The greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in baseball history — 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs and a 25-year career that redefined what a leadoff hitter could be.
Rickey Henderson was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1958. Oakland Athletics selected him fourth overall in the 1976 MLB Draft. His 25-season career produced 3,055 hits, 2,295 runs scored and 1,406 stolen bases — the all-time record, surpassing Lou Brock's mark on 1 May 1991. He was named AL MVP in 1990 and won the World Series with Oakland in 1989 and Toronto in 1993. He was a 10-time All-Star. He hit 297 career home runs as a leadoff hitter — the most in major league history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 with 94.8% of the vote. He is universally considered the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history.
Stolen bases record and leadoff hitting
How They Played
Speed-focused leadoff hitter with exceptional base stealing ability
Lasting Impact
Greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in baseball history
World Series Champion 1989
He stole 130 bases in a single season (1982) — a record so far above what any modern player achieves that it's considered unapproachable.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- World Series Champion 1989
- AL MVP 1990
- 12x stolen base champion
- 1,406 career stolen bases (record)
- 2,295 career runs (record)