This article celebrates the legendary baseball player Rickey Henderson, highlighting his extraordinary achievements, unique style, and lasting impact on the sport. From his record-breaking base stealing to his uncanny ability to decipher pitcher tells, Henderson's dominance was legendary.
teammate Mike Cameron would reach for the bus microphone as the team lumbered from airports to hotels, and he read aloud some of the recent achievements of his fellow players from the media relations notes.
"Why should we even try to throw him out? We're never going to get him, and we might throw it away trying to get him," Robinson said."Don't even try to get him. He's too good."manager Bobby Valentine landed similarly."We used to talk about two outs, nobody on, ninth-place hitter at the plate," Valentine said of a hypothetical game situation.
Raul Ibanez recalled how Henderson seemed to have the tell on every pitcher's pickoff -- some bit of body language that betrayed whether the pitcher was going to throw the ball to the plate, or to first base. And if a pitcher appeared whom Henderson had never seen before, he would go to the end of the first base dugout and watch until he found the tell.
Everything Henderson did on the field came with his own trademark style. When he thought he hit a home run, he'd pull the top of his jersey -- pop it. He ran low to the ground, moving with peak efficiency, and slid headfirst, like a jet landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier. He'd catch routine fly balls swiping his glove like a windshield wiper.
Henderson was ejected 11 times over his long career, and nine of those were about disagreements over the strike zone, but he was not a serial whiner, Scott said he thought."He never went goofy on me," Scott said. Whether he was at the plate or on the bases, he talked to himself -- maybe to push himself, maybe to heighten his focus. A pitch could be thrown outside and Henderson might say out loud, 'Rickey's not swinging at that.
In A.J. Hinch's rookie season, 1998, he wore No. 23 and Henderson wore 24, so they lockered next to each other. At the All-Star break, they happened to be on the same flight to Phoenix."I hear him call out with his raspy voice and his cackle for a laugh," he recalled."I sit in the aisle seat in the exit row and Rickey is in the window seat. We land in Phoenix, and as we get off, Rickey asked me where I was going. I told him my girlfriend is at baggage claim, to pick me up.
There was a game in that 2000 season when Henderson's back was sore, Rodriguez recalled, and the Mariners played into the bottom of the 13, with Henderson due to hit leadoff."He would go an entire game and not say a word to anybody," Rodriguez remembered."The top of the 13As Rodriguez related the memory, he moved into an imitation of Henderson's distinctive voice, as so many of his teammates and friends do.
Ibanez often watched Henderson in batting practice, working through his swing among teammates like Edgar Martinez, making adjustments, sometimes talking to himself."Rickey is trying to hit like Edgar," Henderson once said."Rickey can't hit like that."-- and Ibanez remembers him being open with advice, and instilling confidence from his own bottomless well of it."Once you get the opportunity," Henderson rasped to Ibanez,"you're going to hit, Rah-houl.
He might not have talked much with teammates during games, but he was talking constantly -- in the direction of fans, to himself. Playing center field, Cameron could hear Henderson at his position, just talking out loud:Henderson was a leadoff hitter through his career, but Cameron would see him in the clubhouse only minutes before a game, finishing a game of spades, or pluck."Never in a hurry," Cameron remembered. And then he would start to stretch.
"He was so misunderstood because of the speech he made after breaking Brock's record, when he said, 'I am the greatest,'" Nevin said."People thought he was a selfish guy, who couldn't remember anybody's name. But he was a great teammate."
RICKEY HENDERSON BASEBALL BASE STEALING MLB HISTORY ATHLETICISM
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rickey Henderson Memorial Set for OaklandA memorial for legendary baseball player Rickey Henderson will be held in Oakland next month. The event, open to the public, will celebrate Henderson's life and legacy. Tickets will be available starting Monday.
Read more »
Rickey Henderson's Celebration of Life to be Held in FebruaryBeloved Oakland Athletics legend Rickey Henderson will be celebrated at a public event in February at the Oakland Arena.
Read more »
Celebration of Life for Rickey Henderson Set for Oakland ArenaRickey Henderson, the legendary A's leadoff hitter, will be honored with a Celebration of Life event at the Oakland Arena on February 1st. The event, open to the public, will celebrate Henderson's incredible career and impact on baseball.
Read more »
Oakland Athletics Legends Remember Rickey Henderson at Final Coliseum FarewellThis news article captures the poignant farewell to the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum as a public service is held to honor the legendary Rickey Henderson. It highlights manager Tony La Russa's heartfelt tributes and the lasting impact of Henderson's talent, personality, and contributions to the team and baseball.
Read more »
Rickey Smiley Learns He Is Father to Two Young GirlsComedian Rickey Smiley recently discovered he is the father of two young girls. He shared the news and how his faith helped him through the loss of his son.
Read more »
Rickey Smiley Discovers He's the Father of Five-Year-Old Twin GirlsAtlanta radio host Rickey Smiley learned he is the father of 5-year-old twin girls nearly a year after the death of his adult son. The news came from an ex-girlfriend who he is still friends with and who had learned in court that the twins belonged to Rickey. Smiley said he had joked with his ex about the possibility of fatherhood before. He described the moment as a bright spot during a difficult year marked by the loss of his son.
Read more »