Henderson scores big, breaks Cobb's career runs record

SAN DIEGO -- Rickey Henderson promised he'd slide into home plate to officially mark his reign as baseball's career runs leader.

When the moment arrived Thursday, the game's biggest showman kept his word.

Henderson, San Diego's leadoff batter, passed Ty Cobb by hitting a home run for No. 2,246 and celebrated -- feet first -- as the Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3.

The 42-year-old Henderson homered off the top of the left-field fence with one out in the third inning on a 93-mph fastball from right-hander Luke Prokopec.

Henderson clapped his hands and pumped his right fist as he rounded first following his 2,998th career hit.

As he came around third with a big smile on his face, he motioned with his left hand for his teammates to leave enough room for the slide. He popped up and was mobbed.

Since Henderson couldn't rip out home plate and hold it over his head, which he did with third base when he became all-time steals leader in 1991, Tony Gwynn presented him with a gold-plated replica of home. So Henderson held that over his head instead.

Henderson then answered a curtain call, bowing to the fans and blowing kisses.

Most of the Dodgers applauded during the 4-minute delay. Henderson's home run ball bounced back onto the field, and Gary Sheffield threw it into the infield.

Henderson tied Cobb's 73-year-old record of 2,245 runs on Wednesday night when he raced around from first base to score on Ryan Klesko's two-run double down the right-field line in the third inning of a 12-5 loss to the Dodgers.

Cobb retired in 1928.

This is the second major record Henderson set this year.

On April 25, he became the career walks leader with 2,063, breaking Babe Ruth's record. He's since pushed that record to 2,141.

Henderson has been baseball's stolen base king since May 1, 1991, when he broke Lou Brock's record with steal No. 939. He currently has 1,395, including a team-high 25 this year.

Henderson also owns the big-league record with 79 leadoff homers and set the single-season stolen base record with 130 in 1982.