Christmas is a special day around the world, and it's fitting that one of the greatest athletes of all-time would also be celebrated on this day. Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson was born December 25, 1958. "The Man of Steal" is arguably the greatest leadoff hitter ever to grace the game of baseball.
Henderson's Hall of Fame résumé is quite impressive. The 10-time All-Star ranked as the sport's top 100 all-time home run hitters and was its all-time leader in base on balls and holds the single-season record for stolen bases (130 in 1982) and is the only player in AL history to steal 100 bases in a season, having done so three times. His 1,406 career steals crushed the previous record of 938 by Lou Brock. He also ranks in the top 10 in many hitting categories.
Henderson had several teams in his career, but is widely remembered for his team with Oakland A's. In 1990 he was named the AL's Most Valuable Player. He helped lead the A's to a World Series title in 1989. He was also a member of the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays championship team.
Here's to you, Rickey Henderson:
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