OAKLAND, Calif. – When Ken Griffey Jr.’s personal baseball-star father struggled to get by to the proficient teen, Rickey Henderson by some means might.
The youthful Griffey, who considers himself lucky to at the present time to have roamed the New York Yankees clubhouse and hit on their subject alongside so many all-time greats, made positive to hear and be taught.
“I used to be 15 years outdated once I met Rickey, and he accepted me within the locker room together with Dave (Winfield) and a pair different guys,” Griffey Jr. shared. “After they discuss it takes a village to boost a child, I am grateful for Rickey and Dave and all people else who raised me.”
Henderson died Dec. 20 at age 65 shortly earlier than his Christmas birthday and was celebrated by former teammates, executives, mates and followers Saturday on the enviornment subsequent door to the Oakland Coliseum the place he performed for thus a few years and, later, had a subject named for him.
From Dusty Baker, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre to ex-teammates Jose Canseco, Carney Lansford, Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart and Dave Winfield, Corridor of Famers Reggie Jackson and Frank Thomas and residential run king Barry Bonds, almost 3,000 individuals made their method by regular Bay Space rain to honor the one-of-a-kind Corridor of Famer.
MC Hammer and spouse Stephanie carried out the Oakland rapper’s tune “Goin’ up Yonder.”
One other Oakland star, Basketball Corridor of Fame member Gary Payton, credited Henderson for uplifting his success, albeit in one other sport.
“It got here from him. It got here from me him,” Payton mentioned. “That man proper right here, that’s Oakland: Rickey Henderson.”
Former Athletics normal supervisor Sandy Alderson recalled how most conversations with Henderson started with the brazen base-stealer “telling me bluntly, `Rickey wants a brand new contract.’”
“I am just one government who might let you know Rickey might be a ache within the neck,” Alderson mentioned.
However he additionally watched Henderson as a fan, admiring somebody as a result of “he was distinctive in his abilities, his charismatic aptitude and his particular hometown historical past.”
“On Dec. 20, 2024, you all and all of us misplaced just a little little bit of our childhood,” Alderson mentioned.
When Dave Stewart received MVP honors after the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Collection the A’s swept over the San Francisco Giants, Henderson had just a little enjoyable along with his shut pal.
Henderson had hit .474 with a house run, two triples, a double, three RBIs and three stolen bases over these 4 video games.
“We have been speaking and whispering in every others’ ears, you noticed we have been at all times just about shut to one another after we have been in uniform,” Stewart mentioned. “And Rickey, once I was introduced because the MVP, and I feel he was shocked as he in all probability ought to have been as a result of he did hit virtually .500, however he briefly whispered in my ear, he mentioned, ‘, for those who was not there locally serving to all these individuals you would not have gotten that award.’”
For Griffey, Henderson’s care and a focus to element meant the world because the slugger started on his path and dreamed huge in what would finally be his personal Corridor of Fame profession.
One spring coaching day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when the veterans have been doing their late work, Griffey was shagging balls for the massive leaguers. Henderson at all times mentioned hello on day one, and paid consideration to Griffey’s progress.
“We might go on the again subject and Rickey would hit balls to me, and I am questioning, why is he solely hitting them to me?” Griffey mentioned. “Came upon that he mentioned, he advised my dad afterward, ‘He’s acquired a particular expertise. I simply need to see how far he can go.’ I’m 15 years outdated. … Rickey was like a brother, an older brother, an uncle, and typically I feel that he was considering that he was my rattling dad, too.”
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.