Rickey Henderson is a former American professional baseball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners in the history of the sport. Born on December 25, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois, Henderson played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 25 seasons, from 1979 to 2003.
Known for his exceptional speed and agility, Henderson held the record for stolen bases, leading the league in steals 12 times throughout his career. His aggressive playing style and ability to disrupt the defense made him a formidable opponent and a valuable asset to his teams. Henderson also possessed great batting skills, consistently achieving high on-base percentages and setting numerous records for runs scored.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Henderson played for multiple teams, including the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres, among others. He won two World Series championships, one each with the Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays. Henderson was also named an All-Star ten times and received the American League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1990.
Off the field, Henderson was known for his charismatic personality, which sometimes attracted attention and controversy. Despite this, his contributions to the game and his remarkable achievements have solidified his place as one of the all-time greats in baseball history, earning him induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
