Base-Stealing Champ Rickey Henderson's Long Run

For 25 big league seasons, Rickey Henderson brought more to the plate than just talent. He also brought passion for baseball.

He began the 2003 season, at the baseball-ancient age of 44, playing for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. He wasn't your typical minor leaguer. He was Major League Baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs scored (2,295). He was also one of the few players to amass 3,000 or more hits.

But he still wanted to play in the major leagues well into his 40s, and was willing to show he could help a big league ball club win. When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Henderson in July, he immediately contributed to the team's run at the National League playoffs, although they fell short.

"It's just a love of the game, that's what drives me," he told IBD. "God gave me a gift to be an athlete, and I didn't think it was time for me to just go home and sit around and try to figure out what else I'd like to do in life. I was still having fun. That's what drives me most."

Jim Tracy, the Dodgers' manager that season, said: "What has been very, very apparent to me in the short time I've been around Rickey is his passion for the game has never left him. He's very genuine with everything that he does. He's exuberant and he's an influence to the young players. He's been nothing but a positive influence to the success of this ballclub."

Bruce Bochy, who managed Henderson in San Diego and now runs the San Francisco Giants, said: "Rickey loves to compete, whether it's hitting a baseball, stealing a base or taking a base hit away. He loves it, and that rubs off on everybody."

From the time Henderson first reached the big leagues with the Oakland Athletics in 1979, he had a clearly defined goal of what he needed to do as a leadoff hitter to help his team win: score runs. He manufactured them by getting on base through hits and walks, and then put himself in position to score through stealing bases at will.

Of all his major league records, he's most proud of his runs scored.

"The name of the game is which team can score the most runs. Because I was able to go out there and score runs, that's helped a lot of my ballclubs win," he said.

Henderson, who was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 1990, helped the A's win the 1989 World Series, and did the same with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. At his best when it mattered most, Henderson had a lifetime .339 average in 14 World Series games.

"He's going to go down as the greatest leadoff hitter of all time," Bochy said. "But people should know about what Rickey does for the chemistry of a ballclub inside the clubhouse. He has a way of keeping (the players) loose and having them play the game right. He's a guy that all of his teammates love and have a lot of fun with. He spends time with the younger players. Rickey plays to win. He doesn't like to lose."

To become baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases, Henderson didn't depend solely on sheer speed. He also learned his craft. "You've got to study every pitcher, you've got to be able to get jumps," he said.

Henderson, whose 130 stolen bases in 1982 set the single-season record, sought out legendary base stealers Maury Wills and Lou Brock for advice. "I'd try to pick their mind on what they did to be successful," Henderson said. "The biggest thing in stealing bases is not being afraid to get thrown out."

"It's what Rickey has inside that has made him a great player and a great base stealer," Wills said. "It's tenacity, brashness. ... He's out there to do a job. Rickey broke Ty Cobb's all-time record for stolen bases (over) 10 years ago. You just don't do that simply on God-given physical talent. You have to have a mental presence to go with it to be that outstanding."

Henderson, not normally thought of as a power hitter, was just shy of 300 lifetime home runs, with 297. He's also collected one Gold Glove for his play in the outfield.

"You have to work on everything. That's what I try to be, a complete ballplayer," Henderson said. "When I first got into the league, I was stealing a lot of bases, and most people classified me as just a base stealer, but I wanted to be a complete ballplayer. I watched players and got advice. I worked hard at (the game) each and every day."

Davey Lopes, who was a master base stealer with the Dodgers, lauds the steal king. "Rickey's work ethic is tremendous. He knows the game as well as anyone. I think everyone just looks at it as God-given physical tools and doesn't realize he's a very smart baseball man. Rickey knew what he needed to do to make himself successful. He's a tremendous competitor, and he's going to go down as the greatest leadoff hitter to ever put on a uniform."

Henderson's ability to focus on his goals was the biggest reason for his success in baseball. "I dedicated myself to the things I'm doing at that time," he said. "Being able to put your full attention to your work is the key to success. Dedicate yourself to something that you want to improve in each and every day. Success is based on your work habits. Work hard each and every day, give your best and enjoy every moment that you can. Set goals and set your standards high."

During the 2007 All-Star break, the New York Mets said Henderson would join their coaching staff.

This story originally ran Sept. 24, 2003, on Leaders & Success.