So Rickey Henderson’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech earlier today didn’t live up to the hilarity Chez Porvaznik anticipated after hearing the above line in his press conference yesterday. What he did deliver meant much more than any of his malapropisms could have provided. On the flip-side to that incredibly selfish Wade Boggs’ recent comments mentioned further below …
“In my career, I had the good fortune to play for nine teams. It was wonderful because it allowed me to meet fans all over the country. It’s the fans that make the game fun. To all the fans, thank you, thank you, thank you, for your wonderful support over all these years.”
My father-in-law and I recently discussed our favorite players we’ve respectively seen play live-and-in-person. He grew up at Ebbets Field in the 40s/50s/early 60s, so his list obviously more impressive than damn near anyone who didn’t have that blessed opportunity. My list wasn’t long, but it damn sure included Rickey Henderson. Though nowhere as prolific (and all credit to former Coach Zednik’s predilection for encouraging us to be aggressive on the base paths), this base stealer’s ultimate role model.
Never got to see his fellow Hall classmate Jim Rice, but also glad he didn’t have to wait any longer. A .298 batting average may not seem Hall-worthy, but Rice belongs in Cooperstown. I’ll let Kriskey make better arguments than this 70s Yankees fan ever could.
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“He grew up at Ebbets Field in the 40s/50s/early 60s”
Jesus, I doubt it took him that long to grow up.
wanks here: Literalist.
Good point, but when you’re seeing Jackie, Willie, Stan, and Hank, some comings-of-age take longer than others. When Lenny Barker’s the best I got and otherwise had Wayne Garland, Toby Harrah and “Super” Joe Charboneau, you want to grow up more quickly so you can drive to another metro area.
By the way, Matt, while we may or may not mature, most men never grow up. Yes, it took half a day to craft that comeback.
You’re lucky I didn’t point out that I doubt he grew up at Ebbets Field and probably lived in a house somewhere.
Oops, forgot to sign back in.
I’d love to, Eric, but I never saw him in his prime. Based on his numbers and numbers alone, he may not have deserved it. (I’m very strict about who I let in my Hall of Fame, go figure.) But from everything I’ve read and heard, Rice is going in because of his numbers plus.
Plus being his reliability, his passion for the game, and most importantly, for the fear he struck in the hearts of pitchers throughout the league. That I can’t speak to, so I’ll just be happy he’s in.
(And I don’t know what keywords triggered it, Eric, but I’m seeing an add for something called “Evony” over here on the right that is most distracting! In a good way!)
I can see either case for Rice, in or out, but ultimately think he belongs in the Hall. In the same sentence with Williams, Fisk or even Reggie? No, but a member nonetheless. From strictly a fan perspective, I vividly remember not liking the guy, but respecting that fear you mentioned. Also recall getting really jazzed when getting his card in a pack of Topps, and the fact he played for one team his whole career — though not even close to being a Hall qualifier — means a lot to me as a fan of the game.
(Mmmm, Evony…)
I have this idea that the Hall of Fame is not for very, very good players, but for baseball immortals. If that were true, Rice wouldn’t be in. Henderson would. But that’s not how the Hall of Fame actually works. (The veteran’s committee has been much too free with the honor.)
I hate the argument that “X is in the Hall, so Y should be, too.” It waters down the significance of the Hall.
(I think Evony just winked at me!)
I haven’t seen a lot of live pro baseball games, but being born in Norhtern Minnesota I was born a Twins fan. The first game I saw, I remember the major league pennant flying on the flag pole. Googling it, I had to have seen them in 1966. But the Twins had Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Zoilo Versalles, Cesar Tovar, Tony Oliva…
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1966&t=MIN
I also remember it was a double header and Nolan Ryan pitched against them in one of the games. His fast ball was almost invisible.
We knew the neighbors of a Twins bat boy, and ended up with a couple of broken bats. One was Bob Allison’s.
What a trip around memory lane that just was.
KIRBY PUCKETT!!!
You mean KIRBEEEEEEEEEEEEE PUCKEHHHHHHT ?
If Rice had identical stats, but had played for any of 28 other teams, he’d not have been inducted. The only reason every mediocre Sawx or Damnyankees player hasn’t been inducted is that that would make the biases in selection criteria blatenly obvious.
We’ll find out next year, Raoul, when Andre Dawson probably gets in the Hall. I can see Bert Blyleven more deservedly getting the call, too.
Raoul, if you’re going to keep this up I must demand to know which team you root for. (For the purpose of mocking you.)
Nice post, Eric.
G-Man, I’m wracking my brains to remember…think he was with the Twins…ARGH!! he went blind in one eye? Someone kill me, but not before reminding me of who I forgot.
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!
Proof that drugs have wasted the MLB part of my brain that, when I was a seven-year-old girl, used to be the *biggest* part.
Are you talking about a Hall of Famer? What position? Give us a clue! Black/White/Other? Big power hitter or high average slapper?
Kirby Puckett?
That’s it. He went blind in one eye, right? I’d forgotten that.
Yup. It was Kirby Puckett.
Yes. yes, YESSSS!! Thanks guys!!!! KIRBY PUCKETT.
*exhales*
And even more embarrassing, I truly admired the man as an athlete & a human being. And yet, I draw a blank on his name.
*bangs head onto desk*
Ricky Henderson story: Ricky is getting on the team bus to head back to the hotel. He’s just been traded. One of the players sees him and shouts, “Hey Ricky, sit anywhere you want, you have tenure.” Ricky replies: “Ten-year? Ricky been here 12 year.”
Was playing with the Mets when he came across John Olerud. Olerud, who had major surgery on his head in the minors, wears a batting helmet when he played first base. Henderson walks up to Olerud and says, “Ya know, I played with a guy in Toronto who wore a helmet just like you do.” Olerud says: “You sure did. It was me.”
I grew up in the Bay Area and went to alot of A’s games as a kid. I was lucky enough to be at the game where Ricky Henderson broke Ty Cobb’s record for most stolen bases in a career. After Henderson stole that base, the game stopped for about 10 minutes as the whole stadium gave him a standing ovation. What a moment.
I remember Rickey as being Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout and the day Rickey broke the stolen base record… Ryan pitched no hitter number 7. And for all his ebonic lyricism… dude was a ballplayer and great leadoff hitter.
The leadoff hitter. I could never stand the guy, but he’s the greatest ever in that slot.