And at this moment, I am [pause] very, very humble. He often refers to himself in the third person, and sources confirm hestill speaks like that today. Rickey and his wife Pamela knew each other since their high school days. If I don't, just get rid of me, release me. Charlie and Lillie Glenn later became his guardians. And then click, he hung up. [16] On May 9, 2005, Henderson signed with the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League, an independent league. ' Rickey's just scolding himself. Unusually, Henderson was hitless in the game (he had four walks). Why did Rickey Henderson bat right handed? Rickey Henderson's game lackedkryptonite. [33] Of the ten top base stealers who were still active as of 2002, the other nine each stole fewer bases in 2002 than the 42-year-old Henderson. Rickey Henderson was legendary from the first time he took a breath. Report an error Policies and Standards Contact Us Tags: Baseball Obituary John Hickey John Hickey. Rickey Henderson's wife's name is Rickey Henderson, 61, is married to Pamela Palmer, whom he adores. Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original Howard Bryant 4.27 695 ratings100 reviews From the author of The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron comes the definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball's epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer who also stole America's heart over nearly five electric decades in the game. Last year Ed Ott of the Angels got so frustrated because the umpire was calling balls that would've been strikes on anybody else that he stood up and shouted at me, "Stand up and hit like a man." Baseball Player Born in Illinois #3. Ask Amy: When they learn about my wife, women won't go out with me. 2022 Topps Archives, #1-200, Choose Your Card, Complete Your Set. It was one hell of a career for one hell of a personality. He won the ACLS MVP on his way to glory and was voted AL MVP the following year for his postseason performance in the playoffs. But today, I'm the greatest of all time. It's the truth. He continued in minor league ball and said he was ready for a call back to the Majorsuntil he was 50 years old. Pamela Palmer. Henderson finished his playing career with the record of 1406 stolen bases,2,295 runs scored, 2190 walks and registered 3,000 hits in his Major League Baseball Career. And that's only half the problem. [66] A month later, Henderson appeared to reject the overture, saying, "One day? "[29], Tony La Russa, Henderson's manager in the late 1980s in Oakland, said, "He rises to the occasionthe big momentbetter than anybody I've ever seen. A new book by sportswriter Howard Bryant makes the case for Rickey Henderson as an underappreciated historical great. ", "The defensive brilliance shared by A's outfielders 05.10.82 SI Vault", So What's All The Fuss? "[29], Henderson was so proud of a $1 million signing bonus that he framed it instead of cashing it, thus losing several months' interest. So actually, the runner that can make the continuous, regular move like Rickey's can't be thrown out, and he's proven it."[98]. It was like a skid mark, like you throw a rock on the water and skid off it. In May 2005, he was still insisting that he was capable of playing in the major leagues. Rickey says it when Rickey doesn't do what Rickey needs to be doing. [95] However, Henderson's overall 81% success rate on the basepaths is among the highest percentages in history. Photo . He made his debut in the major league with the Oakland Athletics in the summer of 1979 and got two hits and a stolen base. [68], Henderson finally conceded his "official retirement" on July 13, 2007: "I haven't submitted retirement papers to MLB, but I think MLB already had their papers that I was retired." New York Yankees. [47] After winning his second World Series ring with Toronto, he re-signed as a free agent with Oakland in December 1993.[33]. Anyone who has seen Henderson knows he's a freight train. On June 24, 1979, making his Major League Baseball debut, Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics took a . So my wife and I are in the lobby waiting and my step-father-in-law walks up to me and hands me this ball and a few items from Rickey's induction ceremony from Cooperstown. He is from United States. He used his blazing speed, not only to inspire fear in the hearts of catchers everywhere, but sprint straight into baseball ' s record books. They can go from first to second in 2.9 seconds; and no pitcher catcher combination in baseball could throw from here to there to tag second in 2.9 seconds, it was always 3, 3.1, 3.2. Rickey Henderson was born in the backseat of an Oldsmobile speeding through Chicago, racing to the hospital. He is being held in the Byrd Unit in Huntsville. Take care of him, I know you are, and let him know I still love him. I know this would take some of your valuable time, but it would mean a lot to me and my teacher, Mr. McGowan. [53], A free agent in March 2001, Henderson returned to the Padres. At $1.2m, the percentage . Due to incomplete historical recordkeeping for that statistic, though, it is unknown whether he is the actual career leader. When you see Rickey Henderson, I don't care when, the score's already 10. Rickey Darrell Henderson went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Despite the access Bryant had -- Pamela Henderson, the athlete's wife, suggested writing the biography, and the author had four interviews with the baseball player among his dozens of other. They have three daughters together, Angela, Alexis, and Adriann, Hi Mrs. Henderson, Buck here, I was on line and ran across your name. In 46 games, Henderson batted .336 and hit three home runs and two triples. Late yesterday the couple filed a formal. Mother, Bobbie Henderson and wife, Pamela, of 2009 inductee Rickey Henderson look on at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball . [16] Henderson spent the following season with the Modesto A's. He was highly interested in playing baseball since his early childhood days and known as for his speed, this ability made him the All American running back at Oakland Technical High School. In July 2007, New York Sun sportswriter Tim Marchman wrote about Henderson's accomplishments: He stole all those bases and scored all those runs and played all those years not because of his body, but because of his brain. [80] In 2003, he discussed his unusual phraseology, saying, "People are always saying, 'Rickey says Rickey.' 7 song in America, but the No. The couple tied their wedding knot in 1983 and their marriage is going strong for over three decades. There to help celebrate Rickey's success were his wife Pamela, his mom Bobbie and his daughters Angela, 24, Alexis, 17, Adrianna,15. He batted .345 in 134 games during his record-setting season with Modesto. [59], As the 2003 season began, Henderson was without a team for the first time in his career. There aretoo many Rickey Henderson quotesto mention, so I'll leave you with my favorite: "They kept that shit [steroids] secret from me. In his first season, he batted .274 with 33 stolen bases playing in 89 games. Rickey Henderson Popularity . To say the least, Rickey Henderson was a character. We'll talk about a home run hitter 24/7. There was a story in the legend that didn't quite seem true but it was: Rickey Henderson, newly minted sophomore and local legend, was cut from the Oakland Tech . [44], On May 1, 1991, Henderson broke one of baseball's most noted records when he stole the 939th base of his career, one more than Lou Brock's total compiled from 1961 to 1979, mainly with the St. Louis Cardinals.[45][46]. I get more calls and e-mails about him than anybody We've had some special players come through San Diego. On Sunday, Bobbie Henderson's son will be the toast of baseball. He has the second-highest career powerspeed number, behind Barry Bonds, at 490.4. Rickey Henderson". Rickey would have 60 at the break.' Pitchers walked Henderson to first base nearly 800 times in his career,which is insane. Henderson played his last major league game on September 19, 2003; he was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance, and came around to score his 2,295th run. Who Is Rickey Henderson's Wife? And that got me thinking about my favourite all-time Rickey Henderson blog post: a run down of the best 25 stories (true or not) about the self-styled greatest to ever steal a base. You ought to be ashamed. I was thinking about head-first versus feet-first, and wondering which would save my body. But you don't want to be too careful because he's got a small strike zone and you can't afford to walk him. But Henderson won't hear it, and why should he? [25] Finishing second to the Milwaukee Brewers' Rollie Fingers in the MVP voting, Henderson's fielding that season also earned him his only Gold Glove Award. Henderson set two records for stolen bases: most successful steals and most unsuccessful. Henderson also holds the record for most home runs to lead off a game, with 81; Alfonso Soriano and Craig Biggio are tied for a distant second, each with 53 career lead-off home runs. December 25 Baseball Player #2. It's called "Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original." And I spoke . Rickey Henderson took a lot of shots, sliding into his base path head first. For the basketball player with this nickname, see, Second stint with the Oakland Athletics (19891993), Third stint with the Oakland Athletics (19941995), Fourth stint with the Oakland Athletics (1998), Second stint with the San Diego Padres (2001), Rickey Henderson: Leadoff Legend, 2009, MLB Network, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 02:26, Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades, List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders, List of Major League Baseball stolen base records, "Jeter passes Rickey as Yankees' steals leader", "New York Yankees All-Time steals leaders", "Stop, Thief! During his MLB career Rickey played for multiple teams between 1979 and 2003. His 1,406 career stolen bases & 2,295 career runs stand as some of the most remarkable records in the game. [33] His brief stint as an Angel was uneventful, as he batted only .183 for the rest of the season. Rickey Henderson's age is 64. He signed a $12 million, 4-year contract with the Oakland Athletics on November 28, 1989. 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. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted and enshrined Rickey in 2009, but he doesn't just hang around Cooperstown chatting it up with Babe Ruth's ghost. Henderson's impact was noticeable on Jos Reyes, the Mets' former leadoff hitter. [34] He also won the Silver Slugger Award, and was third in the voting for the MVP award. Henderson was way past his prime, but don't tell Rickey that! Regardless, Henderson was right: hewasthe greatest base stealer of all time. On February 10, 2006, he accepted a position as a hitting instructor for the Mets, while leaving the door open to returning as a player. 'Henderson here.' Terms of Use, SOURCE: a Guide to Arizona Real Estate, Listings, And Lifestyle. Run, Rickey, run: Henderson passed Lou Brock in 1991 and added nearly 500 more stolen bases to his total. (kcbd) Currently, Henderson is currently serving a 25 year sentence for a drug charge out of Taylor County. Four years later, Vince Coleman broke that unbelievable record when he stole more than 100 bases for 3 consecutive seasons (1985, 1986 & 1987). Not just baseball player, but athlete. He was named after Ricky Nelson when they got to the hospital. [40] It was the only season from 1980 to 1991 in which Henderson did not lead the AL in steals. He later became known for his showboat "snatch catches", in which he would flick his glove out at incoming fly balls, then whip his arm behind his back after making the catch.[26]. And she will be in the frame, as she has been for more than 50 years, to witness her Rickey . Henderson's long, loud, and spotless baseball career is a testament to his integrity and high character. Sports writer Howard Bryant's new biography, "Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original" (Mariner), tells the captivating story of Rickey Henderson, the Hall of Famer who holds the MLB . That's it. [33][109], In 1999, before breaking the career records for runs scored and walks, Henderson was ranked number 51 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[110] and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Calling on behalf of Rickey. [Pause for cheers] Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing. The Athletics wanted their superstar back again the following year. Select from premium Rickey Henderson Baseball Player of the highest quality. "Lou. Advertise with us Sometimes, walking so much even gets me mad. Rickey Henderson was legendary from the first time he took a breath. "[6], Henderson was born on December 25, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois, in the back seat of an Oldsmobile on the way to the hospital. Advertisement While it's been years since Rickey Henderson stepped on the field to play baseball, he remains to be one of the greatest players to ever play. He also had scored 77 runs, stolen 31 bases, drew 85 walks, had a .469 on-base percentage and was slugging .553. The Red Sox finally "passed" Henderson on April 30, 2002. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . But to have a quarter-century as good as Rickey Henderson's, most professional baseball players would need 50 years. The woman's husband, Jahann Salarinartin, told police that Rickey Henderson assaulted his wife, Sandra, 23, when she refused to have sex with him. From his first contract five years earlier, Rickey's salary had risen more than 5,300%. The couple tied their wedding knot in 1983 and their marriage is going strong for over three decades. Henderson had 18 four-steal games during his career. Rickey Henderson was the highest-paid baseball player along with Kirby Puckett for three years with his first contract signed in 1989. They both attended Oakland Technical High in the early 1970s and dated each other since then. If you dive when you're running straight up then you have a long distance to get to the ground. This was the Surf Dawgs' and the Golden Baseball League's inaugural season, and Henderson helped the team to the league championship. Henderson played for the Athletics from 1979-84, 1989-93,1994-95 and 1998. Henderson was always fast, and he didn't limit his speed tostealing bases. About Us Years from now, though, I'll be able to say I played with Rickey Henderson, and I imagine it will be like saying I played with Babe Ruth. I found it was impossible to throw some other guys out also. After the season, he was traded to the New York Yankees. 3081. With runners in place, nearly every at-bat for Rickey was an RBI. The 39 year-old 'Man of Steal' becomes the oldest player ever to lead the league in purloined bags", "1999 On Base Percentage Leaders: Top 25 in the National League", "Card game: Henderson, Bonilla show up Valentine in Game 6", "Griffey simply breathtaking in his prime", "2000 Stolen Bases Leaders: Top 25 in the American League", "Henderson Breaks Cobb's Record in Style", "October 7, 2001: Rickey Henderson records 3,000th hit in Tony Gwynn's final game Society for American Baseball Research", "A Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Oldest Player", "BASEBALL; Mets and Henderson Are Closing In On Deal", "One on one with Rickey Henderson: future Hall of Famer Interview", "Rickey's retirement plans: will he or won't he? Required fields are marked *. Here he is taking home third base, his 1000th base stolen: Talk about salt in the wound -- it's basically a staged robbery. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Floyd Rayford described the confusion he felt during a particular game, when Henderson was leading off first base and signalling him with two fingers. NM-MT. Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson (born December 25, 1958) is an American retired professional baseball left fielder who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four separate tenures with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. . $5.99. I wish they had told me. Henderson could have gone either routeto college on a football scholarship, or the path to a baseball career in the big leagues. [84][85][86], Verducci wrote, "Rickey is the modern-day Yogi Berra, only faster." The outfielder led baseball in so many offensive and defensive categories for so long that statisticians stilldoubt anyone will ever snatchhisstolen baserecord. They overshadow what I've accomplished in this game.[62]. Henderson was later traded to Toronto Blue Jays in 1993 and won his World Series Championship for the first time with Toronto Blue Rays. He retired from the City of Swifton, where . Reaching safely by a hit or a walk in 125 of his 136 games, he led the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), on-base percentage (.439) and OPS (1.016) was second in slugging percentage (.577), fourth in walks (97) and extra base hits (66), sixth in home runs (28) and total bases (282) and had 61 RBI. And yet he walked SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY SIX times to lead off an inning. His 146 runs scored were the most since Ted Williams had 150 in 1950,[35] and he became the first player since Jimmie Foxx in 1939 to amass more runs scored than games played. And, he unnecessarily insulted the gentleman, Brock. Henderson spoke loosely, freely, and boldly with the media, never mired in scandal, only in humor. "That's something that's in my blood. Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson was a Major League Baseball player with the Oakland Athletics ( 1979 - 1984 ), New York Yankees ( 1985 - 1989 ), Oakland Athletics ( 1989 - 1993 ), Toronto Blue Jays ( 1993 ), Oakland Athletics ( 1994 - 1995 ), San Diego Padres ( 1996 - 1997 ), Anaheim Angels ( 1997 ), Oakland Athletics ( 1998 ), New York Mets ( Inspired by Dodgers leadoff hitter Rudy Law, Henderson adopted an exaggerated crouch as his batting stance, which reduced his strike zone without sacrificing much power. He is widely considered . When he gets on base he's more trouble still." Oh, baby, look out!". I still love the game right now, so I'm going to wait it out and see what happens. Once asked if he thought Henderson was a future Hall of Famer, statistician Bill James replied, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers. Record: 85-76-0, Finished 5th in AL_East ( Schedule and Results ) Managers: Billy Martin (40-28) and Lou Piniella (45-48) General Manager: Bob Quinn Sr. (Promoted May 1988) Scouting Director: Brian Sabean. Before the 2003 season, his last in the majors, Henderson discussed his reputation for hanging onto his lengthy baseball career: Each and every day I set a record, but we never talk about it. Characteristically, he added, "If it was a situation where we were going to win the World Series and I was the only player that they had left, I would put on the shoes. Henderson was named the AL's Most Valuable Player in 1990, and he was twice the lead-off hitter for World Series champions: the 1989 Oakland Athletics and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. But it's been blown way out of proportion. Henderson averaged 115 walks per 162 games over his career. 1980 Rickey Henderson Topps RC #482 (buy on eBay) The most popular rookie card of one of the greatest ever baseball players. 1979. [100], Padres closer Trevor Hoffman said, "I don't know how to put into words how fortunate I was to spend time around one of the icons of the game. Wild Bill Hickok. The Modesto A's finished the season with 357 stolen bases,[17] just shy of the league record of 370. I willalways repect him as a person not just an ball player. His first love was football, and he wrecked defenses as a running back in high school. Search instead in Creative? He also led the AL in walks (116), was fourth in runs (119) and third in on-base percentage (.398). I don't want one day. It was also in high school where Henderson met his future wife, the former Pamela Palmer. Rickey Henderson Is A Member Of . Henderson made his major league debut with Oakland on June 24, 1979, getting two hits in four at-bats, along with a stolen base. All this, despite being swept by Cincinnatiin the 1990 World Series. When the police spoke to the 56-year-old, he told them that he and Jeannie left Levelland on April 14 to visit friends in Brady and then stayed in Brownwood, Texas.