I’m seeing some reports online that Rickey Henderson has died, but no credible news reports yet.
One of my favorite players. He was born Christmas Day if I recall correctly, so right before his birthday if he passed.
So far nothing official, hopefully just a bad rumor, he’s only in his 60s.
Not a news source but I did track down one of the primary sources of the rumor. Dave Winfield did post on Instagram that Henderson is dead. The post is still on his page.
Damn, NY Post is reporting it as official.
If anyone is interested, he gave a great Hall of Fame speech.
I’m going to split this to its own thread. I think there’s something in my eye. 
Way too young!
RIP to the greatest lead off hitter in baseball history.
(And one of the inadvertently funniest. Rickey Henderson usually spoke in the third person, and wasn’t the brightest bulb)
That was a really nice Hall of Fame speech. RIP.
It’s funny how ‘Runs’ isn’t a celebrated statistic like homers and hits, but that’s the name of the game and Rickey scored more than anyone else in the history of the sport. Truly an inner-circle talent.
Henderson was one of the most exciting, talented players I’ve ever seen play. He was also a quirky guy, but that was, for the most part, a part of his charm.
I was with my father at the August, 1982 game, at Milwaukee County Stadium, where he broke Lou Brock’s single-season stolen base record against the Brewers – Henderson had come into the game tied with Brock at 118. Milwaukee’s pitcher, Doc Medich, walked Rickey in the third inning, and then threw over to first base several times; I’m sure that Medich realized he was going to be a part of a historic moment, and he was visibly nervous. When Medich finally pitched towards home, Henderson took off, and easily stole second.
Brock was at the game, sitting a few rows ahead of us, and they stopped the game at that point for a brief ceremony, with Brock going onto the field to congratulate him.
I think it was Bill James who said you could cut Rickey Henderson in half (statwise) and have two Hall of Famers.
Also the Costello of one of the best dialogues in major league history:
RH: So you wear your batting helmet when you’re in the field. I played with a dude in New York who did that.
John Olerud: That was me, Rickey.
RIP to one of the greats.
One of the few players to bat right and throw left (George HW Bush, who played first base for Yale, was another).
One of my favorite Ricky stories:
In the minor leagues, Henderson had carte Blanche authority to steal whenever he got on base. Other players had to wait for a sign. So one day, Ricky tells the coaches that he wants to get signs too.
“But what if you are ready to steal and I don’t give you the steal sign?“
“Rickey don’t care. Rickey wants signs just like everybody else. Rickey will follow them.”
So the next time he’s on first, the third base coach goes through the signs. He gives Ricky the steal sign, but then he gives him the take-off sign, telling him that the steal sign is no longer in effect. Next pitch, Ricky steals 2nd.
Now, on second, Ricky looks for the next sign. This time, the third base coach doesn’t even go close to a steal sign. And when he’s done, he does the take-off sign to negate whatever he just signaled.
Next pitch, Ricky steals third.
Later, the coach asked Ricky why he would steal the bases when he didn’t get the steel sign.
“You gave Rickey the take off sign. So Rickey take off to second. And then Rickey take off to third.”
…
Apparently one year the Oakland A’s had a million dollar discrepancy on their books. They asked Rickey about it. They had given him a million dollar bonus, and instead of cashing the check he had framed it and hung it on his wall.
…
Once a player said he was entitled the front seat on the bus because he had tenure.
“Ten year? Rickey been playing 15 year! Get out of my seat.”
And the most successful, by a huge margin. I looked this up once, and there have only been 60 or so position players who batted right / threw left (it’s more common in pitchers). It’s tougher for these people to make it to the majors - they can’t play any infield position except first base, so they’d usually be outfielders. Which means fewer chances of a slot to fill.
Henderson was a real outlier, in multiple ways. Much too young, I’m sorry to hear of his passing.
Hws been stolen from us
Just learned about this on news radio. He was an incredible player, amazing.
RIP Rickey.
There’s a Will Clark video of Rickey reaching 1st (Clark’s position) and getting the sign not to steal, and him telling Clark Oh no, No way, he’s gonna steal! It’s pretty funny. I think I can find it searching on ‘Rickey gone Will Clark‘.
Added: I found it. ➜ https://youtu.be/Y6fXyijer8M ■
Me too. I wasn’t a huge baseball fan growing up but I knew who Ricky Henderson was. He was an exciting player.
ISWYDT
What’s interesting is that ESPN.com still isn’t reporting it.
One report I saw says he had been hospitalized with pneumonia.
I just noticed that, too.
It’s mentioned on the A’s website now, in an article that was only posted about 10 minutes ago, but which includes a quote from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred; his passing has been noted on Baseball Reference’s home page for at least an hour. But, in addition to ESPN, there’s no mention on the AP website, either. I’m guessing that some news sources are still waiting for official confirmation.
Too late to edit: the article on the A’s website also quotes a statement by Henderson’s wife, Pamela.
And, ESPN and the AP are now running the story. Both of the articles below indicate that Henderson died yesterday; ESPN mentions that his family released a statement this evening. It does not appear that anything has been publicly said yet about a cause of death.
Thirded.
Watching Rickey bat was fun.
When I’m feeling cocky in the gym. I’ll pace around and do a little toe tap that I learned from watching Henderson.
Trivia: He was Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout. To his credit, he said he was honored.
Here’s some highlights from his career.
I’m reeling.
I’m a former Oakland A’s fan. I watched Rickey’s whole career, from when he came up in 1979 until his last season in 2003. He spent more seasons with the A’s than with any other team. He is by far the greatest player on the A’s every since I started following the team in 1968.
He was two years younger than I, and he appeared to be in great shape and good health the last time I saw him, a couple of years ago. Willie Mays died this year, too, but he was 93 years old. It’s shocking to me that Rickey is gone.
It’s harder in baseball for a position player to dominate a game, because he comes to bat only four or five times, and doesn’t have control on defense over which balls are hit in his direction (pitchers can dominate a single game, but they don’t pitch every day). More that once, I saw Rickey completely take over a game and dictate its course. That’s a rare thing in this sport.
Rickey stories are being passed around the internet.
Harold Baines tells about the time he led the league in steals one year. Rickey would normally lead with 100 something, but he was injured, so that year Baines lead the league with 60.
He says the day after the season ends Rickey calls him.
“Hello?”
“Henderson here. 60 steals. You should be ashamed of yourself. Rickey has 60 steals by the all star break.”
And with that Rickey hung up the phone.
…
Another guy (I forget who) talked about catching when Rickey was at bat, talking himself up. First pitch strike.
“You got this Rickey,” he tells himself.
Strike two.
“You the man Rickey.”
Third pitch, also a strike. Henderson has struck out.
“You’re the best Rickey” he tells himself as he walks back to the dugout.