There are few players in any sport who can truly claim to be the greatest of all-time in certain aspects of the game. In baseball, Rickey Henderson holds the record for the the most career stolen bases (1,4006). To put this into context, second on that list is Lou Brock with 938. No player in baseball’s long, storied history has crossed home plate as many times as Henderson, who also holds the record for runs scored, edging out Ty Cobb by fifty runs.
Withstanding the Test of Time
Rickey Henderson’s stolen base totals are one of those rare records that is very unlikely to ever be broken. There are very few statistics that fit in this category. Pete Rose‘s 4,256 hits, Nolan Ryan‘s 5,714 strikeouts and Cal Ripken Jr’s 2,632 consecutive games played are the others least likely to be usurped. In many ways these records are pure phenomenon. To achieve this level of greatness, a player has to be consistently elite over the course of two decades.
Throughout Henderson’s 25 year career in Major League Baseball, he averaged 74 stolen bases a season. The most came in 1982 with 130. Perhaps just as impressive, he led the league in stolen bases in 1998 with 66 at the age of 39. Henderson’s incredible speed and acumen on the bases, combined with over 3,000 hits has him on top of the list of the best leadoff hitter to ever play the game.
Remembering the Man of Steal
It came as a surprise today, as baseball fans learned of Rickey Henderson’s passing at just 65 years old. The Man of Steal, as he was often referred to, seemed indestructible. Drafted by his hometown Oakland Athletics in 1976, Henderson would held lead the A’s to a World Series Championship in 1989. Henderson played the bulk of his career in Oakland, however enjoyed successful years with the Yankees as well. Late in his career, he jumped around to a number of teams who sought his talent and veteran leadership.
Rickey Henderson was a 10-time All-Star, three time Silver Slugger, AL MVP and Gold Glove recipient. In 2009, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy in the halls of Cooperstown. While baseball lost one of the best to ever play, his impact on the game of baseball will continue on for generations to come.
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