This Moment in Sports History for 05-01-2025

On May 1st, 1991, Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics broke Lou Brock's all-time stolen base record in Major League Baseball. The game was played against the New York Yankees at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Henderson entered the game with 938 career stolen bases, just one shy of Brock's record of 939. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Henderson reached first base on a walk. With Tim Raines at the plate, Henderson took off for second base and successfully stole the bag, tying Brock's record. The very next inning, Henderson once again reached first base, this time on a single. With Devon White at the plate, Henderson made history by stealing second base, surpassing Brock's record and becoming the all-time stolen base leader in MLB history. The game was momentarily stopped as Henderson's teammates rushed onto the field to congratulate him. Henderson's mother was in attendance and joined him on the field for the celebration. Lou Brock, who had held the record since 1977, was also present and congratulated Henderson on his achievement. Henderson would go on to extend his stolen base record to 1,406 by the end of his career, a mark that still stands today. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility. The record-breaking game on May 1st, 1991, solidified Rickey Henderson's place as one of the greatest base stealers in MLB history and remains a significant moment in sports history.