I usually find the hoopla surrounding Hall of Fame entries to be kind of boring, but I have a feeling the buildup — right through the induction speech — with Rickey Henderson is going to be a lot of fun. Check out The Definitive Rickey Henderson: The 25 Best Stories of “Rickey Being Rickey.”
3) In the early 1980s, the Oakland A’s accounting department was freaking out. The books were off $1 million. After an investigation, it was determined Rickey was the reason why. The GM asked him about a $1 million bonus he had received and Rickey said instead of cashing it, he framed it and hung it on a wall at his house.
and
13) San Diego GM Kevin Towers was trying to contact Rickey at a nearby hotel. He knew Henderson always used fake names to avoid the press, fans, etc. He was trying to think like Rickey and after several attempts; he was able to get Henderson on the phone.
Rickey had checked in under Richard Pryor.
I’m sure at some point they’ll be some audio files passed around.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Patrick // Dec 5, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Rickey could be the first ever HoF’er who hasn’t officially retired yet.
2 DJ // Dec 6, 2008 at 8:07 am
I saw Rickey get his 3000th hit. It was in San Diego at Tony Gwynn’s final game as a player. I’ll never forget it.
I’d grown up hating Rickey and the Bash Brothers and the whole A’s scene. So imagine how surprised I was when I got more excited when Rickey got that hit than I was about being at TG’s last at-bat. And as a life-long Padres fan, I worship Tony Gwynn. Strange.
There’s just something about Rickey…
3 Shinsano // Dec 6, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I didn’t like him either, but now I realize he was one of the best, if not the best, player I’ll ever see. I don’t think what he did can be duplicated. I don’t think anyone will do what Bonds did during his video game-like seasons, but someone will probably break the HR record. Stealing over 100 bases three times? Can’t see it.
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