Henderson, Rickey (1958-…), was one of the best players in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). Henderson played 25 MLB seasons from 1979 through 2003. Perhaps the greatest leadoff man in baseball history, Henderson is the all-time career leader in runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406)—and also the career leader in times caught stealing (335). Henderson collected 3,055 career hits, 2,190 walks (second most in MLB history), and 297 home runs during his career. He hit .300 or better eight times, set the single-season record for stolen bases (130) in 1982, and holds the career record for home runs leading off a game (81). Henderson was a 10-time All-Star, the 1990 American League (AL) Most Valuable Player, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Henderson was born Rickey Nelson Henley on Dec. 25, 1958, in Chicago . He grew up in Oakland , California , where his family adopted the surname of his stepfather, Paul Henderson. Rickey played high school baseball, basketball , and football . In 1976, he turned down football scholarships to play Minor League Baseball in the Oakland Athletics organization.
Henderson made his MLB debut in June 1979 as a left fielder with the Athletics. In 1980, his first full season, he hit .303, scored 111 runs, and became the first player in AL history to steal 100 bases. Henderson eclipsed the 100-steal mark in 1982 (130) and 1983 (108). For his career, Henderson led the league in steals 12 times, including a 66-steal season in 1998 at age 39. He led the league in runs five times, walks four times, and hits once. Henderson spent all or parts of 14 seasons with the Athletics, but he played for eight other teams during his long career. Henderson broke Lou Brock ‘s career steal record (938) while with Oakland in 1991.
See also Baseball (table: Modern major league baseball records) .
