A’s legend & MLB stolen base leader Rickey Henderson dies at 65
Dec 21, 2024, 3:08 PM | Updated: Dec 23, 2024, 9:16 am
(Photo by Jeff Carlick/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Carlick/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Rickey Henderson, a 10-time All-Star and the all-time stolen base leader, died on Friday after a bout with pneumonia, multiple outlets reported. He was 65.
Henderson played 25 seasons in the major leagues, stealing at least 100 bases on three occasions, including 130 steals in 1982 to break Lou Brock’s modern-day record for a single season. He finished with 1,406 steals to shatter Brock’s all-time mark of 938.
Far more than a stolen-base threat, Henderson hit 297 home runs with 1,115 RBIs. His 81 leadoff home runs are a major league record.
24 Forever 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/a4C2J3jpSW
— Athletics (@Athletics) December 21, 2024
An Oakland, Calif., native, Henderson was drafted in the fourth round in 1976 by his hometown Athletics. He made his major league debut in 1979 and was an All-Star for the first time in 1980.
Traded to the New York Yankees before the 1995 season, Henderson returned to the A’s in 1989 and also spent time with the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009 after winning World Series titles in 1989 (A’s) and 1993 (Blue Jays), while earning the American League Championship Series MVP in 1989 and a Gold Glove Award in 1981.
He would have turned 66 on Christmas Day.
–Field Level Media
More A’s coverage from Sactown Sports
The Athletics have found a third baseman for the 2025 season.
According to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal, the A’s have signed veteran third baseman Gio Urshela to a one-year deal for the 2025 season. The agreement is pending a physical.
Urshela, 33, is a nine-year MLB veteran who has experienced stops in Cleveland, Toronto, New York (Yankees), Minnesota, Los Angeles (Angels), Detroit, and most recently, Atlanta.
Over 128 games in 2024, Urshela hit .250 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. Urshela is known to be a glove-first infielder, but he has posted several strong seasons at the plate, hitting .314 with the Yankees in 2019 and .285 with Minnesota in 2022.
Urshela will reunite with A’s ace Luis Severino for the first time since the duo played together with the Yankees from 2019-21.
Read more below:
Upcoming 2024-25 MLB Offseason Dates
- MLB free agency begins the day after the final World Series game
- Players can sign contracts with new teams five days after the final World Series game
- December 8-11th – MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX
- February TBD – Pitchers & catchers report for Spring Training
Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
