Editing Rickey Henderson (section)

==Major leagues==
===Oakland Athletics (1979–1984)===
Henderson made his major league debut with Oakland on June 24, 1979, getting two hits in four at-bats, along with a stolen base.<ref name=pros/> He batted .274 with 33 stolen bases in 89 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14026.pdf|title=A Resolution Authorizing the Renaming of Lucky A's Baseball Field in Arroyo Viejo Park Located at 7701 Krause Avenue, Oakland to the Rickey Henderson Baseball Field|author=Office of Parks and Recreation|publisher=City of Oakland|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=March 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226232443/http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14026.pdf|archive-date=February 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1980, Henderson became the third modern-era player to steal 100 bases in a season ([[Maury Wills]] 104 in 1962 and [[Lou Brock]]'s 118 in 1974 had preceded him).<ref name=aspara>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_leagues.shtml|title=Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=August 25, 2008}}</ref> His 100 steals broke [[Eddie Collins]]' franchise record of 81 in 1910 with what were then the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] and set a new [[American League]] (AL) record, surpassing [[Ty Cobb]]'s 96 set in 1915.<ref name=aspara/> He also batted .303, had 179 hits (tied for ninth in AL), scored 111 runs (fourth in AL), drew 117 walks (second in AL), had a .420 on-base percentage (third in AL) and led the AL by reaching base 301 times.<ref name="BBRef"/>

That winter, Henderson played in the [[Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League]]; his 42 stolen bases broke that league's record as well.<ref>{{cite book|title=Puerto Rico's Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball's Launching Pad|first=Thomas E.|last=Van Hyning|author2=Eduardo Valero |publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7864-1970-8|page=221}}</ref>

[[File:Rickey Henderson and Eddie Murray, 1983.jpg|thumb|left|Henderson goes to steal second base for the Athletics in 1983.]]

Henderson was an [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] candidate a year later, in a season shortened by a [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]]. He hit .319, fourth in the AL, and led the league in hits (135), runs (89) and in steals (56). Henderson was also third in on-base percentage (.408), tied for second in triples (7), fourth in walks (64), eighth in total bases (185) and second in times reaching base (201). In so doing, he became the emblematic figure of Oakland manager [[Billy Martin]]'s aggressive "Billy Ball" philosophy, which received much media attention.<ref name="wiley">{{cite web|title=Rickey was a run walking|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 25, 2008|last=Wiley|first=Ralph|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/wiley/011005.html}}</ref> Finishing second to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]' [[Rollie Fingers]] in the MVP voting, Henderson earned his only [[Gold Glove Award]] in  fielding that season. He later became known for his [[showboat]] "snatch catches", in which he would flick his glove out at incoming fly balls, then whip his arm behind his back after making the catch.<ref>Henderson et al., ''Off Base: Confessions of a Thief'', 1–10</ref>

In 1982, Henderson broke [[Lou Brock]]'s modern major league single season record by stealing 130 bases, a total which has not been approached since. He stole 84 bases by the All-Star break; no player has stolen as many as 84 bases in an entire season since 1988, when Henderson himself stole 93.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://baseballbiography.com/lou-brock-1939 |title=Lou Brock |publisher=Baseball Biography |year=2006 |access-date=March 19, 2008 }}</ref> He also led the AL in walks (116), was fourth in runs (119) and third in on-base percentage (.398).<ref name="BBRef"/>

Inspired by Dodgers leadoff hitter [[Rudy Law]], Henderson adopted an exaggerated crouch as his batting stance, which reduced his [[strike zone]] without sacrificing much power.<ref>{{cite book |last=Henderson |first=Rickey |date=1992 |title=Off Base: Confessions of a Thief |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |page=61 |isbn=0-06-017975-9}}</ref> Sportswriter [[Jim Murray (sportswriter)|Jim Murray]] described Henderson's strike zone as being "smaller than Hitler's heart".<ref name="sportsillustrated1">{{cite magazine|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/6/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021051420/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029027/6/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |title=What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark? |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |page=6 |first=Tom |last=Verducci |author-link=Tom Verducci |date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=October 13, 2008 }}</ref> In 1982, he described his approach to ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'':

{{Blockquote|I found that if I squatted down real low at the plate... I could see the ball better. I also knew it threw the pitcher off. I found that I could put my weight on my back foot and still turn my hips on the swing. I'm down so low I don't have much of a strike zone. Sometimes, walking so much even gets me mad. Last year [[Ed Ott]] of the [[Los Angeles Angels|Angels]] got so frustrated because the umpire was calling balls that would've been strikes on anybody else that he stood up and shouted at me, "Stand up and hit like a man." I guess I do that to people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125503/4/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207223827/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125503/4/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |page=4 |title=The defensive brilliance shared by A's outfielders – 05.10.82 – SI Vault |publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]] |first=Ron |last=Fimrite |date=May 10, 1982 |access-date=October 9, 2008 }}</ref>}}

Regarding Henderson's 1982 season, the mid-1980s book ''[[The Hidden Game of Baseball]]'' looked at such statistics as .78 expected runs with a runner on first and no outs, 1.07 expected runs with runner on second and no outs, and only .25 expected runs with no one on and one out. The authors concluded that with Henderson's 130 stolen bases he contributed 22.2 runs to the A's offense. By being caught stealing 42 times, he cost his team 20.6 runs, and therefore, the authors concluded, the net effect of his running activity was merely 1.6 extra runs for the season.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Keri |editor-first1=Jonah |title=Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game Is Wrong |date=2007 |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=978-0-465-00373-0 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsmnfVUKJskC&dq=%22But+the+42+times+he+was+caught+cost+the+team%22&pg=PA113 |language=en |chapter=What if Rickey Henderson had Pete Incaviglia's Legs? |last1=Click |first1=James}}, James cites the earlier baseball book: {{cite book |last1=Thorn |first1=John |last2=Palmer |first2=Pete |title=The Hidden Game of Baseball |date=2015 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-27683-0 |language=en}} See also: {{cite magazine |last1=James |first1=Bill |title=So What's All the Fuss: Rickey Henderson may be the man of the hour but, argues the author, base stealing has never really amounted to very much |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/09/06/so-whats-all-the-fuss |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 6, 1982}} which gives a historical overview primarily of the '50s, '60s, and '70s.</ref> A later analysis determined his net contribution was 5.3 runs for the season.<ref name="Cold Takes: Rickey, Unwritten Rules, and the 130, Baseball Prospectus, Sept 20, 2016">{{cite web |last1=Dubuque |first1=Patrick |title=Cold Takes: Rickey, Unwritten Rules, and the 130 |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/30406/cold-takes-rickey-unwritten-rules-and-the-130/ |website=Baseball Prospectus |date=September 20, 2016}}</ref>

In 1983, he led the AL in stolen bases (108), walks (103) while finishing fourth in runs scored (105). He was also second in on-base percentage (.414), tied for ninth in triples (7) and fifth in times on base, reaching 257 times.<ref name="BBRef"/>

In 1984, Henderson hit 16 home runs while leading the league in stolen bases (66), finishing second in runs scored (113) and third in on-base-percentage (.399). After the season, he was traded to the [[New York Yankees]] along with [[Bert Bradley]] for five players: [[Tim Birtsas]], [[Jay Howell]], [[Stan Javier]], [[Eric Plunk]], and [[José Rijo]].<ref name="BBRef"/>

===New York Yankees (1985–1989)===
In his first season with the Yankees, Henderson led the league in runs scored (146) and stolen bases (80), was fourth in batting average (.314), walks (99) and on-base percentage (.419), seventh in slugging (.516), third in OPS (.934).<ref name="1985 AL Leaders">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1985.shtml|title=1985 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080811004758/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1985.shtml|archive-date=August 11, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Combining his stolen bases with his 24 home runs,<ref name="BaseballReferenceRickyHenderson"/> he became the first AL player to join the [[20–50 club]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Rickey Henderson Career Notes|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/profiles/notes/1650.html|access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref> and its first member to reach 20–80.<ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=#CARDCORNER: 1987 TOPPS ERIC DAVIS|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1987-topps-eric-davis|access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref> He also won the [[Silver Slugger Award]], and was third in the voting for the MVP award. His 146 runs scored were the most since [[Ted Williams]] had 150 in 1950,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/rickey-henderson-1958 |title=Rickey Henderson |access-date=July 7, 2010 |work=Baseball Biography }}</ref> and he became the first player since [[Jimmie Foxx]] in 1939 to amass more runs scored than games played.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steven|last=Goldman|title=Teams: A Critical Guide: Lights Dimmed on Broadway|date=May 24, 2004|work=Baseball Prospectus|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/date/2004/05/24/|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> Henderson also became the first player in major league history to reach 80 stolen bases and 20 home runs in the same season.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Carchidi|title=Plain old Eric a baseball player of a different kind|newspaper=The Republic|page=B2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic/161557692/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=July 10, 1987|access-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref> He matched the feat in 1986, as did [[Eric Davis (baseball)|Eric Davis]] of the [[Cincinnati Reds]]; they remain the only players in major league history to reach those thresholds.<ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=#CARDCORNER: 1987 TOPPS ERIC DAVIS|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1987-topps-eric-davis|access-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref> It was with the Yankees that Henderson, who had previously worn number 35 with Oakland, which was already taken by his Yankees teammate [[Phil Niekro]], switched to his now famous 24, a number he would wear for the rest of his career (with exceptions: (1) he briefly wore number 14 in 1993 while playing with the Blue Jays, (2) he wore his "old" number 35 in 2000 and 2002 while playing with the Mariners and the Red Sox, and (3) he wore number 25 while playing with the Dodgers).<ref name="BaseballReferenceRickyHenderson">{{cite web |title=Rickey Henderson |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/henderi01.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |access-date=December 22, 2024}} The circles at the top of the article represent the numbers he wore with each team.</ref>

In 1986, he led the AL in runs scored (130) and stolen bases (87) for the second year in a row, and was seventh in walks (89) and extra base hits (64) while hitting 28 home runs (9 of which led off games) and recording a career-high 74 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs).<ref name="1986 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1986.shtml|title=1986 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815105221/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1986.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Baseball steal.jpg|thumb|Henderson steals a base as a member of the New York Yankees in 1988]]

In 1987, he had a below-average season by his standards, fueling criticism from the New York media, which had never covered Henderson or his eccentricities kindly.<ref>Henderson et al., ''Off Base: Confessions of a Thief'', 90–91, 164–165</ref> Yankees owner [[George Steinbrenner]] issued a press release claiming that manager [[Lou Piniella]] wanted to trade Henderson for "jaking it" (playing lackadaisically).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_22_224/ai_62650037|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708140259/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_22_224/ai_62650037|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|title=Mariners hope Rickey helps lead them back to the playoffs – Brief Article|work=The Sporting News|access-date=February 17, 2008|first=Larry|last=Stone|year=2000}}</ref> Still, Henderson had his best on-base percentage to that point in his career (.423), with a .291 batting avg., was fifth in the AL in stolen bases (41) and hit 17 home runs despite playing only 95 games.<ref name="1987 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1987.shtml|title=1987 American League (AL) Statistics and Awards|access-date=August 16, 2008|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080816134149/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1987.shtml|archive-date=August 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was the only season from 1980 to 1991 in which Henderson did not lead the AL in steals. Seattle's [[Harold Reynolds]] led the league with 60 steals; Reynolds tells the story of getting an impish phone call from Henderson after the season:

<blockquote>The phone rings. "Henderson here." I say, "Hey, what's going on, Rickey?" I think he's calling to congratulate me, but he goes, '"''Sixty'' stolen bases? You ought to be ashamed. Rickey would have 60 at the break"... then click, he hung up.<ref name="Rickey Henderson 2009"/></blockquote>

In 1988, Henderson led the AL in steals (93), was third in runs scored (118), fifth in OBP (.394) and seventh in walks (82), while hitting .305.<ref name="BBRef"/> Though only in New York for {{frac|4|1|2}} seasons, Henderson set the Yankees' franchise record with 326 stolen bases; the previous high (248) had been held by [[Hal Chase]], who last played for the Yankees in 1913, when the team was still known as the Highlanders. On May 28, 2011, Henderson's total was surpassed by [[Derek Jeter]],<ref name="Yankees SB Record">{{cite web|title=New York Yankees Batting Leaders|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_bat.shtml|access-date=August 25, 2008}}</ref> who by that point had already played 1,700 more games as a Yankee than Henderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/17158/jeter-becomes-yankees-all-time-steals-leader|title=Jeter becomes Yanks' all-time SB leader|date=May 29, 2011 |first1=Wallace|last1=Matthews|work=ESPN }}</ref>

===Return to Oakland (1989–1993)===
On June 21, 1989, the Yankees traded Henderson back to Oakland for Plunk, [[Greg Cadaret]], and [[Luis Polonia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/22/sports/yankees-send-henderson-back-to-oakland.html|title=Yankees Send Henderson Back to Oakland|work=The New York Times|first=Michael|last=Martinez|date=June 22, 1989|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref> After the trade, his 52 steals and 72 runs scored led the Athletics into the postseason;<ref name="BBRef"/> his 126 walks for the year were the most for any AL hitter since [[Frank Howard (baseball)|Frank Howard]]'s 132 in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Kurkjian|title=Get up and cheer: Rickey deserves it|date=August 23, 2001|work=ESPN The Magazine|url=https://www.espn.com/magazine/kurkjian_20010823.html|access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref> Henderson was named MVP of the [[1989 American League Championship Series]] (ALCS) after hitting .400, scoring eight runs and delivering two home runs, five RBIs, seven walks and a 1.000 [[slugging percentage]].<ref name="BBRef"/> He had eight stolen bases in the five-game series, breaking Brock's postseason series record of seven,<ref name=moran_10091989/> which he set in 1967 and repeated in 1968.{{Efn|Both occurred in seven-game series: the [[1967 World Series]] and [[1968 World Series]].<ref name=moran_10091989>{{cite news|first=Malcolm|last=Moran|title=Dazzling, Daring A's Win Crown|date=October 9, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/09/sports/dazzling-daring-a-s-win-crown.html|access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref>}} Leading the Athletics to a four-game sweep over the [[San Francisco Giants]] and the franchise's first [[1989 World Series|World Series]] title since [[1974 World Series|1974]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=Bay's Ball Turns to Broomball|date=October 29, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-29-sp-534-story.html|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> Henderson hit .474 with an .895 slugging average (including two [[triple (baseball)|triples]] and a homer), while stealing three more bases.<ref name="BBRef"/> On August 22, 1989, he became [[Nolan Ryan]]'s 5,000th strikeout victim, but Henderson took an odd delight in the occurrence, saying, "If you haven't been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you're nobody."<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael A.|last=Lutz|title=Nolan Ryan Speeds Into Hall of Fame|agency=Associated Press|date=July 17, 1999}}</ref>

A year later, Henderson finished second in the league in batting average with a mark of .325, losing out to the [[Kansas City Royals]]' [[George Brett]] on the final day of the season. Henderson had a remarkably consistent season, with his batting average falling below .320 for only one game, the third of the year. Reaching safely by a hit or a walk in 125 of his 136 games, he led the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), on-base percentage (.439) and OPS (1.016) was second in slugging percentage (.577), fourth in walks (97) and extra base hits (66), sixth in home runs (28) and total bases (282) and had 61 RBIs. Henderson won the AL's [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] award and helped Oakland to another pennant. He again performed well in the [[1990 World Series|World Series]] (.333 batting, .667 slugging, a home run and three steals in four games), but the A's were swept by the underdog [[Cincinnati Reds]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1990_WS.shtml|title=1990 World Series|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=June 22, 2010}}</ref>

On May 1, 1991, Henderson broke one of baseball's most noted records when he stole the 939th base of his career, one more than Brock's total compiled from 1961 to 1979, mainly with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. After his historic achievement, Henderson shouted out: "I'm the Greatest".<ref name="number939">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/261179/Rickey-Henderson#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Rickey%20Henderson%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia |title=Rickey Henderson|encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia|access-date=February 17, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=Eric |last1=Chesterton |title=In 1991, Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson set new MLB records on the exact same day |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/in-1991-nolan-ryan-and-rickey-henderson-set-new-mlb-records-on-the-exact-same-da |website=MLB.com |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=April 30, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

On July 16, 1993, Henderson broke the world stolen base record by stealing his 1,066th base, breaking the record held by [[Yutaka Fukumoto]].<ref>{{cite news|title=AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Morris Returns to Old Form to Win|date=June 17, 1993|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-17-sp-4093-story.html|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref>  In 90 games with Oakland, he was batting .327 with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs. He also had scored 77 runs, stolen 31 bases, drew 85 walks, had a .469 on-base percentage and was slugging .553.<ref name="BBRef"/>

===Toronto Blue Jays (1993)===
In July 1993, the Athletics traded Henderson to the playoff-bound [[Toronto Blue Jays]] for [[Steve Karsay]] and [[José Herrera (1990s outfielder)|José Herrera]].<ref name="BBRef"/> He performed disappointingly for the Blue Jays, hitting only .215 in 44 games, which was probably due to the fact that he fractured a bone on his hand early on with the team, after being hit by a pitch, although he still contributed 22 stolen bases and 37 runs scored. However, his hitting woes continued in the post-season, batting .120 in the [[1993 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] and .227 in the [[1993 World Series|World Series]]. Nevertheless, Henderson was involved in the final play of the World Series that year.  He and [[Paul Molitor]] scored on [[Joe Carter's 1993 World Series home run|Joe Carter's Series-ending home run]], one of the most famous moments in baseball history.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Home Sweet Homer|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1993.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714102848/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1993.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2012|access-date=August 28, 2008|date=November 1, 1993|last=Rushin|first=Steve}}</ref>

===Third stint with Oakland (1994–1995)===
After the 1993 season, Henderson re-signed as a free agent with Oakland in December 1993.<ref name="BBRef"/> In 1994 and 1995, Henderson finished in the top 10 in the league in walks, steals and on-base percentage.<ref name="BBRef"/> His .300 average in 1995 marked his sixth and final season in the AL with a .300 or better average.<ref name="BBRef"/>

===San Diego Padres (1996–1997)===
Henderson signed with the [[San Diego Padres]] in the offseason. In 1996, he again finished in the top ten in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) in walks, OBP, steals and runs.<ref name=dailytex>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2001/04/25/Sports/Stolen.Base.King.Rickey.Henderson.Knots.Up.Ruths.Walk.Mark-700155.shtml|work=Daily Texan Online|title=Stolen base king Rickey Henderson knots up Ruth's walk mark|date=April 25, 2001 |access-date=February 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506160031/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2001/04/25/Sports/Stolen.Base.King.Rickey.Henderson.Knots.Up.Ruths.Walk.Mark-700155.shtml|archive-date=May 6, 2008 |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>

===Anaheim Angels (1997)===
On August 13, 1997, the Padres traded Henderson to the [[Los Angeles Angels|Anaheim Angels]] for minor leaguers [[Ryan Hancock]] and Stevenson Agosto, as well as a [[player to be named later]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/14/sports/angels-trade-for-henderson.html|title=Angels Trade for Henderson|work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=August 14, 1997|accessdate=April 7, 2024 |page=B-11}}</ref> The Padres acquired [[George Arias]] to complete the trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1998/apr/09/stars-arias-has-big-dreams/|title=Star's Arias has big dreams|first=Steve|last=Guiremand|work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]|date=April 9, 1998 | accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref> As an Angel, Henderson batted only .183 for the rest of the season.<ref name="BBRef"/>

===Fourth stint with Oakland (1998)===
In January 1998, Henderson signed as a free agent with the Athletics, the fourth time he played for the franchise.<ref name="BBRef"/> That season he led the majors in stolen bases (66) and the AL in walks (118), while scoring 101 runs.<ref name="BBRef"/> In so doing, the 39-year-old became the oldest player to lead a league in stolen bases, and the oldest player to reach 50 steals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rickey-henderson-becomes-the-oldest-player-ever-to-steal-over-50-bases-and-lead-the-league-in-stolen-bases/|title = Rickey Henderson finishes the campaign with a league-leading 66 stolen bases when he swipes second and third in the bottom the third inning of the A's 4–3 victory over the Angels at Network Associates Coliseum. The 39 year-old 'Man of Steal' becomes the oldest player ever to lead the league in purloined bags|date = September 26, 1998}}</ref>

===New York Mets (1999–2000)===
In 1999, he was seventh in the NL in on-base percentage.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 On Base Percentage Leaders: Top 25 in the National League|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=August 25, 2008|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/top25.php?s=OBP&l=NL&y=1999}}</ref> Henderson was voted the 1999 National League [[Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award|comeback player of the year]] by ''[[The Sporting News]]''. He wore number 24, which—although not officially retired—had not been regularly worn by a Mets player since [[Willie Mays]]' retirement in 1973. Nonetheless, Henderson and the Mets were an uneasy fit. After the Mets' loss in the [[1999 National League Championship Series|1999 NLCS]], the New York press made much of a card game between Henderson and [[Bobby Bonilla]]. Both players had been substituted out of the lineup, and they reportedly left the dugout before the playoff game had concluded.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/10/21/mets_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001003172545/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/10/21/mets_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2000|title=Card game: Henderson, Bonilla show up Valentine in Game 6|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=August 25, 2008|date=October 22, 1999}}</ref>

Henderson sought a raise on his $1.9&nbsp;million salary for the 2000 season, but the Mets refused to renegotiate. He also feuded with manager [[Bobby Valentine]] and complained about traveling to Tokyo for the 2000 season opening series against the [[Chicago Cubs]]. Worse, he put in minimal effort, effectively tanking, and forcing his release. Henderson batted .219 with no home runs and two RBIs. The Mets offered him to every team in the league, with no takers. The team then put him on [[waivers (baseball)|waivers]] and granted him his release in May,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0509/523608.html|title=Mets waive unhappy Henderson|work=ESPN.com|date=May 10, 2000|access-date=April 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0513/530443.html|title=Phillips: 'Something had to be done'|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=May 15, 2000|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref> which Mets' general manager [[Steve Phillips]] called "addition by subtraction".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Liz |title=Baseball; With Patience Long Gone, Mets Release Henderson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/14/sports/baseball-with-patience-long-gone-mets-release-henderson.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=24 December 2024 |date=14 May 2000}}</ref>

===Seattle Mariners (2000)===
After his release from the Mets, Henderson signed as a free agent with the [[Seattle Mariners]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0518/538762.html |title=Mariners happy to have Henderson|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 18, 2000|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref> In his second game as a Mariner, on May 20, Henderson hit a leadoff home run, thus becoming the third player to hit a home run in four different decades ([[Ted Williams]] and [[Willie McCovey]] were the others).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=3377636|title=Griffey simply breathtaking in his prime|first=Tim|last=Kurkjian|work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=June 11, 2010}}</ref> Despite starting the season in the National League, Henderson finished fourth in the AL in stolen bases (31).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/top25.php?s=SB&l=AL&y=2000|title=2000 Stolen Bases Leaders: Top 25 in the American League|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=August 25, 2008}}</ref>

===Return to San Diego (2001)===
[[File:Rickey Henderson crouching at first for the San Diego Padres (37575490516) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Henderson in his second stint with the [[San Diego Padres]] in 2001]]
A free agent in March 2001, Henderson returned to the Padres. During the 2001 season, he broke three major league career records and reached an additional major career milestone. He broke [[Babe Ruth]]'s record of 2,062 career walks,<ref name=dailytex/> [[Ty Cobb]]'s record of 2,245 career runs,<ref>{{cite news|title=Henderson Breaks Cobb's Record in Style|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 28, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/05/sports/national-league-roundup-henderson-breaks-cobb-s-record-in-style.html |date=October 5, 2001 |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref> and [[Zack Wheat]]'s record of 2,328 career games in left field, and on the final day of the season (October 7) collected his [[3,000-hit club|3,000th career hit]], a leadoff double off Rockies pitcher [[John Thomson (baseball)|John Thomson]] in San Diego.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/08/sports/baseball-henderson-it-s-an-even-3000-hits.html|title=Henderson: It's an Even 3,000 Hits|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 28, 2008|date=October 8, 2001 |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-7-2001-colorado-rockies-14-san-diego-padres-5-at-qualcomm-stadium/|title = October 7, 2001: Rickey Henderson records 3,000th hit in Tony Gwynn's final game |work=Society for American Baseball Research |first1=Frederick C. |last1=Bush}}</ref> That final game was also [[Tony Gwynn]]'s last major league game, and Henderson had originally wanted to sit out so as not to detract from the occasion, but Gwynn insisted that Henderson play.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Springer|title=Finishing Touches; Padres Combine Gwynn's Farewell With the 3,000th Hit by Henderson|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 8, 2001|page=D1}}</ref>

===Boston Red Sox (2002)===
[[Image:Rickeyhenderson2002.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Henderson with Boston in 2002]]
At age 43, Henderson was the oldest player in the American League.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/Oldest_leagues.shtml|title=A Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Oldest Player|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=July 7, 2010}}</ref>

While playing in Boston, Henderson wore his old number 35, as his regular number 24 was already taken by Red Sox teammate [[Manny Ramirez]].<ref>{{cite web |title=RICKEY MIGHT LOSE THAT NO. |url=https://www.courant.com/2002/02/26/rickey-might-lose-that-no/ |website=Hartford Courant |date=February 26, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=Jim |last1=Caple |title=10 Burning Questions for Rickey Henderson |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/questions/rhenderson.html |website=ESPN |access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

===Newark Bears and Los Angeles Dodgers (2003)===
As the 2003 season began, Henderson was without a team for the first time in his career. He played in the independent [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball|Atlantic League]] with the [[Newark Bears]], hoping for a chance with another major league organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2003/04/29/henderson-runs-back-to-minors-for-another-shot/30514975007/|title=Henderson runs back to minors for another shot|website=Wilmington Star-News |agency=The Associated Press |date=April 29, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2003/06/23/what-is-rickey-henderson-doing-in-newark-the-greatest-leadoff-hitter-of-all-time-is-beating-the-bushes-trying-to-get-back-to-the-majorsand-still-leaving-em-laughing-at-every-stop|title=What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark? The greatest leadoff hitter of all time is beating the bushes, trying to get back to the majors—and still leaving 'em laughing at every stop|first=Tom|last=Verducci|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 23, 2003}}</ref> After being named the Atlantic League All-Star Game MVP, the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] signed him in July.<ref>{{cite news|title=Henderson, 45, played with Bears last year|date=May 2, 2004|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1794116|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> In 30 games with the Dodgers, he had 15 hits and three stolen bases, with a .208 batting average.<ref name="BBRef">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/henderi01.shtml|title=Rickey Henderson Statistics|work=[[Baseball Reference]]|access-date=March 10, 2008}}</ref>