December 22, 2024
Two of Henderson’s records will likely remain unbroken: his 1,406 career stolen bases and 130 stolen bases in a season.
Rickey Henderson, the man who redefined what it meant to be a leadoff hitter and Major League Baseball’s all-time steals leader, died five days before he would have turned 66 on Christmas Day of pneumonia.Henderson’s wife, Pamela, died on Dec. 21 confirmed his death in a statement to the media.
“We are deeply grateful for the love, support and heartfelt memories from family, friends and fans,” said Pamela Henderson. Ricky lived his life with integrity and his love for baseball was paramount.Now Ricky is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary he left behind moments and achievements.”
Henderson, a once-in-a-lifetime player, is most closely associated with the Oakland Athletics, and while he’s had issues with asthma and sinus problems that required surgery in 2023, he’s still in good health, according to former Athletics player and good friend Dave Stewart. it seemed.
As Stewart said USA TodayHenderson often went in spite of his body telling him to slow down.
“When I heard he was sick,” Stewart said, “I wasn’t surprised. He doesn’t know how to slow it down. He’s not giving himself a chance to be 100%.”
Stewart also recalled what it meant to him to lose one of his best friends.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Stewart said, “I still can’t wrap my head around it. We’ve known each other practically all our lives. It was a thrill of a lifetime. That.” talented. That once-in-a-lifetime thing. There will never be another player like him.”
By: The AthleticTwo of Henderson’s records will likely remain unbroken, his 1,406 stolen bases in a career and 130 stolen bases in a season, and his style of play endeared him to fans across America, but he epitomized Oakland, his hometown, according to Paul Friedman, an independent league President of the Oakland Ballers Baseball Club.
“There are some players that just personify the cities they play in, and Ricky brought the essence of Oakland to the field,” Friedman said. “He was dynamic and he wasn’t afraid to stand out. He’s synonymous with Oakland.”
By: The AthleticHenderson himself admitted that his way Playing the game was a blast, but he chalked it up to fan service.
“The way I play the game, people call me a hot dog,” Henderson once said that I think they came here to see some excitement.”
According to Ben Davis, Henderson’s teammate while playing for the San Diego Padres, Henderson’s 2001 game. season, when Henderson was 42, placed him in baseball’s Parthenon, epitomized by the home run he capped by sliding into home plate .
“Feet first, and he was always a head-first guy. it caught us off guard more than anything else,” recalled Davis, the Padres’ catcher. “But you never let Ricky go. I mean, think about it that year. he got his 3,000th hit, he got the all-time walk record and he hit the all-time home run record. The walk record was passed by Barry, but it’s unbelievable to do all that in one year.”
Henderson’s impact on the game in general, and baserunning in particular, was so profound that it was his name that came up when Major League Baseball’s new rules were changed to encourage stealing in 2023.
But there is, was, and always will be only one Rickey Henderson, as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made clear in his own statement.
“Ricky was one of the most successful and beloved athletes of all time. He also made an impact with many other clubs like no other. Ricky epitomized speed, power and fun at the top of the lineup the new rules of the game, we had the Ricky Henderson era in mind.”
Manfred continued. “Ricky earned the universal respect, admiration and reverence of sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Ricky’s family, his friends and former teammates, A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere.”
The Athletics, who no longer play in Oakland and named their field at Oakland Coliseum after Henderson in 2017, recognized the most important player in franchise history in a statement.
“Ricky Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time,” the Athletics said on generations of fans during his 14 seasons wearing the Green and Gold.”
They continued. “To those who knew him personally, Ricky was much more than a franchise icon and a baseball Hall of Famer. He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach and staff member who walked through the Oakland Coliseum or played a game on the field that bears his name. We are shocked and saddened by his death. His loss will be felt not only by A’s fans, but by baseball fans around the world.”
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