Rickey Henderson, Baseball’s Flamboyant ‘Man of Steal,’ Dies at 65 NYT | Top Stories Michael S. Rosenwald 22 December 2024 at 07:31 Widely regarded as the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history, he was not just one of the game’s most exciting players but also one of its most eccentric. © Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesRickey Henderson in action against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991, the year he set a new career record for stolen bases.