Rest In Peace, Rickey
“Don’t worry, Rickey, you’re still the best.” ~ Rickey Henderson, overheard by a teammate after Henderson struck out in a game in Seatle.
The “Man of Steal” has died. I can’t believe I’m even typing this. It was announced today that Rickey Henderson passed away. He died yesterday, December 20th after being treated for a bout of pneumonia in an Oakland area hospital. He would have turned 66 years old on Christmas day. Rickey leaves behind his wife and high-school sweetheart Pamela whom he married in 1983 and three grown daughters, Angela, Alexis, and Adrianna. He also leaves all baseball fans with exciting memories of arguably being the best lead-off hitter of all time and the holder of the most stolen bases in a career, which in all likelihood will never be broken.
I blogged about Henderson previously, in “Ricky” (CLINK HERE TO READ) back on July 10, 2023. That was a lighthearted take of some of his quotes and of course his career. I enjoyed writing that post; today, it is with heaviness in my heart that I write about him again. Rickey was 6 months younger than me, way too young to be taken from us. He was a player who played the game all out. He wasn’t a phony, saying he was a “warrior” and all that other nonsense. He played, he knew he was great and said as much. Of course, the way he said it was sometimes comical as he almost always referred to himself in the third person.
Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson was born on Christmas day, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. His mother delivered Rickey on the way to the hospital in the back of their car, which he joked about, saying “I was already fast. I couldn’t wait.”
Henderson was a left fielder for 24 seasons in the majors. He made his debut with the Oakland Athletics on June 24, 1979, and played his final game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 19, 2003. He batted right-handed and threw left-handed. Rickey was 5’10” and played at 180lbs.
Over his 24 seasons he amassed 3,055 hits, had a .279 batting average, hit 297 home runs, had 1,115 runs batted in, a record 1,406 stolen bases of which 130 were in a single season (1982, another record), and scored a record 2,295 runs.
(Rickey Henderson, on May 1, 1991, when he surpassed Lou Brock’s career stolen base record with his 939th steal. Found on the internet. Assuming Public Domain.)
Rickey is considered as one of the best leadoff hitters in the history of the game. He hit 81 leadoff home runs and walked a record leading 2,129 times. He was electric on the base paths and was always a threat to steal at least one base.
Henderson was a 10-time All-Star, a World Series Champion (1989 and 1993), lead the American League in stolen bases 12-times (1980-86, 1988-91 and 1998). The Oakland Athletics retired his uniform number “24”. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot with 94.8% of the vote in 2009.
Rickey played for the Oakland Athletics (1974-1984), the New York Yankees (1985-1989), the Oakland Athletics (1989-1993), the Toronto Blue Jays (1993), the Oakland Athletics (1994-1995), the San Diego Padres (1996-1997), the Anaheim Angels (1997), the Oakland Athletics yet again (1998), the New York Mets (1999-2000), the Seattle Mariners (2000), the San Diego Padres (2001), the Boston Red Sox (2002), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2003).
Henderson didn’t need a hokey disengagement rule or larger bases to break the previous stolen base record. He did it on foot speed, awareness of pitchers and a belief in himself. He wasn’t concerned with exit velocity or other such phrases, he saw his pitches and he put them in play. He was a player that I was fortunate enough to see throughout his career. I never considered him my favourite, but he was one I admired, marveling at his abilities as well as his longevity.
Some of the tributes from former teammates and players:
“Sad day for our Hall of Fame family with the passing of Rickey Henderson one of the greatest to ever play the game you’ll be dearly missed Brother RIP Rickey.” ~ Wade Boggs
“Rickey Henderson just passed away. During my time with the Athletics, he had his locker right next to mine. He would come in almost every day and play cards with the boys. Class act and great dude. I used to mess with him by saying that he was lucky I wasn’t catching when he was trying to steal. I’d have thrown him out. Probably not true but he would say, ‘naw man you would have no chance’ lol. I also loved talking hitting with him. He was a really smart player. He was a good guy and loved being around the players. Baseball lost a good one today. Legendary player. Prayers and condolences to his family.” ~ Jonathan Lucroy
“I’m heartbroken at the news about the legend Rickey Henderson. To be able to be taught by someone I idolized as a kid, it meant so much that he took time to teach so many of us.” ~ Josh Reddick
"Ricky Henderson was a dream to hit behind as a teammate and a nightmare for a catcher as an opponent. He was one of the most generous, hysterical and gracious human beings. He will be sorely missed. Prayers for his soul and comfort for his family. ~ Mike Piazza
"Waking up & hearing of the passing of a boyhood hero of mine and so many kids of our generation. Getting a chance to play against & get to know Ricky was a dream come true. The greatest leadoff hitter that ever lived. Devastating news." ~ Jerry Hairston Jr.
"I still cannot believe I've lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace." ~ Dave Winfield
"Rickey Henderson was an incredible man. A legend who was so much more approachable than his image would have you think. From playing cards in the clubhouse to picking his Hall of Fame mind about holding runners, Rickey would share his wealth of knowledge with ease. RIP Rickey. He was so kind to me and my entire family. I’ll remember watching him and my brother waiting at baggage claim in Tokyo, shooting the shit together as they waited to see whose bag would be the last one out. I’m sad today. He will be missed.” ~ Jerry Blevins
My take, Rickey Henderson was a game-changing player; he was a family man; a decent, colourful human being. Gone too soon. And I’ll say it as well ‘don’t worry Rickey, you’re still the best’. Rest In Peace sir.
Thanks!
~ Coach Mike
Please feel free to share this post and site with your family, friends and 50 complete strangers if you like.
Link to: Achieves Page
Link to: About Page
Follow on Twitter: @CommentsFromCo9
Mike, you picked a great picture of Rickey. It took a few years for me to get used to him, but he became one of my favorites (except when he was on the Yankees, of course). I so loved how he could control an inning, even a game, with his ability to get on base and to steal. He disrupted everything. For a year or two, in my opinion, he was the very best player in all baseball. Not many players can reach that pinnacle. And the story of his birth -- in Chicago, in the back of a car, on Christmas Day -- is also the stuff of legends. Thanks for the column!
Great story in memory of Ricky! R.I.P.