Rickey Rewarded

Newly inducted baseball Hall-of-Famer, Rickey Henderson, liked to run the bases. His dirt-soiled uniform and highly admired running game and stealing skills are forever part of baseball greatness. Henderson was voted into Cooperstown on his first try and inducted last Sunday, along with Jim Rice. Rickey’s speed and athleticism were as infectious as his genuine love for the game. The throwback player with the wide grin is a reminder of how baseball should be played.
The game’s greatest leadoff hitter changed uniforms several times throughout his career as he set the precedent for batting in the one hole. During his playing days, the flashy speedster Henderson made on-base-percentage a significant statistic, setting the standard for scrappy sluggers in every city. Henderson had a mind-blowing .401 career on-base-percentage. And whenever he was on base, he was the toughest out and most distracting player on the field. It was difficult for opposing pitchers to ignore Rickey on the bases with his incredible fleetness.
Henderson holds the single-season and career record for steals. Rickey’s occasional power also entitles him to the record for most homers to leadoff a game. The five-tool player was as gifted as any in working the count, drawing walks and snagging a few bases each game. Rickey was an autonomous figure on the diamond as he created opportunities from routine grounders. Hitting and scoring came easy to the humble hitting hero Henderson. The composed outfielder set practically indissoluble records in runs with 2,295 and stolen bases with 1,406 during his brilliant career.
Henderson was just as cool in his induction speech as he was on the base paths over two decades. He delivered what many observers felt was the best Hall-Of-Fame speeches in recent years. Rickey remarked how his journey as a player was completed with Sunday’s shrine in Cooperstown. He dreamed of starring for football’s Oakland Raiders as a boy, but his mother encouraged Rickey to play baseball in order to mitigate possible injuries. Henderson acknowledged his childhood idols, Muhammad Ali and Reggie Jackson also.
I remember the left fielder, who was born on Christmas Day, from his four years in pinstripes during the 1980s. I also faintly recall his 1990 MVP season for the AL and his leadoff hitting days with the World Series champion 1989 Oakland A’s and 1993 Toronto Bluejays. The ten time All-star was an outspoken, sometimes outrageous, voice on all the clubs he competed. My favorite Rickey quote occurred the night he became the sport’s all-time stolen base leader, surpassing Lou Brock with 939 steals. Henderson’s remarkable achievement was overshadowed by Nolan Ryan’s 7th no-hitter on May 1, 1991. Ryan has always been one of my very favorite pitchers and all-time players. After the game, the talented Henderson delighted in saying, “If you haven’t been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you’re nobody.”

Parting points: This entry was supposed to be posted on Monday but I am having some issues getting online. Better late than never. This is the only time I can get online.