter.{{cite magazine|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Untitled|page=57|publisher=Time Inc.|date=May 7, 2007}} "I always want to be around the game," Henderson said in May 2007. "That's something that's in my blood. Helping them have success feels just as good."{{cite web|title=Henderson would like one more chance to make a big league team |first=Janie |last=McCauley |agency=Associated Press |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=May 8, 2007 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rickeyhenderson-anothergo&prov=ap&type=lgns |access-date=June 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512131645/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rickeyhenderson-anothergo&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-date=May 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

On July 13, 2007, the Mets promoted Henderson from special instructor to first base coach, replacing Howard Johnson, who became the hitting coach.{{cite news|url=http://www.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-metshittingcoach071307&prov=yhoo&type=lgns|title=Mets to name Johnson hitting coach|last=Brown|first=Tim|date=July 13, 2007|access-date=October 3, 2007|work=Yahoo! Sports}} Henderson was not retained as a coach for 2008. Henderson had periodically been a special instructor in the Athletics' spring training camps. In 2010, he worked on base stealing (most notably with Rajai Davis and Coco Crisp) and outfield drills.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2010-02-27-2090419159_x.htm|title=Henderson to lead base stealing seminar|date=February 27, 2010|work=USA Today|access-date=July 5, 2010 |url-status=dead}}

Sports Illustrated{{'s}} Tom Verducci wrote in 2003, "There are certain figures in American history who have passed into the realm of cultural mythology, as if reality could no longer contain their stories: Johnny Appleseed. Wild Bill Hickok. Davy Crockett. Rickey Henderson. They exist on the sometimes narrow margin between Fact and Fiction."{{cite magazine|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/1/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021111051/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |page=1 |title=What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark? |publisher=cnn.com |access-date=February 15, 2009 |last=Verducci |first=Tom |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 23, 2003 }}

Henderson referred to himself in the third-person.{{cite web |first=Joseph|last=Wancho| url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rickey-henderson/ | title=Rickey Henderson – Society for American Baseball Research|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=December 21, 2024}}{{cite web

| url = http://archive.mensjournal.com/a-field-guide-to-sports-egos

| title = A Field Guide to Sports Egos

| date = March 2, 2010

| last = Taibbi

| first = Matt

| author-link = Matt Taibbi

| work = Men's Journal

| access-date = December 6, 2012

| quote = They actually have a word for what Rickey Henderson is: illeist.

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130128221737/http://archive.mensjournal.com/a-field-guide-to-sports-egos

| archive-date = January 28, 2013

| url-status = dead

}}

According to Verducci, during one off-season, Henderson called Padres general manager Kevin Towers and left this message: "Kevin, this is Rickey. Calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball." However, Henderson denied that this happened in a February 26, 2009, interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning.{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3936209 |title=True Or False, Rickey? – ESPN Video – ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com|date=February 26, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402163513/http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3936209 |archive-date=April 2, 2009}} In 2003, he discussed his unusual phraseology, saying, "People are always saying, 'Rickey says Rickey.' But it's been blown way out of proportion. Rickey says it when Rickey doesn't do what Rickey needs to be doing. Rickey uses it to remind himself, like, 'Rickey, what you doing, you stupid. ... ' Rickey's just scolding himself." Henderson did use the first person pronoun on occasion, such as when he defended his position during a contract dispute: "All I'm asking for is what I want."

Henderson was so proud of a $1 million signing bonus that he framed it instead of cashing it, thus losing several months' interest.{{cite journal|title=Henderson's antics tarnish his brilliant career|first=Jon|last=Heyman|journal=The Sporting News|date=April 17, 2000}} Similarly, Henderson refused to spend his per diem money that all players receive on road trips: instead, he would put the envelopes containing the cash in a box, and when one of his children performed well in school he would invite them to choose an envelope out of the box and keep its contents. In 2002, following an argument with pitcher Orlando Hernández, Henderson stated, "He needs to grow up a little bit. I ain't a kid. When I broke into the game, he was crawling on his hands and knees. Unless he's as old as I am. He probably is." (Hernández is approximately seven years younger.){{cite news|title=The best of Rickey being Rickey|last=Baumbach|first=Jim|date=July 12, 2007|work=Newsday}}

Henderson had a reputation for forgetting or not learning people's names, including those of his teammates.{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Phillips |title=Tales of Rickey |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/hof09/news/story?id=3822413 |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |date=9 January 2009 |language=en |quote=One of the quirky things about Henderson is that he doesn't remember people's names. When my team, the Mets, signed Henderson for the 1999 season, I learned that firsthand, as he was never able to remember my name. He would say, 'Hey, GM,' when he wanted me.}}{{cite news |last1=Keegan |first1=Tom |title=Boomer Blowing Off Sox? |url=https://nypost.com/2001/05/13/boomer-blowing-off-sox/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=New York Post |date=13 May 2001 |quote=He still doesn't bother to learn teammates['] names. For example, while leading off from third base during a recent game, Henderson yelled, 'Drive me in, T!' to the hitter. Ryan Klesko was at the plate.}}

There are many unconfirmed stories about Henderson. A Padres teammate (variously reported as Steve Finley or Tony Gwynn) once offered him a seat anywhere on the bus, saying that Henderson had tenure. Henderson supposedly replied, "Ten years? What are you talking about? Rickey got 16, 17 years." One widely reported story was a fabrication that began as a clubhouse joke made by a visiting player.{{cite news|url=http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2001/10/09/henderson/print.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030724080442/http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2001/10/09/henderson/print.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2003 |title=Rickey Henderson |first=Allen |last=St. John |work=Salon.com |date=October 9, 2001 |access-date=March 17, 2008 }} While playing for Seattle in 2000, Henderson was said to have commented on first baseman John Olerud's practice of wearing a batting helmet while playing defense, noting that a former teammate in Toronto did the same thing. Olerud was reported to have replied, "That was me." The two men had been together the previous season with the 1999 Mets, as well as with the 1993 World Champion Blue Jays. Several news outlets originally reported the story as fact.{{cite web|title=Henderson-Olerud Story Never Happened |publisher=Baseball Library |date=April 1, 2002 |last=Patterson |first=Harry |url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Patterson_Harry1.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030912220856/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Patterson_Harry1.stm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2003 |access-date=August 25, 2008 }}{{cite web|title=The List: Baseball's biggest rumors|publisher=ESPN|last=Merron|first=Jeff|access-date=August 25, 2008|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/baseballrumors.html}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1019504/3/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207233350/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1019504/3/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |page=3 |access-date=August 25, 2008 |date=June 19, 2000 |first=Stephen |last=Cannella |title=Baseball }}

Verducci wrote, "Rickey is the modern-day Yogi Berra, only faster." Henderson himself was resigned to his persona: "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."

A bobblehead of Henderson as an Athletic appeared in Toy Story 4.{{cite web |last1=Hartlaub |first1=Peter |title='Toy Story 4' will feature Rickey Henderson, as an Oakland A's bobblehead |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/toy-story-4-will-feature-rickey-henderson-as-an-oakland-as-bobblehead |website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 2, 2019}}

In 1983, Henderson married his high-school sweetheart, Pamela. They had three children.

Henderson died on December 20, 2024, five days before his 66th birthday, at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center following a bout of pneumonia.{{cite web |first=Laurence |last=Miedema |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/12/21/rickey-henderson-oakland-as-died-yankees-hall-of-fame-mvp-man-of-steal/ |title=Rickey Henderson, the greatest Oakland A's player of all time, has died at age 65 |work=The Mercury News |date=December 21, 2024 |access-date=December 21, 2024}}{{cite news|url = https://www.tmz.com/2024/12/21/mlb-legend-rickey-henderson-dead|title = Oakland A's Legend Rickey Henderson Dead at 65|date = December 21, 2024|accessdate = December 21, 2024|work = TMZ}}{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/12/21/rickey-henderson-dies-at-65/|title = Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dies at 65|last1 = Kaur|first1 = Anumita|last2 = Murphy|first2 = Brian|date = December 21, 2024|accessdate = December 21, 2024|newspaper = The Washington Post|url-access = limited}} According to Dave Stewart, Henderson, who was asthmatic and endured related sinus issues, was admitted to the hospital that day for a related surgery, but never recovered. News of Henderson's death spread that evening on X as an unconfirmed rumor, but was not confirmed by his family in the media until the following day.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2024/12/21/rickey-henderson-death-cause-dave-stewart-oakland-athletics/77140363007/ | title=Rickey Henderson's lifelong friend Dave Stewart 'can't wrap my head around' death | website=USA Today }}

{{Over-quotation|section|date=December 2024}}

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|quote=It took a long time, huh [Pause for cheers] First of all, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity. I want to thank the Haas family, the Oakland organization, the city of Oakland, and all you beautiful fans for supporting me. [Pause for cheers] Most of all, I'd like to thank my mom, my friends, and loved ones for their support. I want to give my appreciation to Tom Trebelhorn and the late Billy Martin. Billy Martin was a great manager. He was a great friend to me. I love you, Billy. I wish you were here. [Pause for cheers] Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing. But today, I'm the greatest of all time. Thank you.

|source= —Rickey Henderson's full speech after breaking Lou Brock's record.Henderson et al., Off Base: Confessions of a Thief, pp. 153–154}}

On May 1, 1991, Henderson stole his 939th base to pass Lou Brock and became the sport's all-time stolen base leader. Henderson's speech after breaking Brock's record was similar to the standard victory or award speech. He thanked God and his mother, as well as the people that helped him in baseball. Because his idol was Muhammad Ali, Henderson decided to use the words "greatest of all time."{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200808043235127|title=MLB.com Rickey's 939|publisher=Mlb.mlb.com|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2009}} These words have since been taken by many to support the notion that Henderson is selfish and arrogant,{{cite news|title=2-Minute Bio, Rickey Henderson|last=Cruz|first=Gilbert|work=TIME Magazine|date=January 13, 2009|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1871278,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114235902/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1871278,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2009|access-date=July 7, 2010}} although years later, Henderson revealed that he had gone over his planned remarks ahead of time with Brock, and the Cardinals Hall of Famer "had no problem with it. In fact, he helped me write what I was going to say that day."{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_2_62/ai_95915327|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709173321/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_2_62/ai_95915327|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2008|title=One on one with Rickey Henderson: future Hall of Famer – Interview|work= Baseball Digest|first=Dennis|last=Manoloff|year=2003}} On the day of the speech, Brock later told reporters amiably, "He spoke from his heart." Brock and Henderson had had a friendly relationship ever since their first meeting in 1981. Brock pronounced the young speedster as the heir to his record, saying, "How are we gonna break it?"

Henderson has mixed feelings about his comments:

{{Blockquote|As soon as I said it, it ruined everything. Everybody thought it was the worst thing you could ever say. Those words haunt me to this day, and will continue to haunt me. They overshadow what I've accomplished in this game.}}

At the end of his July 2009 Hall of Fame induction, Henderson alluded to his earlier speech, saying:

{{Blockquote|In closing, I would like to say my favorite hero was Muhammad Ali. He said at one time, quote, "I am the greatest," end of quote. That is something I always wanted to be. And now that the Association has voted me into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my journey as a player is complete. I am now in the class of the greatest players of all time. And at this moment, I am ... [pause] ... very, very humble. Thank you.}}

Asked if he believes the passage of time will improve his reputation, Henderson said:

{{Blockquote|If you talk about baseball, you can't eliminate me, because I'm all over baseball... It's the truth. Telling the truth isn't being cocky. What do you want me to say, that I didn't put up the numbers? That my teams didn't win a lot of games? People don't want me to say anything about what I've done. Then why don't you say it? Because if I don't say it and you don't say it, nobody says it.}}

Henderson had 468 more stolen bases in his career than Brock, one short of 50% more than the game's second-most prolific basestealer.{{cite web|title=Career Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_career.shtml|access-date=August 28, 2008|work=Baseball Reference}} In 1993, Henderson stole his 1,066th base, surpassing the world record established ten years earlier by Yutaka Fukumoto for the Hankyu Braves in Japan's Pacific League.{{cite web |url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/history/timeline5.jsp |title=History: Athletics Timeline |access-date=March 9, 2008 |work=MLB.com |archive-date=March 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324144123/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/history/timeline5.jsp |url-status=dead }} In his prime, Henderson had a virtual monopoly on the stolen base title in the American League. Between 1980 and 1991, he led the league in steals every season except 1987,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_leagues.shtml|title=Year-by-Year League Leaders for Stolen Bases|access-date=June 25, 2007|work=Baseball Reference}} when he missed part of the season due to a nagging hamstring injury,{{cite news|last=Martinez|first=Michael|title=Henderson Placed on Disabled List|access-date=June 5, 2007|date=August 2, 1987|newspaper=New York Times|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE1D7173CF931A3575BC0A961948260}} allowing Mariners second baseman Harold Reynolds to win the title. Henderson had one more league-leading season after that stretch, when his 66 steals in 1998 made him the oldest steals leader in baseball history. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Henderson also owns the record for times caught stealing (335). Due to incomplete historical recordkeeping for that statistic, though, it is unknown whether he is the actual career leader.[http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Leaders/glossary.htm Glossary of terms; Baseball Statistics.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416040130/http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Leaders/glossary.htm |date=April 16, 2021 }} – Caught stealing totals went largely unrecorded until 1920; it is therefore statistically likely that Eddie Collins (7th in steals) was thrown out more times than Henderson. However, Henderson's overall 81% success rate on the basepaths is among the highest percentages in history.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/stolen_base_perc_career.shtml|access-date=December 8, 2020|work=Baseball Reference|title=Career Leaders & Records for SB %}} (Carlos Beltran ranks first among players with at least 300 career attempts, at just over 86%.){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stba.shtml|access-date=December 8, 2020|work=Baseball Almanac|title=MLB Stolen Bases Records}}

On July 29, 1989, Henderson stole five bases against the Mariners' left-handed Randy Johnson, his career high, and one shy of the single-game major league record. Unusually, Henderson was hitless in the game (he had four walks). Henderson had 18 four-steal games during his career. In August 1983, in a three-game series against the Brewers and a 2-game series versus the Yankees, Henderson had 13 stolen bases in five games. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Floyd Rayford described the confusion he felt during a particular game, when Henderson was leading off first base and signaling him with two fingers. Henderson quickly stole second base, then third, and Rayford understood the gesture.

Longtime scout Charlie Metro remembered the havoc caused by Henderson: '"I did a lot of study and I found that it's impossible to throw Rickey Henderson out. I started using stopwatches and everything. I found it was impossible to throw some other guys out also. They can go from first to second in 2.9 seconds; and no pitcher catcher combination in baseball could throw from here to there to tag second in 2.9 seconds, it was always 3, 3.1, 3.2. So actually, the runner that can make the continuous, regular move like Rickey's can't be thrown out, and he's proven it."{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quohenr.shtml|title=Rickey Henderson Quotes|website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}

Sportswrite Joe Posnanski marveled that Henderson had 796 career walks when leading off an inning:

{{Blockquote|Think about this again. There would be nothing, absolutely nothing, a pitcher would want to avoid more than walking Rickey Henderson to lead off an inning. And yet he walked SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY SIX times to lead off an inning. He walked more times just leading off in an inning than Lou Brock, Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, Ernie Banks, Kirby Puckett, Ryne Sandberg and more than 50 other Hall of Famers walked in their entire careers.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2008/12/11/rickey-henderson|title=Oh Rickey you're so fine|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 11, 2008|access-date=July 7, 2010|last=Posnanski|first=Joe}}}}

Henderson was a headfirst slider. In September 2008, Henderson discussed his base-stealing technique at length with Sports Illustrated:

I wanted to know how to dive into the base because I was getting strawberries on my knees and strawberries on my ass... I was thinking about head-first versus feet-first, and wondering which would save my body. With head-first I worried about pounding my shoulders and my hands, and with feet-first I would worry about my knees and my legs. I felt that running was more important to me, with my legs, so I started going head-first. I got my [low-to-the-ground] technique from airplanes... I was on a plane and asleep and the plane bounced and when we landed we bounced and it woke me up. Then the next flight I had the same pilot and the plane went down so smooth. So I asked the pilot why, and he said when you land a plane smooth, you get the plane elevated to the lowest position you can and then you smooth it in. Same with sliding... If you dive when you're running straight up then you have a long distance to get to the ground. But the closer you get to the ground the less time it will take... I was hitting the dirt so smooth, so fast, when I hit the dirt, there wasn't no hesitation. It was like a skid mark, like you throw a rock on the water and skid off it. So when I hit the ground, if you didn't have the tag down, I was by you. No matter if the ball beat me, I was by you. That was what made the close plays go my way, I think.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/09/10/ballard.hendersonrollins/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915044841/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/09/10/ballard.hendersonrollins/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2008|title=Chris Ballard: More from Rickey Henderson and Jimmy Rollins on the art of the steal|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=February 15, 2009|last=Ballard|first=Chris|date=September 10, 2008}}

File:Rickey Henderson 2011 (cropped).jpg parade in 2011]]

{{As of|2024}}, Henderson ranks first all-time in runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406), fourth in career games played (3,081), 13th in at bats (10,961), and 26th in hits (3,055). He has the second-highest career power–speed number, behind Barry Bonds, at 490.4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/power_speed_number_progress.shtml |title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Power-Speed # |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 24, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://research.sabr.org/brj/index.php/thunder-and-lightning |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415210240/http://research.sabr.org/brj/index.php/thunder-and-lightning |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |title=Thunder and Lightning |publisher=Research.sabr.org |first1=Michael |last1=Sciarretta |access-date=January 24, 2013 }} Henderson reached 20+ homers and 50+ steals in the same season a record four times.{{cite web|first=John|last=DiFonzo|title=César Cedeño|publisher=Society For American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/cesar-cedeno/|access-date=December 29, 2024}} His record for most career walks (2,190) has since been broken by Barry Bonds; Henderson is now second but continues to hold the record for most unintentional walks (2,129). While his career batting average of .279 is considered somewhat modest for a leadoff hitter, his walks helped him post a stout .401 on-base percentage (OBP) for his career. He posted an OBP of at least .400 in 16 separate seasons, with a high mark of .439 in his 1990 MVP season. Henderson averaged 115 walks per 162 games over his career.

Henderson also holds the record for most home runs to lead off a game, with 81; George Springer is second with 60 going into the 2025 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/most-career-leadoff-home-runs-in-mlb-history | title=Most career leadoff home runs in MLB history | website=MLB.com }} During the 2003 season, Henderson surpassed Babe Ruth for the career record in secondary bases (total bases compiled from extra base hits, walks, stolen bases, and times hit by pitch). In 1993, he led off both games of a doubleheader with homers. At the time of his last major league game, Henderson was still in the all-time top 100 home run hitters, with 297. Bill James 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."James, The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, 654

Henderson's record for the most postseason stolen bases was broken by Kenny Lofton's 34th career steal during the 2007 ALCS;{{cite web|title=Kenny Lofton sets postseason record for stolen bases|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3066983|date=October 27, 2007|access-date=August 28, 2008}} Henderson is the only American League player to steal more than 100 bases in a single season (having accomplished the feat three times), and he is the all-time stolen base leader for the Oakland A's.{{cite web|title=Celebrating 40 Years of Oakland Athletics|work=MLB.com|url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/fan_forum/anniversary.jsp|access-date=August 29, 2008|archive-date=September 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922074605/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/fan_forum/anniversary.jsp|url-status=dead}}

In 1999, before breaking the career records for runs scored and walks, Henderson was ranked number 51 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508010320/http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/100/index-51.html|title=Baseball's 100 Greatest Players|work=The Sporting News|archive-date=May 8, 1999 |date=May 8, 1999|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/100/index-51.html}} and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.{{cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/1999/1023/129008.html|title=All-Century Team final voting|work=ESPN.com|date=October 23, 1999|access-date=July 7, 2010}} In 2005, The Sporting News updated their 100 Greatest Players list, and Henderson had inched up to number 50.{{cite web|url=http://baseballevolution.com/top100s/sportingnews2005.html|title=Baseball Evolution – The 2005 Sporting News Top 100|first=Scott Asher|last=Keith|website=baseballevolution.com}} On January 12, 2009, Henderson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot, receiving 94.8% of the vote. This was the 13th highest percentage in major league history.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof.shtml|title=MLB Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=July 7, 2010}}

Asked to choose the best player in history, Henderson declined, saying, "There are guys who have done different things very well, but I don't know of anyone who mastered everything." Offered the chance to assess his own placement among the game's greats, he said, "I haven't mastered the homers or RBI. The little things, I probably mastered." Of his various records and achievements, he values his career-runs-scored mark the most: "You have to score to win."

{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}

{{div col}}

• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades
• List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
• List of Major League Baseball stolen base records
• Major League Baseball titles leaders

{{div col end}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{bbhof|henderson-rickey}}
• {{Baseballstats|mlb=115749|espn=|br=h/henderi01|fangraphs=|brm=hender003ric}}
• {{IMDb name| 1739932}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-QDXtKHEPY Rickey Henderson crushed souls with unprecedented efficiency], Secret Base, YouTube

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{{s-bef|before=Lou Brock}}

{{s-ttl|title=Major League Baseball single season stolen base record holder|years=1982–present}}

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{{s-bef|before=Lou Brock}}

{{s-ttl|title=Major League Baseball career stolen base record holder|years=1991–present}}

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{{s-bef|before=Ty Cobb}}

{{s-ttl|title=Major League Baseball career runs scored record holder|years=2001–present}}

{{s-aft|after=current}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Major League Baseball career bases on balls record holder|years=2001–2004}}

{{s-aft|after=Barry Bonds}}

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{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}

{{1989 Oakland Athletics}}

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