Two Guys Sports
Bruce BostwickRickey Henderson – One of My Favorite Players, and Now a Hall of Famer
January 14th 2009 09:59
Rickey Henderson – One of My Favorite Players, and Now a Hall of Famer
I have enjoyed the game of baseball for most of my life. Back in 1980 I saw Rickey Henderson play for the first time. He had played in 89 games the previous season, but I don’t remember seeing him play that year. After he had 33 stolen bases that first partial season he drew some attention.
His 1980 season was amazing. He wound up with 100 stolen bases. It wasn’t until the 1982 season that he would become a legend, or at least begin to become a legend. In 1982 he stole 130 bases, eclipsing the Major League record for a single season previously held by Lou Brock.
By this point I had already begun to like him. Then in 1985 he became a New York Yankee. That pretty much sealed the deal, put a player I was beginning to like a lot on the team I have loved my entire life and the rest was history.
When I say the rest was history I meant it literally. He led the American League in stolen bases every season from 1980 – 1991 except for 1987. He was voted league MVP in 1990 while with the A’s again. He also played on three World Series teams, twice on the winning team.
By the time his long career came to an end he held the following records; runs scored – 2295, stolen bases – 1406, caught stealing – 335, and another thing he was known for, games led off with a home run – 81. He is also the ONLY player in Major League history to ever have 3,000 hits and 2,000 walks.
He just might be the best to ever play the game. Many sports analysts were surprised he only received 95% of the voting to induct him into the Hall. Regardless of how many votes he got he is now a member of the Hall of Fame with the rest of the games greats. Right where he belongs.
I have enjoyed the game of baseball for most of my life. Back in 1980 I saw Rickey Henderson play for the first time. He had played in 89 games the previous season, but I don’t remember seeing him play that year. After he had 33 stolen bases that first partial season he drew some attention.
His 1980 season was amazing. He wound up with 100 stolen bases. It wasn’t until the 1982 season that he would become a legend, or at least begin to become a legend. In 1982 he stole 130 bases, eclipsing the Major League record for a single season previously held by Lou Brock.
By this point I had already begun to like him. Then in 1985 he became a New York Yankee. That pretty much sealed the deal, put a player I was beginning to like a lot on the team I have loved my entire life and the rest was history.
When I say the rest was history I meant it literally. He led the American League in stolen bases every season from 1980 – 1991 except for 1987. He was voted league MVP in 1990 while with the A’s again. He also played on three World Series teams, twice on the winning team.
By the time his long career came to an end he held the following records; runs scored – 2295, stolen bases – 1406, caught stealing – 335, and another thing he was known for, games led off with a home run – 81. He is also the ONLY player in Major League history to ever have 3,000 hits and 2,000 walks.
He just might be the best to ever play the game. Many sports analysts were surprised he only received 95% of the voting to induct him into the Hall. Regardless of how many votes he got he is now a member of the Hall of Fame with the rest of the games greats. Right where he belongs.
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