I heard John Sterling on the Yankee's radio say Ricky Henderson. I have to believe there may be someone better. Please support your answer with Stats!
2007-05-10 07:58:37 · 16 answers · asked by randy_klein86 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Rickey Henderson, simple he holds the record with 81 lead off home runs, he was a threat to steal, he hit for average and coudl hit for power, Rickey Henderson is the lead off hitter that all other lead off hitters are held up to.
2007-05-10 08:26:25 · answer #1 · answered by Chris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ricky Henderson
2007-05-10 08:24:13 · answer #2 · answered by gianinni 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Sterling is right.
You expect a leadoff hitter to get on base, and to be able to score once he's done that. For his career, Henderson had a very impressive .401 OBP (in the top 60 of all-time), he scored the most runs in the history of MLB, and he easily has the most stolen bases of all time. On top of all that, he also hit 300 homers, and has the career record for most homers to lead off a game.
Given those stats, I'm not sure what else you could ask from a perfect leadoff hitter. He may not have been my favorite player, but Rickey is the best leadoff hitter of all time.
2007-05-10 08:05:30 · answer #3 · answered by Craig S 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Rickey Henderson statistically is the best lead off batter of all time! He also has the most lead off homeruns. He could always get in scoring position because of his speed. Without a doubt, the best lead off hitter of all time is Rickey Henderson. His career on base percentage is .401. I believe he has also scored more runs than anyone in major league baseball history.
2007-05-10 08:14:28 · answer #4 · answered by troyman2000us 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rickey Henderson has the most leadoff HRs.
Also, as the career steals leader (by like 500 steals), you know that when he got on, he was getting in scoring position.
He has the most career runs, which is what you want your leadoff hitter to do. Get on, get in scoring position, score.
3055 hits, 297 HR, 1115 RBI (not bad for leadoff), 27th all time in OBP with .401 (if you are into that stat, which I'm not, but the guys ahead of him are almost all power guys, not leadoff men).
In this case, this isn't one of those situations where they give the popular answer. Henderson really is the best.
2007-05-10 08:18:04 · answer #5 · answered by Jimi L 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I tried to think of someone better but the truth is RIckey Henderson is the greatest lead-off hitter in the history of baseball.
Official stats:
.279 lifetime batting average
.401 lifetime on-base-percentage
.419 lifetime slugging percentage
3055 hits (297 HRs, 66 triples, 510 doubles)
1406 stolen bases (MLB record)
2295 career runs scored (MLB record)
1694 career walks compared to 2190 career walks
Total Major League Records: all-time stolen bases (1,406), most home runs leading off a game (75); steals in a season (130 in 1982); most seasons leading league in stolen bases (12); holds all-time club steals records for Oakland (1,270) and the New York Yankees (326); American League Most Valuable Player, 1990.
2007-05-10 08:11:49 · answer #6 · answered by blue26 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Others have pointed out Henderson's statistics which put him on top. But it should also be pointed out how he could change a game with his baserunning because he was so daring. He created havoc in the infield. I don't have myhand on the numbers but he stole third base an incredible number of times.
I remember when he first came to the Yankees, he scored from second on an infield ground out. NOBODY expected him to go home on the play.
2007-05-10 08:45:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have reason to believe it's anyone, ANYONE, other than Rickey Henderson, tell us and prove it.
Check the sources below, and when you do, remember that Henderson's 75 career lead-off home runs is more than twice the number hit by the second man on the list, Bobby Bonds.
2007-05-10 08:22:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's Rickey Henderson, and I cannot recall ever hearing anyone offered up as TGLOHIBBH over him. Rickey was in scoring position even while sitting on the bench.
If I couldn't have Rickey, however, I'd take Tim Raines.
2007-05-10 08:51:12 · answer #9 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jason Kendall used to steer off for the Pirates. it quite is a rarity because of the fact catchers many times are not super hitters or super runners; they're form of like pitchers in that their usual interest is to capture. regardless of in case you have a super-hitting catcher, they many times do not run properly sufficient to bat leadoff because of the fact their legs take alot of abuse from being interior the crouch place for for this reason long over the direction of their careers.
2017-01-09 14:42:49 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋