There Will Never Be Another Rickey Henderson

[@joshw9424]

My favorite Rickey anecdote is a shocker, if you know his character. At the end of the 2001 season, he found himself on the Padres, and he offered to bench himself for the final game of the season because he entered this day with 2,999 career hits and he didn't want to upstage teammate Tony Gwynn's retirement. But Gwynn declined & encouraged Rickey to play, and in fact Rickey got the hit. It's one of only a couple moments in MLB history where two players on the same team both had 3,000 hits.

[@mchavez5335]

And we still couldn’t win a thing lol

[@markb20]

Great story. And while Ricky did the classy thing, Gwynn acted like he always did- putting others and the team ahead of himself. Amazing player, amazing person.

[@rustytucker2499]

That really made me laugh 😂

[@PeteATurner]

@StuMarston this is a great story but didn’t actually happen. Rickey is Rickey but he is a good teammate

[@brianwells456comcast]

FWIW -Ty Cobb and Eddie Collins were teammates on the 1927 Athletics and both had over 3,000 hits at the same time.The following season(1928)they were joined by Tris Speaker,who also had well over 3,000 hits!

[@mmclaurin8035]

I was 10 years old in 1990, so I can remember him pretty well. He was a player that had a massive ego, talked himself up all the time, and relished in his own accomplishments. BUT....he never came off as a jerk. He never put anyone down. People loved him. He was so weird in addition to being a world class athlete and showman. When he stood there and said "Today, I am the greatest of all time." It was just funny, no one was like "What an asshole".

[@Kojak024]

Same here, dude was just super entertaining and likable

[@Ballin4Vengeance]

Well He earned it

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

What I respect about him most is that he loved playing so much that he went and played in the minors for years after his major league career was over. I believe he may have played till he was almost 50.

[@Akkbar21]

Remember Vince Coleman?

[@tommycscat]

I'm one year older than you and grew up in upper Manhattan, less than a mile from Yankee Stadium. I remember his time playing for the Yankees well. Definitely one of my favorite players. That "Snatch Catch" lol. We used to imitate them in little league

[@soogasooga]

“if you could split [Rickey Henderson] in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers.” -Bill James

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

Not a big Bill James fan, but that's a great quote.

[@davidharrison7014]

Same went for TWO OTHER great players: Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron!

[@Whocares-z6v]

66 steals in a season at 39 years old...wow

[@snerdterguson]

Him and Nolan Ryan were both freaks that did unheard of things at 39+

[@bontronblock]

​@@snerdterguson like weird stuff at home to the dog with a fork?

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

Back when I still watched baseball, being not yet fully disenchanted and only just beginning to come to terms with how much cheating there was, watching the Mets with Henderson and up-and-coming base thief Roger Cedeno was a lot of fun.

[@Akkbar21]

That entire A’s team was amazing. Canseco, McGwire, Henderson, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley. What a crime that they’re leaving Oakland now. 😢

[@tommycscat]

Video guy, if you're reading this, it wasn't the "snap catch." It was the "Snatch Catch" (and it was a beautiful thing)

[@turkeybowlwinkle4440]

One thing people don't mention about Rickey is his durability. He played in over 3000 games (4th all time) and actually played in more games than Cal Ripken.

[@lawrence_t_56]

I am honored to have met Mr. Henderson in 2003 when I was 10 years old while he was playing for the Newark Bears. I was on the 3rd base line in the front row not too far from the 3rd base coach. I got lucky twice. First time I was able to reach over and nab a foul ball he hit and then a few innings later after making the final out of the inning he came over and handed me the ball, shook my hand, and said "how's it going kid". I'll always remember it...... On a side note I also got to see Jose Canseco's brother Ozzie who was also playing independent league ball at the time.

[@23ofSeptember]

Ricky Henderson was part of the 1993 World Series Champion Blue Jays team. I'll never forget his performance. He also stole 66 bases as a 39 year old. Such an amazing competitor.

[@benyahudadavidl]

Perhaps you are unaware that good Americans don't mention that year, ever. Have a productive day.

[@johntron7986]

Canada has the oldest baseball field in North America so idk about how much more you guys love the sport you guys just have more funding

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

@@benyahudadavidl why??? what was so bad about 1993? a bad storm?? last i checked Herbert EVERY year has a very bad storm lol

[@benyahudadavidl]

@@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301 You are definitely not a good American if you don't know why 93 wasn't a good year. Here's a clue.. Any time the New York Yankees don't win a world series it's a bad year. Capiche?!

[@seldomsceen]

Never realized he played for so many teams and was still so good that late in his career.

[@frank5.3]

Legend in the golden era of baseball.

[@danielreyes9129]

He’s my favorite player of all time. Wish I was old enough to been able to see him play in the 90s but man I always love learning more about him! As a huge A’s fan & Bay Area native Rickey is an absolute legend. If you haven’t, read Rickey it’s a great book about his life & his legendary career!

[@ryanbranco9786]

I was in HS when he was on the A’s and was able to go see him play. I wish you could have seen him as well!! Nobody like him, GOAT 🐐

[@wesleyturner1979]

Watch the Reggie Documentary to, he’s another great A.

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Rickey was always that guy, but 80s Rickey was untouchable. I think it’s undeniable in hindsight that he was the best position player of the decade.

[@germcrazyshokoff3623]

If you're making wishes, it should really be to see him play in the 80s.

[@MS-ii1sv]

I only went to two baseball games and he was in both of them. 1987 for the Yankees in Yankee Stadium and 1993 for the Blue Jays at the Skydome.

[@PeteATurner]

The best player of all time in many regards. Most walks (non-intentional) Most runs, Most steals, most steals of 3rd, most homers to lead off a game. Dude could dominate a game without being at the plate. Very few players had the ability to change the game in as many ways as Rickey. What a treat to watch him play.

[@csnide6702]

He would walk - steal 2nd - get to 3rd on a wild pitch or fielders choice play and score on a fly ball . It was called "The Rickey Rally".

[@PeteATurner]

@@csnide6702 He thought stealing 3rd was easier!

[@csnide6702]

@@PeteATurner he was truly amazing.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Who would you rather see with the bases loaded, Henderson or Barry Bonds???

[@PeteATurner]

nobody else agrees. but he was right

[@truehou]

The pride of Oakland! Thank you for representing our city in a positive light! One of the best to ever do it

[@Kourumeme]

It’s sad to see it relocate to Las Vegas in 2027

[@10Peter25]

Something Rickey did in 1985 that I'm not sure has ever been repeated since then: He scored more runs than games played, scoring 146 runs in the 143 games he played.

[@j5muscle]

Should have been 1985 MVP

[@whatisahandlee]

thats insane to pull off

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

That was Ruthian, for sure.

[@10Peter25]

@@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw I think his stats that year put him in the rare 20-80 club: 20+ HR and 80+ SB.

[@NormAppleton]

@@j5muscle Blame Billy drunkass Martin.

[@juicev25]

I am 47 years old. I grew up about an hour and a half South of Oakland. Ricky is easily my favorite baseball player of all time. I was grateful to have shaken his hand while he was walking through the concessions area during a Raider game. And the answer is NO, there will never be another Ricky!

[@pranavsambamurti7746]

You could make a case that Rickey was the greatest baseball player ever. I was fortunate to watch his entire career. What a Treat!

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

actually you can''t not with his below average throwing arm. to even be in the discussion you MUST be a 5 tool player, he was 4

[@dextec49]

He always had a great impact on baseball 😮. Killer’s instinct to his play, confidence and swagger. Thanks Mr. Henderson.

[@lordcranio3032]

Who else is here on December 21 looking for comfort?

[@charlesjenkins1225]

Simply The BEST. Ain't no one can to what Ricky Did!!!!!!!

[@mytwosense9135]

I'm an Australian that didn't really follow baseball until recently. What got me interested in the sport was 2 videos I watched on Ricky Henderson. One video by SB Nation and the other by Foolish Baseball. I thought Henderson was such an original, a true 1 of 1 after watching those videos. I've now been watching baseball for a couple of years now (Go Os!) and it's all because of Ricky.

[@lvn4x]

He was one of my main heroes when I was a kid. He was so awesome. Those padded batting gloves in fluorescent green (or yellow?). I used those batting gloves one year when I was a kid. I thought I was so cool! On base all of the time due to his excellent ability to put the bat on the ball and elite discipline at the plate, plus power, and otherworldly speed and baserunning. Was a solid leftfielder, too.

[@SlickSniper3]

Hendersons services were much appreciated up here in the north. That 93 Jays run was killer.

[@benyahudadavidl]

Perhaps you are unaware that a good American never mentions 93, ever. Have a productive day.

[@HierophantMica]

there truly won't. RIP rickey

[@bobdole4916]

One of the neat things about Ricky is that his longevity was in part due to how he trained. He would do the workout regiment of an NFL wide receiver - since it not only built up strength on top of keeping speed, it also built up durability. He and Jerry Rice would train together in the off-season.

[@SanFranciscoDiscovery]

Rip Ricky, I loved the way you played all the way from the Oakland days.

[@ryanr5648]

He is quite possibly the greatest baseball player of all time. I don't understand why he is generally not in that discussion. The game is based on scoring more runs than the other team while playing solid defense with good ptiching being the agreed upon recipe for winning. He is no question the greatest base stealer and greatest lead off hitter ever. He was solid on defense (3rd most purouts as an OF), and produced runs almost at will in his many prime years. Along with his longevity (the oldest player in the league in 2002),(4th all time in games played) and had HR power to boot...he was the greatest. If he had not been hurt in 1987 he would have led the league in stolen bases ten years in a row. He averaged 74 stolen bases per full season and did that for twenty years....and who is going to ever lead the league in SB at age 39 again? One of the absolute greatest athletes of all time.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

he'd be in argument for Top 10 all time IF he didnt have a below average throwing arm

[@jessicabeitler5495]

rickey is one of he best ever he will be in the record books for a long time to come

[@tylascraig9306]

Very impressive video. Brought back a lot of memories. Thank you. A definite new follow

[@williamwillis9723]

Rickey was one of the best baseball players who ever lived. Period.

[@libradawg9]

We're talking about the fastest man in baseball who played 25 years with an OBP over .400 with power. I used to hate it when teams would just stick a fast guy at the top of the order, but this wasn't that. Greatest leadoff hitter ever.

[@hillbillydeluxe27]

Ricky Henderson was quite simply, phenomenal.

[@madnessblood92ifg]

Hands down my favorite baseball player ever!!

[@thejamnasium6447]

the fact he played so aggressively for a quarter century is the craziest part

[@wigglemaster5202]

Rickey's one of my favorite players of all time. We'll never see another Rickey Henderson ever again

[@csnide6702]

True That !

[@danielhalem5799]

Got to watch Rickey at the Coliseum beginning when he was a rookie and I’m old enough to remember his 130 steal season. There was nobody like him.

[@DS-ph7zy]

He was my favorite player and so underrated by most anyone. Few are around that truly enjoyed his unbelievable abilities.

[@mcbaby]

10:10 - He was part of the Blue Jays 2nd World Series win, not their first.

[@BryanCanonMusic]

Thank you… I was also about to make this correction… 🇨🇦

[@brianmiller6353]

He was definitely one of the greats. I remember watching him in the 90's and now get to watch Ohtani do his thing now. I 💙 baseball.

[@yell0wberry]

I was privileged enough to watch somebody like Rickey Henderson play. I always tell someone, when you see someone playing sports who is real good, go out of the way to buy a ticket and watch them play. It’s great to be a part of history and something to tell all your friends as well as your offspring. I got a chance to see people like Reggie, Jackson, Dave Winfield, Don Mattingly, as well as later on people, like Derek Jeter, as well as Aaron Judge out there live and up close. If you have a chance, make sure you go see them because you never know when you will witness history.

[@brianmiller6353]

@@yell0wberry Good point. Growing up in the 90's my favorite player was David Justice. I got to see him play against the Royals after he got traded to the Indians. He hit a double that game. My parents got on to me for rooting for him. I didn't care he was my favorite player.

[@roybal1975]

OHTANI WILL NEVER BE THE PLAYER RICKEY WAS..HE WON'T GET 500 STEALS, I BET HE DOES NOT EVEN PLAY 15 SEASONS

[@kevinmcsweeney4156]

I saw him at Shea stadium.He spent his time in the outfield making great catches and busting balls on the fans.

[@chrisshergie1030]

my all time favorite player. i even remember batting like him one year in little league. i love how he was the best at leadoff HRs

[@gregmartin150]

Nothing but Respect for Ol’ Rickey. I remember those days.

[@lborg960]

There will be another Rickey. The only problem, athletes like him, come around every 100 years or more. He was a cocky player, but yet he was funny and the fans loved. For his achievements he did it without steriods.

[@jh31415]

I heard Rickey joined a band during his retirement, but got kicked out. He stole the bass.

[@shanebush2751]

He was truly one of a kind.

[@PaulMontfort-i6u]

Yo this dude plays with a lot of confidence not only did he talk the talk he could also walk the walk can't be mad about that just keeping it 💯

[@lochnessmonster5149]

If you add up Rickey's doubles, triples, home runs, and counted every stolen base as a double, he had the equivalent of 2,279 extra base hits.

[@jordiedelgado2023]

Didn’t know Rickey was this great ! Thank you for making this video!!

[@snerdterguson]

Yeah, he was crazy great. Only 13 players in MLB history accrued more than Rickeys 111.2 WAR.

[@dustinbarnes778]

In a baseball fan's life progression, you finally hit puberty and found out how good boobs are. Good job!

[@zqrahll]

Rickey was my favorite player as a kid. Watching him dominate that 1989 post season was amazing.

[@Akkbar21]

I remember listening to that series as a kid on the radio at night.

[@Bogie6588]

I loved watching Rickey play. But, I was a National League fan, so Ozzie Smith was my all-time favorite player, and Tim Raines was my favorite lead-off man (he hit .293 right-handed and .294 left-handed). Back in the 70's and 80's, we used to play a game called "Hot Box". I would always dive like Rickey Henderson and Ozzie Smith. I love everything about the stolen base....the base-runner, the catcher, and the guy making the tag. Really, I miss every aspect of "small ball"....well-timed bunts, squeeze plays, hit-and-run, stolen bases, etc.

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

Baseball probably peaked during those days, because it had a balance of everything.

[@morganhansen3404]

one stat of rickey's that is truly amazing is that in 1985, he scored more than 1 run per game, 146 in 143. something not accomplished since 1937 by joltin' joe. to put this into context, before 1937 , 7 players accomplished this,( elite for the time period, but still, more common than today's standards , akin to hittin .400 )led by the babe who did it 6 times and the iron horse twice. a-rod once missed by 5, bagwell missed by 8, and the splendid splinter was within 10, 3 times. unique, rare , and at times utterly hilarious, the man of steal will never be caught up with, he is the gingerbread man, but with a happier ending.

[@oghennylo3]

My favorite baseball player.

[@markb20]

As a Yankee fan, always remember his time with them. Ricky, Winfield, and Donnie Baseball (Mattingly). When Ricky joined the team in '85, he tore his ankle ligaments in spring training and was out for the year. By coincidence, I too suffered a severe ankle injury the previous month while running and was also sidelined for the rest of the year. Some people wondered why he was out the whole season; I knew why.

[@smurfNburn]

Nice story, but Rickey played in 143 games for the Yankees in 1985.

[@TruthLivesNow]

I grew up in the Bay Area. I knew what Rickey Henderson was really famous for when I saw this title, "Rickey Henderson." I have never, ever seen a player that could steal bases like Rickey Henderson. When he got on base one could tell that the pitcher was completely distracted knowing that Rickey Henderson is going to steal a base. He was an amazing player!

[@sammyweed4771]

One of the greatest all time. Any time his team was playing. You had to watch. He was that exciting. Only a few players you could say that about. Truly one of the greatest. RIP RH

[@danjones2164]

The Oakland Coliseum looks way different back then than it does now.

[@SilverAndBlackZach]

They should do a video on his batting stance alone. There was a reason he drew so many walks, he would be crouched so low during the pitchers wind up, and then when the pitch would come he would stand straight up and it would look like a ball every time. There was a certain gamesmanship to it.

[@mider-spanman5577]

He might be my favorite baseball player to watch thus far because he was so dynamic and fast, and he was a colorful character at that! Not even the ball hitting him on the head slowed him down @ 8:50!!!

[@davidwhite4997]

Back in the day they studied Ricky's stealing technique closely. He was fast; but there were people who were faster. Where he got his edge was in his ability to take good leads and to get good jumps on the pitchers. He was an artist of sorts. He was perhaps the biggest pro at base stealing.

[@charlesroybal4573]

Thanks for the upload he was my third all time favorite player. #2 Ken Griffey Jr. #1 Vladimir Guerrero

[@jaydobson1604]

The guy is a legend! Easily the best lead off hitter ever no one even comes close.

[@sclancy79]

My favorite player of all time.

[@marcoslaureano5562]

GREAT BREAKDOWN!! Rickey has a STRONG CASE for calling himself the all-around GOAT of baseball. Name everything a baseball GOAT should possess and Rickey had it in abundance. I remember when he was nearly 40 - he came to play for the Mets in '99 and we had a GREAT team on the field that year - possibly one of the top ten infields of all time. If we'd had a great pitching staff we could have taken on the Yankees head to head, NO doubt. Anyway - Rickey appeared in about 120 games for us and had around 430 at bats. So playing basically part-time and at 40 years old - he hit 30 doubles, 12 HRs, stole 37 bases, hit .315, walked 82 times, had an OBP of .423 and an OPS+ of 128. Not bad for a 40 year old part time outfielder. And the year before that, at 39 years old he led the NL with 66 stolen bases and also led the league in walks - so I don't know what you mean by Rickey being resurgent with the Mets. Oh and I'm writing this comment before I watch the video because growing up in NY I got see Rickey play A LOT. So much so that he became my favorite player. He was a JOY to watch. Rickey was born too early. He would have been THE BIGGEST STAR IN BASEBALL (and maybe all of sports) during THIS era where his flashiness and bravado (which somehow made him even more likable, a rare trait) - and not to mention his pure JOY for the game, would have been truly appreciated. If someone tells me they think Rickey is the greatest player ever - I wouldn't necessarily agree 100% - but I wouldn't argue or debate with them either. Because Rickey has just as strong a case as any player in the MLB GOAT debate has.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

uh not he does NOT---poor throwing arm sorry to even be in the discussion you MUST be a 5 tool player, not 4

[@chrisshergie1030]

omg i had no idea he was on that Jays team!!!! good damn video man

[@mjisthegoat88]

i’m a cubs fan. but rickey was, is and will remain my favorite player ever

[@mirbogatyr]

No one would have pimped the base running oven mitt like Rickey...elite talent and mentality.

[@Jacob_Spang]

His 1980 topps rookie card is iconic to me. I had 2 of them in the late 80's and a middle school teacher confiscated them and I never got them back. I have a really sharp PSA 9 now and it will belong to my kids one day. The nostalgia I get looking at that card can't be matched.

[@billywinfield5487]

He well may be the Best young man to have ever worn an MLB uniform. Congrats to you Rickey: I salute you Sir, Captain Winfield🇺🇲

[@yell0wberry]

Speaking of Winfield, besides, Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield was also another ball player who was ahead of his time. To me, he is a slimmer version of Aaron Judge.

[@billywinfield5487]

@@yell0wberry yes he was a superb ballplayer as well! But Rickey stands out as the best all around 5 tool leadoff guy that was a lights out run your teammates and coaches counted on⚾

[@daBEAGLE1017]

Great Henderson Documentary.

[@markseifried3959]

Decades ago we were at a Twins outside game and we were seated in left field. Rickey was playing LF and took off after a bloop foul hit down the the 3rd base line. I swear there were jet contrails following him as he sprinted over 120 feet to snag the ball. I'll never forget that moment.

[@fr2ncm9]

Ricky was one of the greatest players of the 80's and 90's. Unfortunately, Baseball is no longer the sport it once was.

[@Gemnist98]

Haven’t you seen the new rules? MLB is gunning for its next Rickey. Be on the lookout for Corbin Carroll of the D-Backs, I think he’ll be the one.

[@jonimzari1687]

​@@Gemnist98 acuña🔥

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

Indeed.

[@techboy95]

Definitely Acuna is the closest thing in todays game. Still I don’t believe that longevity is possible in todays game

[@Akkbar21]

Or we changed and don’t like baseball as much. That’s me for sure.

[@Nick-Foster]

Great video! Every video gets better. Before you were rushing your words. This video had a much more calm vibe to it. So much easier to listen to! Keep up the great work 😎

[@toddsands6000]

How I remembered Rickey Henderson when I was a kid? I had his 1981 baseball card as some of my friend's barely thought of him as a good baseball player compared to others. At the end of the summer, some of my friends were begging me to trade a few Rickey Henderson cards I had in my possession.

[@Guspech750]

Yup. He is one of the greatest no doubt. 🤟💪🤟💪

[@Kourumeme]

“I started to hit a few home runs, when I uh, learned how to hit a home run” - Rickey Henderson The most Rickey Henderson quote you will ever think of

[@tianzhou1244]

Liar, Rickey would never call himself I. He calls himself Rickey..

[@Kourumeme]

@@tianzhou1244 it was on stark raving sports Rickey Henderson video where he was in an interview on his career

[@redtesta]

Loved this guy. Confident. But what make Rickey great was his quickness but really being able to read the pitcher and get amazing jumps. I took from him as much as i could along with Tin raines.

[@francus7227]

I'm 65... Started watching in '67. I have Rickey as 4th on my list in my lifetime. Hank Ichiro A-Rod Rickey Bonds Ken Jr. Carew Gwynn Clemente Rose

[@joshlewis575]

I seen JR Arod n ichiro all their whole careers, none was better than Trout. Bonds is the only player on that list I'm confident in saying was better than Trout is really. N now his teammate is surpassing his greatness. Ohtani with 5 more comparable to his last couple hell be number 1

[@francus7227]

@@joshlewis575 Barry ain't got the arm of A-Rod or Jr. and none of them have ichiro's arm. Trout's career ain't over. We'll see how he stacks up. But his is STRONG ! Otoni??? Nobody know how to categorize him because we usually leave pitchers and catchers to their own group. I will say that Ruth pitch 4 compete seasons with a 1.75 era.... better than Rivera pitching only as a closer.... But you are correct again about the greatness of Otani...again... Wait until his career is over.

[@francus7227]

@@joshlewis575 Okay.... I just looked at Trout's numbers..... I don't know how he'll finish. But... somebody is going to have to move out of my top ten when he's finished.

[@PrimarySweeper13]

Best athlete of the 80’s. And he was the best Athletic

[@ElSantoLuchador]

I remember when he came to Seattle and played with the Mariners in 2000, but it's hard to name a team he hasn't played for. He must have been 40 at the time but he was still fast AF and made catchers and pitchers nervous whenever he was on base.

[@elliottkolker4321]

I was raised in St.Louis, born in 1951, left in 1976. Lou Brock was God. In Oct,I moved to the SF East Bay at the end of 1978. rermained a Cardinal fan. But I was also an A's fan since my hometown hero, Ken Holtzman, was traded to the A's in time to join the three-pete 72-74 A's. I was on the road from May-Sept, '79. Attended my first A's and only game that year in April, 1979 game, before Rickey came up that summer. At the end of 1979 I movedto Stinson Beach in West Marin, where I still win. Got a job at a local roadhouse. One Sat night about two weeks after the season began, we three ended up at the bartenders apartment to "unwind" about 3am. About to crash about 4:30, two of the bartenders friend who worked at the bar around the lagoon showed up. "A's are playing the Angels in a double header. We're going. stopping for breakfast. Wanna join us? " "We'll meet you there." We did. Rainy, miserable day, poor crowd, but we sleazed in an auxillary press box and were cozy. Several rain delays, but we hung inthere for over six hous before starting to crash, leaving at the end of the sixth. But...First game, start was delayed, not quite an hours. Angels down quick and the A's leadoff hit saunters up. "Who is this guy?" I had never heard of Rickey. Didn't know he was the Cal. HS Baseball player of 1976 or a two time HS All-American halfback, 75-76. All I knew he was short for a ballplayer, but Thick, especially his thighs. Each one looked bigger than me. He was built somewhat like Willie Mays.Talk about making an impression. When he crouched in his stance he looked like Eddie Gaedel. Worked the count full, then hit what turn into an anything but routine 5-3. Exploding from his crouch, he looked like Willie Mays Hayes. He was out by a half-step. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I WAS IN AWE. I remarked, "It looks like he is running to the Hall of Fame."My friends laughed. In an on again-off again first game, he drew four walks in four PAs, stole two bases. His second game was better, Two more stolen bases on a walk and three hits, including a triple. Most exciting ballplayer I every saw was Willie Mays. Rickey was a close second. Rickey was fast, but I have seen faster. Two years later I was a confirmed lifetime Rickey lover when I saw Willie McGee in Candlestick, his third game starting in a series in LA. Had no idea who he was besides calle up to replace an injured David Green, who Whitey had traded for because he thought he was the missing link to the pennant. Rickey was fast. Willie looked faster. Particularly when he tripled in his third at bat with 2 on-1 out. We were sitting lower deck, in front of third. By the time we stopped watching the ball to pick up Willie, he was rounding second, sliding into third. "Holy shit! I think he is faster than Rickey. I said to my friend from Childhood/college roommate, fellow emigre from St. Louis. Through the 80s we attended every Cardinal game in Candlestick. He agreed. In the next ten years we averaged over a ball game a week, whoever was in town. We saw Tim Raines, Vince Coleman, Eric Davis, Willie Wilson and Deon Sanders, among others. I think each of theseguys were faster, and could edge out Rickey in a race around the bases. BUT: Rickey would leave each in the dust running to first. What made Rickey special was not his raw speed, which was impressive. What made Rickey was his FIRST FIVE STEPS. I've never seen anyone No more eplosive or got to full speed quicker. It was his Sequoia-sized thighs...These other fast guys, mentioned by name or others were tough, but no one was tougher than Rickey. And none of them were built like a two-time HS All-American running back. (Maybe Bo Jackson) No one wanted to stand in there waiting for the throw to tag out a runaway train who could outrun a pitchout. Try and block him off the bag, you'd end up in left field. Try to "Ole" him, you'll be looking for your jock. And don't forget who his first manager was. There are other legendary Odd Couple Manager/Player combos in history. McGraw/Mathewson, Huggins/Ruth, Mack/Grove come to mind. No one was more oddly copacetic than Rickey and Billy Martin. First with the A's later with the Yankees. Stengel was bitter that Mantle was not the willing protege he prayed for. Billy, Stengels Prodigal Son witnessed the rift from a ringside seat at the Copa, and Billy learned...He got the best of Rickey. He taught him a few tricks, but mostly it was his his lasse-faire approach that made Rickey become, then be Rickey. So yes, RICKEY IS THE GREATEST. THERE MAY BE FASTER Runners in the future, but unless there are implausable circumstance that revert the game back to the base stealing cavalcade that Rickey dominated,there will never be another basestealer...which means baserunner there changes in the game than Rickey... And we haven't ever begun to discuss his love, dedication and physical workout, diet and lack of extended stints on the DL tthat allowed him to play twenty five years...

[@davidmccormick84]

Rickey being a coiled spring at 1:44, holy crap he was fun!

[@LEEMAN-X]

Dude was the GOAT before people knew what a Goat was 🐐

[@EugenioRodriguez-rr7nw]

Ricky henderson is so underrated i don't know why cause dude is the best first batter ever and the best bases stealer and has great defense as well

[@Specialopsjay]

Run Rickey run ! The walking triple dubbed by Reggie Jackson ! My favorite baseball player

[@leekautz2926]

Rickey loves Rickey almost as much as I love Rickey😄😄

[@0super]

I loved the video. Great work. However, 93 was the Jays second WS title

[@nccfball]

Rickey is a great guy. My favorite player of all time. I loved his cockiness. However a few years ago he was at the national signing and I took my then 10 yr old son. I was getting a bit annoyed by how slow the line was moving. When we got up to front it all made sense. He was having conversations with everyone, not just signing and pushing people through. He took pics with both of us individually, most signers wouldn't let you take a pic

[@vanhattfield8292]

As a kid growing up in Michigan, I remember the Detroit Tigers had a center fielder named Ron Leflore and watching him steal bases was amazing. I never seen someone who was so fast and even today, my impression is that he was the best I have ever seen, even though he has almost 1000 less then Henderson.

[@bobdrago69657]

I was there when Ricky broke the stolen base record. Best all around player I’ve ever seen. Period. He pretty much won the Bay Bridge World Series single-handedly.

[@RobertLongM]

I owned 3+ of every card of his! Didn't own much else. 😢 and never got to meet him. Great Overview of Rickey!

[@commanderjoj6426]

Baseball is a little less because Rickey no longer in the Show. Dude was an absolute legend.

[@trex9368]

Rickey Henderson was a 40-yard dash Sprinter ala Houston McTear! His Explosive Start was the Key to his Hall of Fame performance!

[@jaqueitch]

One of the best overall players of all-time.

[@jameshayes9849]

My favorite player of all time. Saw him at Yankee stadium in 1984 my first Yankee game I was 9 years old. When he got on first base that night i every night after that Yankee stadium stood up and cheered bc every swinging dick in the park knew he was going. Every pitch was a game of cat and mouse with him and then he took off! SAFE and it wasn't even close! He really was something to see in his prime I was super pissed when the Yankees let him ho back to Oakland! Still my favorite player ever as Im obviously a Yankee fan from the Bronx. GOAT 🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@s3xyt874]

beautiful job Man...RH is The Best!

[@Cindoreye]

The game of baseball is better b/c Ricky Henderson played. He'a an all-time great for sure and also one of the most entertaining personalities in sports history.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I started my life being a Giants fan, so the A's were not on my Christmas Card list. But they way they played baseball, and with Ricky gassing it up, I came to like them.

[@daddy9925]

RH is what you get when a high level athlete plays baseball, not just player with special skill like hitting or throwing a curve, but a proper well rounded athlete.

[@richardzink6026]

Best all around player ever

[@bgeoffb]

Fantastic Video.

[@tjplaya1156]

Rickey Henderson deserves to be mentioned in the top 10 players of all-time! Think about it: he finished his career with 468 MORE stolen bases than the man in 2nd place, Lou Brock. He's the all-time leader in runs scored and leadoff HR's. His career on-base pct is .401. He was very confident, for sure...he would tell you how great he was 😂. Truth is: he was as great as he said he was. Special talent, tremendous physical condition, much love for the game, etc... Rickey Henderson was must see, period...1,406 career stolen bases, stands out...in 1982, he was 130/172 in stolen bases! He loved the game so much, that he was still playing at 44/45 years old (and, with a couple of minor league teams)- that shows he didn't want to give the game up. To those who didn't to see Rickey play, that's why KZbin is the best - watch that man play, you won't be disappointed.

[@martinjohn9904]

Ricky is the only man in baseball history to steal first base, that's how good he was!