Baseball legend Rickey Henderson passed away having lost his battle with pneumonia. Henderson is a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and owns one of the sport’s seemingly unbreakable records. Throughout his 24-year career, which spans four decades, he reached a stolen base record that may never be touched. His number 24 is part of the Oakland Athletics “Ring of Honor” for his 14 seasons in 4 different stints with the team. In his prime, he was one of the most exciting players to watch on the diamond. His speed alone had opposing teams and pitchers on their heels, as he was a threat to score every time he got on base.
Rickey Henderson’s Unbreakable Record
Similar to Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak, Barry Bonds’ single season and career Home Run record, Cy Young’s most wins record, and Nolan Ryan’s strikeouts and no-hitter record, Rickey Henderson’s stolen base record will likely never be duplicated or passed. His 1,406 stolen bases are about 500 more steals than the runner-up and previous record holder, Lou Brock.
In 1982, Henderson broke the single-season stolen base record, breaking Brock’s 118 with his own 130. He then later broke Brock’s career stolen base record in 1991. This would also be 12 years before the 2009 Hall of Fame inductee would play his final game in the Major League Baseball. Henderson was a traditional lead-off man with speed and average and is considered the greatest at that batting position of all time.
Not only does he hold the record for single-season and career stolen bases, but he also broke Ty Cobb’s career tuns record with 2,295. In his 24 years, he played for the Athletics, Yankees, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, and Dodgers.
Final Thoughts
The iconic picture of Rickey Henderson raising the base over his head as he became the new stolen base king will live on in baseball fans’ minds forever. He proved to everyone that speed kills in a bulked-up, steroid-using chicks dig the long ball era. Most records are made to be broken, but Rickey Henderson owns two that may never be touched or even thought. America’s pastime lost an absolute legend!
There aren’t many athletes that come into their respective sport and have an impact on the game like he did. Before there were pickoff rules, pitch clocks, and larger bases, there was Rickey Henderson on top of the hill, and no one even close. Players like him are once a generation that change the game and find other ways to win than the traditional. There will never be another Rickey Henderson in baseball. Rest in Peace!
