Tributes Pour in From Around Baseball After News of Rickey Henderson's Death

Henderson died at the age of 65.

Rickey Henderson died at the age of 65. / Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball's all-time leader in steals and runs scored, died at the age of 65, according to multiple reports.

Henderson, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest leadoff hitters and base stealers in the history of the sport, played for nine different teams in his 25-year career, compiling 3,055 hits, 297 home runs and 1,115 RBI. His 2,295 career runs and 1,406 stolen bases remain Major League records.

Henderson played for nine different teams in his 25-year career, and won two World Series titles in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics and again in '93 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was inducted into Cooperstown as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2009.

Tributes from around Major League Baseball poured in on Saturday upon news of Henderson's death:

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 (@ChickenMan3010) December 21, 2024

Super Sky Point to Rickey Henderson, the greatest leadoff man and base stealer to ever set foot on a baseball diamond. I’m stunned. Some guys seem larger than mortality. Rickey was one of them. #RIP pic.twitter.com/CFnizuJAog

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) December 21, 2024

No one has touched home plate more. No one has stolen more bases.
And no one has come around quite like him since.

Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest. Two-time champion with As and Jays.

And owner of one of the most iconic moments ever: breaking the stolen base record: ⚾️ https://t.co/UyLCO6Mth1 pic.twitter.com/HG43oPr4WG

— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) December 21, 2024

Rickey Henderson was the most electric MLB player of my time. RIP pic.twitter.com/RwXyJVDB9n

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) December 21, 2024

Something about one of Rickey Henderson's last public appearances being at the final MLB game in the Oakland Coliseum makes me immeasurably sad

— No More Fielders 🧢 (@nomorefielders) December 21, 2024

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 (@JRedDubDeuce) December 21, 2024

Rickey Henderson was more than just one of the greatest baseball players of all-time

He was a loving father. Sending my sincere condolences to his family pic.twitter.com/O6UTzi1PpQ

— JohnRocker (@itsJohnRocker) December 21, 2024

Rickey Henderson just passed away. During my time with the @Athletics he had his locker right next to mine. He would come in almost everyday 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…

— Jonathan Lucroy (@JLucroy20) December 21, 2024

As much as Rickey Henderson was appreciated, he was still underrated and under appreciated.

Played during the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Accrued 111.1 bWAR, 19th-most all-time, during his 25-year career.

RIP Rickey

— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) December 21, 2024

In 1987, Harold Reynolds led the AL in steals with 60.

He was the only player other than Rickey Henderson to lead the AL in steals in the ‘80s.

Rickey only played 95 games and stole 41 in 1987.

He called Harold after the season to “congratulate” him.pic.twitter.com/247aI2wzIN

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) December 21, 2024

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