Nobody loved and lived the game more than Rickey Henderson:
1,406 stolen bases; 2,295 runs scored; 3,055 hits; 81 lead-off
Homers; 10–time All-Star, an MVP; winner of 2 World
Championships; retiring at age 44, after playing 24 seasons —
That’s a Major League career anyone would be satisfied with . . .
But not Rickey!
After he left the Majors, he kept going; he found new homes with
Independent and low-paying organizations: he played for the
Newark Bears of the Atlantic League and then the San Diego
Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League. He traveled from one
Minor league stadium to the next across America, continuing to
Believe that baseball had a spot in its heart for him – – – and it did!
Nobody loved or was more dedicated to the sport than Rickey.
He was Baseball personified. In his Hall of Fame induction speech,
He put his pride on display, comparing himself with Muhammad Ali,
Who’d often called himself “The Greatest” pugilist ever — and indeed
If baseball players were measured by a formula including effort and
Accomplishments, Rickey Henderson was in the running (so to speak).
Once he started, he didn’t stop . . . until he was voted into
Cooperstown, the home plate he’d always hoped to dive into
Head-first. He noted, “I am now in the class of the greatest players
Of all time, and at this moment, I am very, very humbled.”
Welcome home, Rickey Henderson.