December 21st 2024.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rickey Henderson, the beloved Oakland native who captured the hearts of fans as the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history. He would have celebrated his 66th birthday this Christmas Day, but after a bout with pneumonia, multiple sources have confirmed that he passed away on Friday.
Henderson's impact on the Oakland community and the sport of baseball is immeasurable. As a teammate, competitor, and friend, he will be greatly missed. In a statement, Billy Beane, a senior advisor to the A's managing partner, expressed his admiration for Henderson, calling him the greatest Oakland A of all time.
With his iconic crouched batting stance and confident swagger, Henderson set numerous MLB records, including 2,295 runs and 1,406 stolen bases in his 25-year career. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility. In his induction speech, Henderson shared that his hero was Muhammad Ali and that he strived to be the greatest, a goal he felt he achieved by being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Henderson's contributions to the Oakland A's franchise cannot be overstated. He played for the team in parts of 14 seasons, making him the greatest player in Oakland's history. His passing is yet another emotional blow to A's fans, who are still reeling from the news that the team will be leaving Oakland after 57 seasons. This news also comes after the recent deaths of other former A's stars such as Sal Bando, Ken Holtzman, and Vida Blue.
Pamela Henderson, Rickey's wife, described him as a legend both on and off the field. She emphasized his love for baseball and how he lived his life with integrity. Henderson's journey began in Chicago on Christmas Day in 1958, where he was born in the back seat of an Oldsmobile. He often joked that he was "already fast" from the moment he arrived.
The Henderson family eventually moved to Oakland, where Rickey attended Oakland Technical High School and became a star athlete. Despite his dream of playing for the Oakland Raiders, his mother convinced him to focus on baseball to avoid potential injuries. This decision proved to be wise, as Henderson managed to play 25 years in the majors with only minor injuries. He even holds the record for most games played, with only Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski, and Hank Aaron ahead of him.
The A's drafted Henderson in 1976, just as the team was breaking up the highly successful Swingin' A's era. In his rookie year, he batted .274 and stole 33 bases in just 89 games. But it was in 1980 that he made history by becoming the first player in the American League to steal 100 bases in a season. Two years later, he broke the MLB record with 130 stolen bases, surpassing Lou Brock's record of 118.
Henderson's speed and power on the field were unmatched, with him leading the American League in stolen bases 12 times and hitting 297 career home runs. His contributions to the sport were recognized by the A's, who dedicated the playing surface at the Coliseum as Rickey Henderson Field in 2017. At the dedication ceremony, Henderson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play for his hometown team and to have a field named after him.
The news of Henderson's passing has left the entire Oakland community in mourning. He will be remembered as a devoted son, father, friend, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and his impact on the sport and the city will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Rickey Henderson.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Rickey Henderson, a true legend of baseball and the beloved hometown hero of Oakland. On Christmas Day, he would have turned 66, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his battle with pneumonia on Friday, as confirmed by multiple sources.
The Oakland A's and the National Baseball Hall of Fame have both released statements mourning Henderson's death. He was not only a remarkable leadoff hitter, but also a teammate, a competitor, and a dear friend to many. Billy Beane, a senior advisor to the A's managing partner, expressed his admiration for Henderson, stating that he was the greatest player in the franchise's history and will be forever remembered by fans all over the world.
Henderson's record-breaking career spanned over 25 years, during which he set the MLB career records for runs and stolen bases, as well as the single-season stolen base record. In 2009, he was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. During his induction speech in Cooperstown, New York, Henderson humbly shared his childhood dream of becoming the greatest, just like his hero Muhammad Ali, and how being voted into the Hall of Fame completed his journey as a player.
Born in Chicago, Henderson's family moved to Oakland when he was young, and it was there that he developed his love for baseball. He attended Oakland Technical High School, where he excelled in various sports, including football, where he dreamed of playing for the Raiders. However, he followed his mother's advice to focus on baseball, as it was less likely to result in injuries. Despite his trademark headfirst slides, Henderson managed to avoid serious injuries and went on to play for the A's in four different stints, earning the title of the greatest player in the franchise's history.
The news of Henderson's death comes as a shock to A's fans, who are already mourning the team's departure from Oakland after 57 seasons. The loss of former franchise stars like Sal Bando, Ken Holtzman, and Vida Blue, as well as the recent passing of Willie Mays, the greatest player in the history of the cross-bay San Francisco Giants, adds to the emotional blow. Henderson's wife, Pamela, described him as a legend on and off the field, a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, and uncle, who lived his life with integrity and loved the game of baseball above all else.
Rickey Henderson was more than just a baseball player; he was a force to be reckoned with on the field, and a beloved member of the Oakland community. He often joked about his speedy arrival into the world on Christmas Day in 1958, and his mother's influence in shaping his career. He was drafted by the A's in 1976, just as the team was going through major changes, but Henderson quickly became a fan favorite. In 1980, he made history by becoming the first player in the American League to steal 100 bases in a season. He continued to break records, including Lou Brock's MLB record of 118 stolen bases in a single season, and led the league in stolen bases 12 times.
Throughout his career, Henderson played for nine different teams, but he always had a special place in his heart for the A's in Oakland. In 2017, the playing field at the Coliseum was dedicated to him as Rickey Henderson Field, a moment he considered to be a dream come true. His love for his hometown and the game of baseball will never be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to live on through the memories and achievements he left behind.
Rest in peace, Rickey Henderson. Thank you for the extraordinary moments and accomplishments you shared with us. You will be greatly missed.
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