MLB: Top 30 leadoff hitters of all-time

By Nicholas Ian Allen | May 4, 2015

Mar 24, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (51) heads toward the dugout during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

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Rickey Henderson. 1. player. 96. . 1979-2003. A's, Yankees, Blue Jays, Padres, Angels, Etc.

When it comes to naming the top leadoff hitter of all-time, there’s no question. Rickey Henderson isn’t only the best ever to hit atop the batting order – he’s one of the best to ever play the game, period.

A fourth round pick in the 1976 draft, Henderson made his Major League debut in 1979 at the age of 20. Across 25 years and with ten different teams, Henderson scored more runs (2,295) and stole more bases (1,406) than any player in MLB history. He still holds the single-season record for most stolen bases in a season with 130 in 1982 (Note: stolen bases were calculated differently when Hugh Nicol had 138 in 1887) and passed the century mark three times in his first five big league seasons.

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Henderson excelled getting on base and finished his career with a .401 on base percentage, which ranks 53^rd all-time, thanks in large part to 2,190 career walks – second only to Barry Bonds in the record books.

The 1990 American League MVP and a ten-time All-Star, Henderson collected 3,055 hits, 297 home runs, 1,115 RBI and a slash of .279/.401/.419 for his career. He played in 3,081 career games and hit leadoff in an amazing 2,875 of them. On 81 occasions he led off a game with a home run, which is yet another career Major League record.

Henderson played in the World Series three times, won a ring in 1989 with the Oakland A’s and also in 1993 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

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