MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dies at 65
MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65 after a battle with pneumonia, according to reports.
Henderson - who remains baseball's all-time stolen bases leader by some distance with 1,406 - is widely considered the greatest leadoff hitter in the sport's history.
The two-time World Series champion passed away Friday while in the Oakland area, reports TMZ. He had been receiving treatment in hospital for a brief period beforehand.
His wife Pamela released a statement through the Athletics social media accounts on Saturday night, saying: 'It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson. A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount.
'Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and heartfelt memories from family, friends, and fans — all of which have brought immense comfort. We also extend our sincere gratitude to MLB, the Oakland A's, and the incredible doctors and nurses at UCSF who cared for Rickey with dedication and compassion.
'Your prayers and kindness mean more than words can express. In this difficult time, we kindly ask for your respect and privacy as we adjust to life without Rickey, holding on to the legacy he left for all of us.'
MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65, according to reports
Henderson remains baseball's all-time stolen bases leader by some distance with 1,406
Henderson, an Oakland native, came to baseball late after flourishing as a football player in high school, where he became an All-American running back with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Yet despite receiving a dozen scholarship offers to play football, and having a desire to play for the then-Oakland Raiders, he turned them down after his mother argued that NFL players have shorter careers than other athletes.
Henderson therefore ventured into baseball and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics, whom he went on to play for on four separate occasions.
After a stint with the New York Yankees, the 10-time All-Star helped Oakland claim its first World Series for 25 years in the 1989 season, before adding another to his own collection four years later with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He also enjoyed spells with the Anaheim Angels (now known as the LA Angels), the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox as well as two with the San Diego Padres, before eventually retiring as an LA Dodger.
Across his 24-year career, Henderson had three seasons with at least 20 home runs and 65 stolen bases.
The other 23,369 players in MLB history combined have four.
Henderson recorded more than 3,055 hits and 297 home runs with a .279 batting average, while he also holds the all-time record for runs scored with 2,295.
The baseball legend passed away in his native Oakland on Friday after a pnuemonia battle
As for his stolen-base record, no other player in history has ever hit the 1,000 mark, something he achieved 11 years before the end of his career.
Henderson entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, six years after he had called time on his iconic playing days.
Tributes are pouring in for the sporting great after his death on Friday, including from ex-teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
Winfield shared a photo of him and Henderson together on Instagram and wrote: 'I still cannot believe I’ve lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace.'
