King of stolen bases baseball player Rickey Henderson dies from pneumonia

Rickey Henderson Dies at 65

Pneumonia Suspected as Cause of Death

Record-Breaking MLB Base Stealer Passes Away

Rickey Henderson, Hall of Famer and legendary base stealer who shattered MLB records, has died at the age of 65.

Henderson passed away on Friday, as announced by the Oakland Athletics in a statement released Saturday.

The team expressed they were «shocked and heartbroken by his passing.» According to multiple reports, pneumonia may have been the cause of death.

The «Man of Steal» amassed a long list of accolades and achievements during his nomadic 25-year career.

Saying Goodbye to Rickey Henderson: «I Will Miss My Friend»

Rickey Henderson Dies at 65 – PHOTO: The Associated Press

Rickey Henderson earned an MVP award, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series titles, and a Gold Glove during his illustrious career.

«He was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,» said Don Mattingly.

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«Just thinking about him makes me smile. I will miss my friend,» added Mattingly, who played alongside Henderson for the Yankees from 1985 to 1989.

Henderson made his name in base stealing, dominating the sport in a way no other player could.

He achieved more than 100 steals in 1980, his first full MLB season, surpassing Ty Cobb’s American League single-season record.

Rickey Henderson thrived with the Oakland Athletics under manager Billy Martin.

He barely slowed down while playing for nine different franchises over the next two decades.

In 1982, Henderson broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 stolen bases by recording 130 steals.

He led the league in stolen bases for seven consecutive seasons and 12 seasons overall. On May 1, 1991, Henderson broke Brock’s career stolen base record, swiping his 939th bag while playing for Oakland.

In a now-iconic moment, Henderson pulled the third base out of the ground and held it aloft for the crowd before delivering a speech.

«Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all time,» he declared.

Henderson ended his career with 1,406 stolen bases, as reported by The Associated Press.

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PHOTO: MundoNOW