I don't know who holds the record for playing for the largest number of teams, but Henderson would surely rank pretty high, having played (by my count) for nine different franchises. That tells you a lot about the guy's personality: fellow players couldn't stand him. In his later years, when he moved around freely from team to team like a mercenary, Henderson was notorious for never even bothering to learn his teammates's names. Still, you can't ignore the fact that he created a new category of specialist - the leadoff hitter - and brought success to the teams he played for, having participated in eight postseasons, an impressive number for someone who played most of his years in the pre-wildcard era. He could be criticized for hanging around too long for his own good, though.

LEADER ALLTIME IN SB RUNS AND BB WHEN HE RETIRED PLUS HAD 297 HRS NOT BAD FOR A LEAD OFF GUY

Makes the top-10 list of all-time assholes in Western Civilization, but one outstanding ballplayer and perhaps the best leadoff man of all-time.

Possibly the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. Also probably the most tasteless public speaker (i.e. "Today, I am the greatest ..." in front of Lou Brock after he broke the all-time steals record) in MLB history.

No question he is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Among outfielders, maybe not in the same echelon as Ruth, Cobb, Mays, Williams, and DiMaggio, but ahead of the likes of Clemente, Reggie Jackson, and Tony Gwynn (to name a few). To be honest, it's hard to pigeonhole him because there really has never been a player like Rickey. The closest thing would be Lou Brock with power. He is baseball's most prolific scorer as the all-time leader in runs. Agree that he is the most dangerous leadoff batter ever. He has the record for most homers to lead off a game and he had a very disciplined batting eye, thus allowing him to get on base often by walk. Henderson was supposedly a very zany character who would always talk in the 3rd person (Like Jimmy from Seinfeld). He would say things like, Rickey got a jump on that fastball and Rickey drove it out of the part. Once Henderson was concerned about his contract negotiations. His player rep. told him not to worry because he had tenure. Henderson replied, Tenure! Rickey got fifteen year. He will be in the Hall of Fame if he decides to give up playing ball one of these years.

THIS close to giving him a five.

Hall of famer all the way! The best lead off hitter the game has ever seen! Power with speed puts the fear into any pitcher!

Not top 100

a walk is like a triple ...henderson in his prime would be the leadoff hitter on ANY all time team, NO leadoff hitter ( rose, and cobb included) had anywhere near the combonation of speed and power, rickey tired more pitchers by 1 looking at the most pitches 2 taking walks 3 drove the catcher to distraction while worried about the SB, henderson made everyone hitting behind twice as good when he was on base...which was at a career .400 clip

Greatest lead off hitter of all time.

Has been playing since the beginning of time, and is somewhat overrated. Stole a load of bases, got walked a lot, which was everything a leadoff hitter needs to do. However, he is not the greatest leadoff hitter. Ty Cobb or Pete Rose would get my vote. Isn't it weird how all great leadoff hitters are jerks?

This section is for baseball players all-time, not current. Rickey Henderson is a surefire first-ballot hall-of-famer. He astoundingly holds the major league record in the steals category (by a vast margin) as well as runs scored. He has had an amazing career and is still playing decently despite being over the age of 40. When Henderson got on base in his prime (which lasted quite a few years), it was literally a walking double. The guy stole over 100 bases in a season. That's not only is a phenomenal individual stat, but that potent base running is a great catalyst to aid in the victory of your team. As his career ends, he will be the sole holder of several all-time records; and that folks is why Henderson is one of the best players in the history of the game and the numbers back it up.

Yes, he is the best leadoff hitter of all-time.

While he can be a jerk at times, Henderson is the greatest leadoff hitter in MLB history.

Rickey Henderson deserves the 5 because he has endured over 2 decades of baseball and been a premier player all the years. He is still playing and at 40 yrs. old is one of the best conditioned athletes in baseball. By the time he retires he will own over half a dozen exclusive baseball records.

Rickey Henderson has no heart.

Ricky is one classy baseball veteran that doesn't get his due recognition. This future Hall of Famer is one for the ages.