Rickey Henderson, Oakland A’s legend and baseball’s stolen bases king, dies at 65

Former Oakland Athletics star Rickey Henderson attends a game between the Athletics and the Texas Rangers in Oakland on Sept. 25. Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series titles and a Gold Glove award. I will miss my friend.” Oakland’s Rickey Henderson dives to steal his 939th career base to set the all-time stolen base record against the New York Yankees on May 1, 1991. Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. Henderson already had been Ryan’s 5,000th career strikeout victim, which led him to say, “If you haven’t been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you’re nobody.” Rickey Henderson holds up third base after breaking Lou Brock’s all-time career record for stolen bases on May 1, 1991.