Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Nelson Henley Hendersonis an American retired professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseballfor nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed "The Man of Steal", he is widely regarded as baseball's most reliable leadoff hitter and baserunner. He holds the major league records for career stolen bases, runs, unintentional walks and leadoff home runs. At the time of his last major league game in 2003, the ten-time...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth25 December 1958
CityChicago, IL
CountryUnited States of America
Listen: People are always saying, 'Rickey says Rickey.' But it's been blown way out of proportion. People might catch me, when they know I'm ticked off, saying, 'Rickey, what the heck are you doing, Rickey?' They say, 'Darn, Rickey, what are you saying Rickey for? Why don't you just say, 'I?' But I never did. I always said, 'Rickey,' and it become something for people to joke about.
I patterned myself after Reggie Jackson. I wanted to have that same swing and hit some homeruns. When I was down in A-ball, I was trying to be Reggie Jackson and I was striking out all the time. And I was like, 'This isn't the way Reggie is doing it, so I got to change.'
I don't think I could have dreamt it up any better than how things went, of being at my peak at just the right time, and have everything go my way.
Our theory was get Eck in the game. You knew the game was over.
People recognize me - but if you've been in the public eye as long as I have and people don't recognize you, I feel bad about myself.
You have to stay low, like a sprinter.
I think playing cards gave me the opportunity to relax in the game.
I'm a Hall of Famer and I'm still fighting for it because I love the game and I love to play.
I did so many things that made me a threat.
I love playing this game and every spring training feels like the first.
To me the most important thing was stirring things up and scoring some runs so we could win a ballgame.
Once you can accept failure, you can have fun and success.
Certainly I'd consider that,'' Beane told The Chronicle.
Learning both sides of the plate - what is a strike and what is not a strike. And my biggest theory is being able to hit with two strikes, being able to put the bat on the ball.