Elliott: Remembering Rickey Henderson, HOFer

Rickey Henderson was only a member of the Toronto Blue Jays for three months, but they would not have repeated as World Series champs without him.

December 21, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

He was what a polite, mild-mannered Blue Jays fan would call an antagonist when he was with the Oakland A’s.

Especially in the 1989 American League Championship Series which opened in Oakland. Henderson stole six bases in the first two games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

He was hitless in Game 1, a 7-3 Oakland win, walking twice, being hit with a pitch and scoring once. In the second game, a 6-3 win, he had two singles, two walks and stole four bases -- stealing third against David Wells and Todd Sttottlemyre and second off Wells and Stottlemyre -- once stopping at 88 feet, with his hands on his hips, waiting for the late throw from catcher Ernie Whitt.

Henderson batted .400 (6-for-15) with two homers, five RBIs, eight stolen bases and eight runs scored.

“He was the most impactful player I ever saw play the game,” said Whitt from Michigan on Saturday. “He could steal bases. He could hit home runs. He could disrupt a game on his own. He got pitchers off their game (slide steps resulting in hanging curve balls which went for souvenirs).”

Yet, that all changed when the Jays acquired Henderson on July 31, 1993 for former No. 1 pick Steve Karsay and outfielder José Herrera to the A’s. One Jays scout was so upset that night he threatened to quit saying “we have Henderson for 12 weeks, Karsay will pitch 12 years in the majors (357 games in 11 seasons).”

No doubt in the minds of Jays fans ... or management, The Man of Steal would help the Blue Jays repeat as World Series champions.

He was from the mould of a ‘player you hate as an opposing player, but love as a teammate.’ As Stottlemyre discovered when he joined the A’s in 1995 and Henderson was making one of his four stops in Oakland.

“Rickey was dangerous as soon as he arrived at the stadium when you played against him,” said Stottlemyre. “He could truly change the outcome of a game.

“He was one of my greatest teammates, on the field. It was like having Superman on your team. Off the field he had this great joyful spirit and was a ton of fun. I will always miss his laugh.”

Yet, Henderson’s dominance did not unfold. Nine games into his Jays career, he fouled a ball off his left foot as the Jays dropped a 9-2 decision as Kevin Tapani beat Jack Morris at the SkyDome.

The next night, a Friday at Fenway Park, he was hitless in a 5-3 loss to Danny Darwin and complained about his sore left foot. He was told to place a synthetic ice pack -- a new product called Ice Down -- on the lower outside of his left foot when he returned to the team hotel. It was the first time that the Jays had ever employed such a cure.

On Saturday he showed explaining his left foot was so sensitive that he couldn’t put any weight it. It was described as a “mild case of frost bite,” ... in August.

“It didn’t hurt until I took it off, and then, ‘Wow!’” said Henderson, who was treated with burn cream Saturday and given antibiotics to prevent infection.

He missed the final two games in Boston and the first game in Cleveland as rumors swirled that the Jays might fire their trainer. Henderson returned to action the next night as Morris beat Cleveland and Tom Kramer 6-4. Henderson was 1-for-4. The next night Henderson stole his first post-frost bite base starting a string of 20 steals in 28 games.

Every Blue Jay fan knows how the bottom of the ninth unfolded in Game 6 against Mitch Williams of the Phillies, who came on to protect a 6-5 lead and force a Game 7:

_ Henderson worked a four-pitch walk.

_ Devon White flew out on deep to centre on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.

_ Paul Molitor, World Series MVP, lined a 1-1 pitch single to centre.

_ And Joe Carter dropped a 2-2 pitch homer in the Jays bullpen in left ... only the second time a World Series had ended on a home run.

* * *

In the spring of 1996, I was in Arizona. Henderson was with the San Diego Padres.

He came over and said, “How is that trainer up there you know the one that treated me like a no-good guinea pig?”

I told him he was still there.

* * *

During the 1997 season, I was at Shea Stadium in New York for a story on new Met John Olerud. Henderson was with the Mets.

“How is that trainer up there that treated me like a guinea pig?” Henderson asked.

I told him he was still there.

* * *

During the 2000 post-season I was at Yankee Stadium covering the Seattle Mariners-Yankees American League Championship Series. Henderson was with the Mariners.

“How is that trainer that treated me like a no-good guinea pig?” Henderson asked.

I answered they let him go.

After Henderson took his turn in the batting cage he approached and asked, “Have you got a sec?”

Sure.

“About that trainer ... is he going to be OK? Is he going to be able to get another job? Can you give me his number I’d like to talk to him.”

* * *

Driving home from practice Saturday afternoon I received a call that Hall of Famer Henderson had passed at age 65.

My first thought of Henderson was not of him ...

_ Stealing third base during a day game in Oakland in 1991, breaking Lou Brock’s record of 938 stolen bases, ripping out the bag, grabbing the microphone and stating “I am the greatest!” We watched on TV inside the visitor’s clubhouse in Arlington and Whitt said, “We’re in trouble now.” That night Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan blanked the Jays with his seventh no-no.

_ Asking for $2 million to waive his no-trade clause to join the Jays in 1993 (he was given $50,000),but adding to the waiver sheet “Rickey gets suite.”

_ The last Jays World Series reunion when Henderson jokingly claimed the only reason Carter was able to take Williams deep in Game 6 was because the reliever was worried about Henderson stealing second ... or worried about stealing third.

No, the first thing I thought about was Henderson showing compassion about the ex-Blue Jays trainer.

R. I. P. Rickey.