Major League Baseball

On this day in 1991: Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's all-time stolen base record

Published May. 1, 2015 1:45 p.m. ET

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Brett Smiley

Rickey Henderson, a.k.a. the "Man of Steal," stands alone atop Mount Stolen Base with 1406 career swipes — 468 more than Lou Brock who is second on the all-time list with 938.

And it was on May 1, 1991, that Henderson, then with the Oakland As, broke Brock's all-time stolen base record with his 939th career swipe. 

No disrespect to Brock, 19th century's William "Sliding Billy" Hamilton (914), Ty Cobb (897) or Tim Raines (808), but Rickey was the best ever on the base paths and he wasn't shy to say it himself (check the video).

Of course, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, Nolan Ryan, had to steal some of the base-stealing thunder by throwing his seventh and last career no-hitter on May 1, 1991, the very same day that Henderson nabbed Brock's record.

This wasn't the first time Ryan, Henderson and history crossed paths. In 1989, Henderson became the victim of Ryan's 5000th career strikeout. But Henderson took it fully in stride.

”It was an honor to be the 5,000th," Henderson said. "As Davey Lopes says, ‘If he ain’t struck you out, you ain’t nobody.’"

And Henderson is certainly somebody worthy of special recognition. Just check out this tribute video, set to the awesome '70's tune "Daddy Cool."  

[H/T Ace of MLB Stats]

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