Hard to think that it’s almost been a year to the day (12/20/24) that Mr. A, AKA Rickey Henderson, passed away and was taken away from us all way too soon.
His passing, as many will tell you, was very unexpected and, given his age, a long way to come.
Still Doesn’t Feel Real
That wasn’t the case, and it seemed that Rickey faded along with the A’s as their move finalized to Sacramento and eventually to Las Vegas. Rickey didn’t like that, but he always supported the team, and I’m sure that all weighed heavily on his heart as he left the city of Oakland.
In fact, Rickey was at the A’s last game at the Coliseum to throw out the first pitch with Jose Canseco, a game I had to be at.
Never Forget Rickey
Rickey Henderson and his legacy mustn’t be forgotten, and I imagine the A’s will have various ways to immortalize Henderson in their shiny new digs in Las Vegas. The Man of Steel was a prime example of how you would want your superstar player to be molded: pure of heart.
Rickey was a constant in the community; he helped elevate and would always make time for kids and fans alike while at the Coliseum in Oakland and in opposing cities.
Anyone who came into contact with him was always invigorated with a rare sense of enthusiasm.
Statement from the New York Yankees:
Rickey Henderson was an all-time great player who commanded our attention like few players before or since, transcending our traditional understanding of how elite and thrilling a single player could be in in the batter’s box and on the… pic.twitter.com/qeduKLmoUO
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 21, 2024
Why His Record May Never Be Broken
The game is different today. No team plays small ball like they used to, and there really isn’t a single player that’s known only for stealing bases. There’s Ohtani, who, much like Barry Bonds, stole a lot of bases while hitting lots of home runs, but no one did it like Rickey, and no one will ever. Rickey holds all-time records for stolen bases and runs scored, which are more than those of Ty Cobb and Lou Brock, respectively. He had 172 attempts in the 1982 season, stole 130, and was caught 42 times, all records.
The more you run, the more you’re going to get caught stealing.
He not only led the league in steals once or twice, but he amazingly did so 12 seasons in his career. Rickey didn’t just run, either; that man could hit and still holds the MLB record to this day of 81 leadoff homers. Rickey would and could do it all. There was no one like Rickey.
Run Rickey, Run
No one ran harder or faster than Rickey when he was on the field, and he lived life the same way, and that’s something we can all aspire to do. His arrogance wasn’t malicious and, in fact, was more contagious than anything, as people knew his strive for greatness wasn’t just for himself, but for the greater good of the MLB and the preservation of baseball.
Rickey not only carried the mantle but also ran with it, never looking back. Long live Rickey Henderson and his legacy in MLB, with fans, in Oakland, and with the Athletics.
I’m sure we’ll see a future Rickey statue in Vegas; it’s well deserved.
Rickey Henderson didn’t just change the game, he was the game. Today and every day, we celebrate his legacy. 💚 pic.twitter.com/fvwqmzbn2N
— Athletics (@Athletics) December 20, 2025
