RIP Rickey Henderson

[RaginCajun83]

I was a big A's fan as a boy in the late 80's. Much respect to one of the greats!

So was I

 

[triumph]

RIP Rickey.

"Full Share!"

Another Reason Why Rickey Is the Greatest

Rickey Henderson is the forking greatest for many reasons. The following anecdote is further proof of said. from Long Shot by Mike Piazza Rickey got his, there’s no denying that: made over $44million…

not.fangraphs.com

 

[antipop]

Damn. Always was one of my favorite ball players…there will never be another like him

 

[RaginCajun83]

 

[Merl]

I think it was in Ricky's second year that Lou Brock was broadcasting a game with Garagiola and he was asked if anyone will break his records. His reply was "that guy coming to bat will break them". That guy was Ricky.

 

[faceman]

Probably my all time favorite player. He could hit for power of he wanted to. (All time leader. In lead off the game homers) Greatest base stealer of all time and a terror for pitchers when he was on base.

Yes,if a pitcher walked him it was pretty much an automatic double.

 

[jasonsw]

It's a shame if I remember correctly it's his birthday in a few days. One of my favorite players growing up. Dude was a complete ball player. He played during a time when baseball was by far my favorite sport and it was no question the greatest one.

We will never see another ball player like him. Closest is maybe ohtani. If he were allowed to steal more often he could Crack 100 SB.

 

[sfidc3]

One of the all time greats….RIP Sir

 

[jasonsw]

Yes,if a pitcher walked him it was pretty much an automatic double.

That dude was a certified BB Machine. He definitely believed a walk was just as good as a hit

 

[RaginCajun83]

He also had a major league-record 81 homeruns to lead off a game

 

[BlackandGoldXLIV]

He was a baaaaaaaaaaad man.

I remember this great Rolaids commercial.

 

[Saintman2884]

Yes,if a pitcher walked him it was pretty much an automatic double.

One of the many reasons why he was able to draw so many walks or hits was how low he crouched at the batter's box where it made opposing pitchers jobs of finding the strike zone a bit difficult sometimes.

I know Nolan Ryan recorded like his IIRC, 4-5,000 strikeout on Rickey Henderson in Arlington, TX on a late-night game vs. Oakland in 1989. Regardless of where he played over his long and winding career over 27 years, Nolan Ryan always seemed to own the Oakland A's in that he always seemed to have his best-ever games against them. You'd see prime Canseco, McGuire, Walt Weiss, Henderson, older, aging Dave Parker, great HOF players getting their arses handed to them by Ryan. I rewatched one of Ryan's no-hitters once in 1990 @ Oakland and to show how much mutual respect Oakland-sports fans had for Ryan after his no-hitter, some of their fans stormed the field after the final out and helped his Rangers teammates carry him off the field. They knew greatness even when it was pitching against them.

 

[DaveXA]

Gone too soon. Unique blend of speed, power and all around talent. Loved watching him play.

 

[superchuck500]

For a sport as old as baseball to have an all-time record spread from 1 to 2 to be this wide, it shows you just how dominant he was, all-time.

The spread from 2 to 20 is very typical looking for a sports record book, but then Rickey is 49% over Lou at #2. That's bonkers. And his all-time lead-off home-runs record is 35% higher than the next (81 to 60).