Oakland Athletics fans are still reeling from the fact the Major League Baseball team will no longer play a game locally. Now, fans from across the Bay Area are gathering at the Coliseum to mourn the death of baseball legend Rickey Henderson.
Henderson died at 65 years of age on Friday, according to the team and his family. He holds the record for most career stolen bases and is regarded as one the best leadoff hitters in Major League Baseball history. His death comes days before his birthday on Christmas Day.
Fans started a memorial at the A's former home, better known as Rickey Henderson Field, posting a sign reading "24-Ever" and laying flowers.
"Hallowed ground here. I came out to pay tribute to the GOAT," said Maria Dominguez of Concord. "For us, in our family, we always thought he was like one of our own. He’s Oakland."
Dominguez said, in her heart, Henderson is truly the Greatest of all time.
She added that the death hit close to home because her father knew Henderson when they attended Oakland Tech.
"To receive the news that he has passed, my heart is just so broken, especially for his family [and] all of our A’s fans," Dominguez said.
Many who grew up watching the legend gathered at Rickey's Sports Lounge in San Leandro to share memories and remember the player in his prime. Ramone Smith, co-owner of Rickey's, said they are working on a tribute.
"I think everyone loved Rickey because he was Rickey," said Ramone Smith, co-owner of Rickey’s Sports Lounge. "He had a little swag to him before swag was out – in the 80’s. He’s gonna be missed.”
Lenny Vanboven of Berkeley said he remembered watching Henderson play growing up. But what stood out was how the "Man of Steal" stole bases.
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“Rickey was very iconic in the Bay Area. I was only like in 5th or 3rd grade, but Rickey was just stealing bases and making new record highs," Vanboven said.
Henderson, who grew up in Oakland, was a first baseman for the A's in the 1980s and 1990s. Henderson had turned down multiple football scholarships to sign with the Athletics in 1976.
In his first major league season in 1980, Henderson broke Hall of Famer Ty Cobb's 65-year-old American League stolen base record of 96 with 100 swipes. During the 1982 season, he stole 130 bases, breaking Lou Brock's major league single-season record of 118.
"Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time," the A's said in a statement via their social media pages. "His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A’s fans over his 14 seasons wearing the Green and Gold."
Statement from the A’s:
— Athletics (@Athletics) December 21, 2024
Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an…
The A's have since changed the profile photo on their social media accounts to honor Henderson's jersey number, 24. The team also posted a memorial on social media.
The greatest of all time. pic.twitter.com/QboSskM3LD
— Athletics (@Athletics) December 21, 2024
Throughout his 25-year career, he played for nine teams: the Oakland A's, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners, and the Toronto Blue Jays. He led the American League in stolen bases 12 times and became the all-time record holder with 1,406 steals, which is how he earned the nickname the "man of steal."
Henderson set all-time records for runs scored, with 2,295, and unintentional walks, totaling 2,129. The 10-time All-Star won the American League MVP Award in 1990, leading the MLB in runs scored, stolen bases, and on-base percentage.
Additionally, Henderson won two World Series championships during his career—one in 1989 with Oakland and another in 1993 with Toronto. He spent most of his career playing left field and earned the Gold Glove Award in 1981. Throughout his time in the league, he finished with a .279 batting average, accumulating 3,055 hits and 297 home runs.
Oakland's Interim Mayor, Nikki Fortunato Bas, took to social media to provide her condolences.
"Rickey Henderson was 1 of 1," she wrote on X. "An Oakland legend and icon. A multi-sport star at Oakland Tech, a champion with the Oakland A’s and beloved by this community. I am heartbroken for his family and fans. We have reached out to the A’s to offer any assistance the City can provide."
Rickey Henderson was 1 of 1. An Oakland legend and icon. A multi-sport star at Oakland Tech, a champion with the Oakland A’s and beloved by this community. I am heartbroken for his family and fans. We have reached out to the A’s to offer any assistance the City can provide.
— Nikki Fortunato Bas (@Nikkiforallofus) December 21, 2024
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said he compares Henderson's legacy to the late San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie Mays.
"When he was on base, he disturbed every other player because nobody knew what he might do at any given moment," Brown said.
Current and former sports teams in the Bay Area also took time to honor the MLB legend.
The San Francisco 49ers posted on X that the team was "saddened" by Henderson's passing and sent its "deepest condolences to the Henderson family and the [A's]."
The 49ers are saddened by the passing of Bay Area legend Rickey Henderson.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 22, 2024
We send our deepest condolences to the Henderson family and the @Athletics. 💛 pic.twitter.com/MBf5VnkrAB
The Las Vegas Raiders, previously housed in Oakland, said it sends its thoughts and prayers to the stolen base king's family.
The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Rickey Henderson. pic.twitter.com/cbrNd1RgBN
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 21, 2024
Like the Raiders and Warriors, the A's have bolted from Oaklad to greener pastures. The A's will play in Sacramento for three years before landing in their next home in Las Vegas.
Despite the move, the Oakland Roots Soccer Club, a pro sports team looking to remain in the East Bay, said it hopes to honor Henderson.
"We will honor his legacy and his importance to our community as we continue to remember the pitch at the Oakland Coliseum as Rickey Henderson Field," the team wrote on X.
RIP to the Man of Steal.
— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) December 21, 2024
Rickey is Oakland. The swagger The Town is known for today ran through him.
• Stolen Base Record
• Runs Record
• Leadoff Home Run Record
1990 AL MVP and 2x World Series Champion.
We will honor his legacy and his importance to our community as we… pic.twitter.com/dBKc2siVfz
Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009.
