RIP Rickey Henderson

[VeggieDog]

Dead at 65.

[VeggieDog]

[VeggieDog]

From Wikipedia:

Henderson holds the single-season record for stolen bases (130 in 1982) and is the only player in AL history to steal 100 bases in a season, having done so three times (in 1980, 1982, and 1983). His 1,406 career steals is 50% higher than the previous record of 938 by Lou Brock. Henderson is the all-time stolen base leader for the Oakland Athletics^[3] and previously held the New York Yankees' franchise record from 1988 to 2011.^[4][5] He was among the league's top ten base stealers in 21 different seasons.

[DrunkHorseplayer]

I believe he's the only HOFer who batted right and threw left.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Dead at 65.

Dammit. Thought he'd live forever.

Funny guy, had some good quips. Super-productive, had a long career.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/henderi01.shtml

...All-Time leader in Runs and Stolen Bases.
...Best leadoff hitter ever (IMHO).

[ChuckyTheGoat]

297 Home Runs, which was always 100 more than I thought. Pretty good power for a top of the order guy.

[Mr KLC]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And this right here folks will forever be my favourite Rickey Henderson story <a href="https://t.co/CQsPK1tdwW">pic.twitter.com/CQsPK1tdwW</a></p>&mdash; BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) <a href="https://twitter.com/nut_history/status/1870554378463256785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >December 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Doug tushyterror]

I believe he's the only HOFer who batted right and threw left.

Correct as far as non-pitchers go

[hawkwind]

R.I.P.

[mikejamm]

Great player. Dude could steal a base in the blink of an eye. Rest easy Rickey.

[sunshine11]

Dougy wtf

[Spite]

Wish I would have gotten to see him play live. One of the few guys I heard about growing up that I knew was special and I missed out on. Especially in baseball. I always heard about these dudes from the 70s and 80s that were not very special. Ricky was one I wish was from my era.

[ThaWoj]

The A's leaving Oakland probably killed him

[Mac4Lyfe]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And this right here folks will forever be my favourite Rickey Henderson story <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/CQsPK1tdwW">pic.twitter.com/CQsPK1tdwW</a></p>&mdash; BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/nut_history/status/1870554378463256785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >December 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Great story. Damn 65 is too young. RIP

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I could speak more about Rickey. Guy had a huge ego. Have to say he mis-spoke after breaking Brock's Stolen Base record. Brock was a solid guy. Should have shown him more respect.

Once Bill James came onto the scene, Rickey's value went up. Think back to the 70s. The sports-writers really graded offensive players on BA/HR/RBI.

Those weren't Rickey's specialty. So, he was sometimes not viewed in the same light. James noted the importance of OBA, and that's where Rickey shone.

Rickey had a lifetime OBA above .400, even with his later years pulling that down. I could never figure out why pitchers didn't challenge him more. He truly had a gift on working the strike zone.

[Otters27]

I believe he's the only HOFer who batted right and threw left.

Rarity

[Mr KLC]

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Very nice tribute by Kenny. You don't see that too often.

PS: Wouldn't his DAD have been his favorite player?

[Mr KLC]

Very nice tribute by Kenny. You don't see that too often.

PS: Wouldn't his DAD have been his favorite player?

Kind of like the Barry Bonds enigma of Bobby Bonds vs. Willie Mays.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Kind of like the Barry Bonds enigma of Bobby Bonds vs. Willie Mays.

Good comparison, K. RIP Rickey, I am surprised by his passing.

[Mr KLC]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rickey blessed me with history. I was catching and Rickey told Phil Nevin if he hits a homer to pass Cobb for the all-time run record he would slide into home. Classic. He was all class and a great teammate in 2003 in LA. Baseball lost a true legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#r ip</a> <a href="https://t.co/KOMiuILXhm">pic.twitter.com/KOMiuILXhm</a></p>&mdash; Paul Lo Duca (@paulloduca16) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulloduca16/status/1870650895446274067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >December 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr KLC]

[VeggieDog]

Funny story, but not true. Made up by an assistant trainer in Seattle.


John Olerud revealed the truth behind the amazing 'Rickey Henderson story' | MLB.com

[ChuckyTheGoat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rickey blessed me with history. I was catching and Rickey told Phil Nevin if he hits a homer to pass Cobb for the all-time run record he would slide into home. Classic. He was all class and a great teammate in 2003 in LA. Baseball lost a true legend. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#r ip</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/KOMiuILXhm">pic.twitter.com/KOMiuILXhm</a></p>&mdash; Paul Lo Duca (@paulloduca16) <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/paulloduca16/status/1870650895446274067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >December 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That's classic. Such a great player. He seemingly played forever, as he still had gas in the tank.

[Mr KLC]

Funny story, but not true. Made up by an assistant trainer in Seattle.


John Olerud revealed the truth behind the amazing 'Rickey Henderson story' | MLB.com

So many great stories about the guy. I would get taken by the false one.

[sunshine11]

Pneumonia. Wasn’t he in hospital and get medicine.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Funny clip: Tony Gwynn talking about Rickey (w/ the Padres):