Rickey is going to be Rickey: Scouring the archives for the story of a legend

April 11, 2024

Rickey Henderson has become such a singular figure in American sports that it can be tricky to separate the true stories from the juicy legends that have grown over time (Sorry, fans of the John Olerud tale). So the point here was to go into the archives and find real stories about the one and only Rickey Henderson, as others talked about him at the time.

And, of course, as he talked about himself.

To be clear: Although this is in the format of an oral history, all quotes in this story are excerpted from actual newspaper or magazine stories.

Jim Salisbury, Philadelphia Inquirer: It seems everyone has a Rickey Henderson story.

Henderson: My favorite story, the one most people ask me about, is me signing a contract with a million-dollar bonus and instead of going to the bank and cashing it, I took the million-dollar check and put it on the wall. So each and every day, I passed by that wall and it reminded myself, “I am a millionaire.”

Tim Kurkjian, Dallas Morning News: Don Baylor, the Yankees’ designated hitter, had just hit a mammoth grand slam… The huge, raucous crowd in Yankee Stadium would not let the game continue until Baylor had made a curtain call. The noise had peaked when out of the Yankees’ dugout popped a head, two raised arms and a giant smile. Only it wasn’t Baylor, it was Rickey Henderson.

Steve Adamek, The Herald-News: He’ll often prance around the locker room in nothing more than a jockstrap.

Los Angeles Daily News: Throughout his first week with the Dodgers, Henderson referred to teammate Dave Roberts as “Robinson,” and in the middle of a successful run during another card game, Henderson bragged of having a “photogenic” memory.

Rick Vacek, Knight Ridder: His only one-of-the-boys drinking escapade, as far as anyone can recall, didn’t last long. He passed out on top of a “Pac Man” game.

Alan Greenberg, the Hartford Courant: Ask what time it is, and most people look at their watch. Rickey Henderson looks at his legs. If they are feeling good, he announces, “It’s Rickey Time.”

Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Rickey doesn’t just march to the tune of a different drummer. Rickey marches to the tune of an entirely separate orchestra.

Associated Press: Henderson’s path toward employment with the San Diego Padres started in typical Henderson fashion — in the third person.

Kevin Towers, Padres general manager: He called and left a message saying, “This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey, and Rickey would like to come back and play in San Diego.”

Henderson: I never talk in the third party.

Also Henderson: Rickey is going to be Rickey. Period. I’ve been in this world too long to change.

Lou Brock, former big leaguer and base thief: Rickey’s will to win is probably what he has over every base-stealer in the history of the game. He plays straight from the guts.

Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times: Rickey is like that World War I flying ace. He comes out of the burning wreckage — and goes right back up in the sky in another rickety craft.

Henderson*: The man who had the impact on me was Ty Cobb. He went into those bases hard every time. That man did it right. I’ve never forgotten.

Eddie Murray, first baseman: He definitely was one of those guys who would talk at first base. “Rickey’s going to leave now.” He would tell you he was going to go.

Reggie Jackson, outfielder: Rickey is probably the most feared offensive force in the game.

Clete Boyer, A’s coach: Rickey excites me like Mantle, Musial, Williams, Kaline did. To me, he’s the most exciting player in the game.

In 1991, Henderson was one steal away from breaking Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base record.

Henderson: What happens if I hit a triple? I’ll steal home.

Jayson Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer: What is remarkable is not so much that Henderson is about to break it. It is that he will break it so fast — in fewer than 12 seasons. It took Brock 19 to set it.

Steve Hirdt, Elias Sports Bureau: The only thing like this among contemporary players in any sport is Gretzky.

Jack O’Connell, Hartford Courant: Before the game, Rickey Henderson passed out certificates commemorating his breaking Lou Brock’s career record for stolen bases.

Michael Martinez, Sacramento Bee: He handed out certificates that read: “I was there when Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base record of 938 with steal number 939.” At the bottom was the small notation, “Compliments of Rickey Henderson.”

O’Connell: The distribution proved premature. Henderson failed to break the tie he has with Brock at 938 steals.

He broke the record the next night.

Henderson: When I felt my hand on the base, it was a dream come true. All that work and dedication paid off.

Lowell Cohn, San Francisco Chronicle: It was Rickey Time.

Henderson: Lou Brock is a symbol of great base-stealing. But today, I am the greatest of all time.

(Focus on Sport / Getty Images)

Ernie Whitt, Blue Jays catcher: Rickey Henderson is a great ballplayer. But (expletive) him.

Henderson: Even when I was a kid, I got people all worked up.

Thomas Boswell, Washington Post: In Game 2, on one of his steals of second base, Henderson noticed out of the corner of his eye that catcher Ernie Whitt had not bothered to throw. Ah ha! A chance to be obnoxious! Rickey slowed to a tiptoe, inched toward the base, walked around the base, then finally touched it from the far side.

Henderson: Flashy is just the way I play the game.

Jim Litke, Associated Press: When he got picked off first in the top of the ninth, he acknowledged the roars of the partisans by doffing his cap.

Dwayne Murphy, Oakland centerfielder: Twice last year Rickey was looking into the stands when a ball was hit his way.

Dennis Eckersley, opponent and A’s teammate: The all-time hot dog.

Henderson: People say you’re a hot dog only if you have some success. I don’t try and show up people. I have a style. That’s the way I’ve been playing since I was 9 years old…If everyone was a hot dog, that would be great. That would mean everyone is having success.

Ralph Wiley, ESPN: Spring training, ’79, I think, and we were sitting in the half-sun/half-shade of the ballpark in Tempe, sitting on pine planks in the dugout and spitting sunflower seed hulls at big blue-green iridescent horseflies. Rook Mariners’ pitcher from the Dominican with a jheri-curl was throwing mid-90s gas warming up, and that WHOP! in the catcher’s glove was carrying in the dry desert air, and was impressing the hell out of me. Not Rick, though. Rick just knew he was an all-timer.

“Hey, Ray, I’mo take him four hundid and fiddy foot,” Rick said.

“It’s Ralph.”

…Only took one pitch.

Rickey struggled with deadlines…

Tom Pedulla, The Journal News: In five seasons with the Yankees, Henderson never arrived in time for the full-squad spring workout. His excuse in 1985, his first year with the Yankees, was at least creative. He claimed he was having dental work done.

Michael Martinez, New York Times: Another day and still no Rickey Henderson.

Dallas Green, first-year Yankees manager: Yeah, it ticks me off.

Henderson: The manager ain’t even met me yet. What can he be upset for?

Mike Lupica, New York Daily News: It is Friday, Feb. 24 and Rickey Henderson has arrived at spring training. All Yankees were supposed to be in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Green: Rickey Henderson is not going to run the New York Yankees in 1989. Dallas Green is.

Lupica: Rickey classifies this as being on time.

Henderson: People say I’m late. I’m early.

… and communication …

Alan Greenberg, Hartford Courant: Player rep Dave Winfield called each of his teammates Wednesday and told them not to leave town because the day-old strike was on the verge of being settled. Winfield said he phoned and told Henderson just that at about 3:30 p.m. In the world according to Rickey, Henderson said he figured even if the strike ended, there wouldn’t be any games until the weekend. So, despite Winfield’s warning, he flew home Wednesday night to Oakland, where his mother and infant daughter live.

On Thursday Henderson called the Yankee offices to speak to team publicist Joe Safety. “Do we have a game tonight?” Safety recalls Henderson asking.

“No,” Safety said, “we’ve got two.”… At which point Henderson told Safety he was in California.

T.J. Quinn, The Record: Henderson wasn’t just a no-show on the first day of full workouts for the Mets. Until shortly after noon, no one on the team had any idea where he was.

Henderson: What is being Rickey? I didn’t come on the day they said. I came when I could make it.

… and avoiding controversy…

Bob Klapisch, The Record: As the Mets and Braves waged a historic, seesaw battle in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series, Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla spent the final three innings playing cards in the clubhouse.

Henderson: No, I did not play cards during the game.

Henderson: The biggest thing they should’ve asked was, “Was I mad because I was taken out of the ballgame?” You doggone right. I was furious.

Henderson: Yes, I play cards every day.

… and names …

Filip Bondy, New York Daily News: If you really want to know how unimportant coaches are to some players, then you had to listen to Rickey Henderson’s quote in the Mets’ clubhouse about the dismissal of hitting coach Tom Robson.

Henderson: Who’s that?

… and, most famously of all, contracts.

Murray Chass, New York Times: On Nov. 28, 1989, Henderson signed a four-year contract that paid him as much as anyone was making at the time: an average of $3 million a year.

Henderson: I never liked the contract from the day I signed it.

Dave Henderson, A’s teammate: Rickey missed that scene in Bull Durham when they teach you all the clichés. He didn’t go to that class.

Henderson: I believe I deserve more money. I have to think about Rickey Henderson.

After a game in 1992, Henderson was upset and vented to a couple of radio reporters.

Henderson, that night: I want out. I don’t want to play here anymore. I’m not happy, so I’m going to ask to be traded. It’s been going on too long. I don’t think I’m treated fairly. They don’t deserve what I do.

Henderson, the next afternoon: That was a big joke so we can drop it, all right? Rickey tricked everybody.

(Dino Vournas / Getty Images)

Henderson: The best I’ve seen was Willie Mays. I’d like to be in his class some day.

Mike Norris, A’s pitcher: Rickey’s the closest to Willie Mays I’ve seen.

It seems only right to turn over the final word of a story about Rickey Henderson to Rickey Henderson.

Henderson: I like to have my name in the lights. I want people to say, “That’s a great ballplayer.”

Henderson: I never saw DiMaggio and Mantle play. It’s Rickey Time.

Henderson: The thing I want to do with (my money) is make my mother happy. That’s my dream.

Henderson: I feel Rickey Henderson is a great guy.

Henderson: I might come out with some crazy stuff, a press conference telling every club, “Put me on the field with your best player and see if I come out of it.” If I can’t do it, I’ll call it quits at the end.

Henderson: What’s wrong with Rickey Henderson? Ain’t nothin’ wrong with him. Nothin’ at all.

Henderson: They can say everything they want about Rickey Henderson. But they can’t take one thing away from me.

*Some of Henderson’s quotes are from this Sports Illustrated profile written by none other than Peter Gammons.

(Photo: Gerald R. Schumann / Getty Images)

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