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Rickey Henderson cause of death: What did the MLB Hall of Fame die of at age 65?

The baseball world is in mourning following the ing of the legend

Rickey Henderson
Rickey HendersonLAPRESSE

Major League Baseball said goodbye to a legend on Saturday following news that Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65.

The two-time World Series champion, who is widely considered the greater leadoff hitter of all-time, ed away after a battle with pneumonia.

As per TMZ, Henderson ed away on Friday in the Oakland area. His death came after he had previously been receiving treatment in hospital for a short period of time.

Henderson is a baseball legend and still holds the game's all-time stolen bases record with 1,406. Born in Chicago, Rickey took to the game after being a star football player in high school. He was so good that he was named an All-American running back after two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Baseball was Henderson's true calling

Although his abilities on the gridiron saw him receive dozens of scholarships, he turned to baseball after his mother convinced him that NFL players have shorter careers than other athletes.

As a result he turned to baseball and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He went on to play for the team on four separate occasions.

Henderson went on to play for nine different teams during his 25-year career, becoming a 10-time All-Star and being name the 1990 American League MVP. He is also the MLB leader in runs scored with 2,295.

He helped Oakland win its first World Series in 25 years in 1989, and then added another with the Toronto Blue Jays four years later. He also played for the Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Henderson's electric play on the diamond saw him enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, six years after he retired from the game.

There were no shortage of tributes following news of his death, with former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield sharing his sorrow at news of Henderson's ing.

"I still cannot believe I've lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson. Rest in peace," he captioned a photo on Instagram of him and Henderson together.

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