The Oakland Athletics outfielder swipes his 939th career stolen base, breaking the record held by former St. Louis Cardinal and Hall of Famer Lou Brock
On May 1st, 1991, Rickey Henderson stole third base in the fourth inning of a game against the New York Yankees to break the Major League Baseball career mark, formerly held by St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock. After swiping his historic bag, Henderson famously lifted it above his head and raised his arms in celebration – an image that still stands as the most iconic photo ever taken of the game’s greatest leadoff hitter.
But that moment was not an outlier; it was the purest portrayal of Henderson’s game. He did not just steal bases; he redefined what pressure looked like. Pitchers rushed, catchers panicked, and entire defenses unraveled the moment he reached first. His reads were instinctive, his jumps surgical, and his acceleration unmatched, allowing him to turn routine singles into immediate scoring threats.
By the time his 25-year big league career was over, Henderson had amassed 1,406 stolen bases, a record that remains untouchable in modern baseball. However, his other MLB marks suggest that he could very well be considered one of the top 5-10 players of all time.
Henderson also set the MLB mark for runs scored over 2,200 runs and drew more walks than anyone in history, a testament to his discipline and longevity. It was a combination of chaos and control, speed and intellect.
All of it carried him, inevitably, to the Baseball Hall of Fame—not just as the greatest base stealer ever, but as a player who changed how the game itself could be played.