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The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will need to get bigger as it prepares to welcome Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson as its newest members on July 26.

The votes are in and there’s no turning back, but only one of these players belongs.

In a career that took place in four decades, Henderson became the all-time leader in stolen bases at 1,406 and runs scored with 2,295. Henderson could beat you with more than just his speed. He had more power than anyone with three seasons of 100 or more stolen bases should.

Three times the outfielder had a season where he led the American League in stolen bases and hit over 20 home runs. He also holds the record for most home runs to leadoff a game with 81. These statistics got Henderson voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Baseball historian Bill James said it best, “If you could somehow split [Henderson] in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers.”

While his statistics are astonishing, Henderson’s love of the game, personality, and playing style contribute to his legacy. At 44-years-old, the 10 time All-Star played in the Atlantic League, an independent minor league, hoping for one more season in the Majors.

For 25 seasons, Henderson tormented other teams. With Henderson on first, pitchers would lose focus of the batter, fearing that he would turn his single into a triple.

As legend has it, one time as Henderson was taking his lead from first he caught the eye of Floyd Rayford, the Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman, and held up two fingers. Rayford had no idea what it meant until Henderson was standing on the bag next to him after quickly stealing two bases.

Henderson’s intangibles and his flair (his headfirst slides, an exaggerated arm motion to snatch routine fly balls from the air, and references to himself in the third person,) made baseball exciting to watch.

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