The Best, Far and Away

On May 17 the Mariners, seeking to stabilize the top of their
lineup, took a chance and agreed to sign 41-year-old leftfielder
Rickey Henderson. In his 22-year career the much-traveled
Henderson, who had worn out his welcome with the Mets and been
released four days before joining the Mariners, has put up some
staggering numbers. Consider: He's third alltime in walks (1,999)
and trails leader Babe Ruth by only 57; he's fifth in runs
(2,124) and just 121 behind leader Ty Cobb; he and Cobb are the
only players with at least 2,000 runs, 1,000 runs batted in,
1,000 walks and 500 stolen bases; and he's one of four players
with a career on-base percentage over .400 and more than 10,000
at bats. Then there's stolen bases. Through Sunday, Henderson,
the career steals leader, held a greater margin, measured by
percentage, over the second man on the list than any other leader
in a major career statistical category.

--David Sabino

COLOR PHOTO: V.J. LOVERO

CATEGORY TOP TWO PLAYERS, TOTALS PCT. AHEAD
OF RUNNER-UP

STOLEN BASES Rickey Henderson, 1,339 Lou Brock, 938 42.8%

STRIKEOUTS Nolan Ryan, 5,714 Steve Carlton, 4,136 38.2%

WINS Cy Young, 511 Walter Johnson, 417 22.5%

SHUTOUTS Johnson, 110 Grover Cleveland Alexander, 90 22.2%

SAVES Lee Smith, 478 John Franco, 418 14.4%

HOME RUNS Hank Aaron, 755 Babe Ruth, 714 5.7%

RUNS BATTED IN Aaron, 2,297 Ruth, 2,212 3.8%

RUNS Ty Cobb, 2,245 Aaron and Ruth, 2,174 3.3%

HITS Pete Rose, 4,256 Cobb, 4,191 1.6%