Major League Baseball icon and Oakland Athletics legend Rickey Henderson died at the age of 65, his family said in a statement shared by the league over the weekend.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson,” the statement from Pamela Henderson said on behalf of herself and their daughters.
“A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind,” she said.
The family thanked supporters for their show of love but asked for privacy as they grieve their loss. They also thanked doctors and nurses at the University of California, San Francisco medical center for treating Henderson for an ailment they did not disclose.
Henderson, an Oakland native, was MLB’s all-time leading run scorer, with 2,295 runs scored. He was known as a master of stealing bases and was the league’s all-time leader in bases stolen, recording the feat 1,406 times during a career that spanned 24 years and included four stints with the A’s.
The team had just honored Henderson in September with a bobblehead giveaway. Henderson, a hall-of-famer, threw out the first pitch.
He was remembered by the league, friends and former colleagues as news of his death spread, including MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting,” Manfred said in a statement, calling him one of the most accomplished A’s in the team’s history.
“Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey’s family, his friends and former teammates, A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere,” Manfred said.
The A’s said in a statement that the franchise was shocked and saddened by his death on Friday, calling him undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game. The team said his on-field accomplishments spoke for themselves but that he would be remembered for more than his play.
“For those who knew him personally, Rickey was much more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Hall of Famer. He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach, and employee who passed through the Oakland Coliseum or played a game on the field that came to bear his name, the team said.
The greatest of all time. pic.twitter.com/QboSskM3LD
— Athletics (@Athletics) December 21, 2024
Billy Beane, who is an advisor to the team and is the team’s former general manager and also played with Henderson on the A’s, echoed those sentiments and offered condolences to Henderson’s family.
“He was the greatest Oakland A of all time and will deservedly be remembered that way by fans of baseball across the world. His impact on the A’s, on Oakland, and on baseball is immeasurable, as he continued to affect the lives and careers of A’s players and staff until the very end,” Beane said.
The post ‘A legend on and off the field’: A’s Rickey Henderson remembered following death at 65 appeared first on Local News Matters.