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On this date, 1991: Rickey dives headfirst into baseball history

History forced Rickey Henderson, baseball’s fastest man between two bases, to become a marathon man.

The final 90-foot journey that turned Henderson into baseball’s all-time stolen-base leader ended Wednesday with Henderson hurling his florescent green batting gloves at third base, ahead of the tag by the New York Yankees’ Randy Velarde.

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After 23 days and 21 games, Henderson swiped his long-awaited third base of the season — the amount needed this season to reach 939 for his career and pass Lou Brock. The record and ensuing celebration overshadowed all else in the A’s 7-4 victory over the Yankees, their fourth in a row.