Category: MLB

Rickey Henderson editorial: Thank you Rickey

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photo by Mauricio Segura

Thank you, Rickey

by Mauricio Segura

It’s been 24 hours since I got the news of Rickey’s passing. In that time, I’ve tried to unpack my thoughts and feelings, but they’re still a mess of nondescript silence and swirling emotion. Rickey Henderson was, no, he IS my baseball hero. He’s the reason I discovered and fell in love with the beautiful game at the age of 10. He’s the reason I pursued a career in baseball. He’s the reason I am now a sports journalist. Rickey…IS…baseball to me. Losing the A’s from Oakland this year already tore my heart to pieces, but losing Rickey—my baseball hero—is a feeling I can’t even begin to describe. At least I know I’m not the only one feeling it.

SEVEN! Seven is the number of one-on-one conversations we shared (according to my journal). Sure, I saw him more than that, so many more times, but those other encounters were just a handshake, a fist bump, or a simple hello.

A former pitcher and all-around nice guy I respect immensely, Gio Gonzalez, introduced me to Rickey for the first time in 2011. I don’t remember that initial conversation very well because, even though I was keeping my cool on the outside, my 12-year-old self was totally freaking out on the inside. It took all my energy not to let it show. I mean, I went to hundreds of games between 1984 and 2003 just to see this legend play. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d actually meet him, let alone have multiple one-on-one conversations. Yet, there I was, standing no more than five feet from him and he was talking to me. For the next 13 years after that, we’d have six more one on one interactions. Only one lasted for more than 10 minutes, but they were each memorable.

I doubt he ever remembered my name, even though I reminded him each time. But that didn’t matter, he always treated me like someone he’d known for years. He’d joke, talk smack, and show genuine interest in what I had to say. I think he treated everyone that way; it’s just who he was. We all knew we were in the presence of baseball greatness, but in ten seconds, he brought you in, and for that moment, you were equals—buddies.

The most memorable and longest conversation we ever had was in the player parking lot after a game in 2019. We both happened to walk out of the tunnel at the same time, and he noticed I was limping. He asked if I was okay; I told him I’d rolled my ankle. Somehow, that led to us chatting by his car for thirty minutes. I picked his brain about what it was like to be Rickey: his days in the minors, the highs and lows of fame, his strategies for stealing and hitting, Billy Martin vs. Tony La Russa, and even what might have happened if he’d been allowed to play both NFL and MLB, and much more. Everything I’d ever wondered about, I asked with the rapid fire of a machine gun, and he answered everything! And it wasn’t some formal interview—just a really cool conversation. He even asked about my life at one point, which blew my mind. I’m forever grateful he gave me that moment. I’m not a betting man, but I’m pretty sure he enjoyed it as well.

I was 12 years old when my dad and uncle took me to my first baseball game: June 24, 1984, A’s vs. Rangers. We sat in field-level section 130, left field. I watched Rickey like a hawk – how he got ready between pitches, how he snagged flies like a magician. It was the first time I saw him make one of his signature snatch catches, pure perfection. And his batting stance? To me, it always looked like an F-117 Stealth Bomber at takeoff: sleek, low, powerful, and fast. Unfortunately, he didn’t get on base that day and didn’t steal any bags, but he came up in the 9th, tied 2-2 with a man on second, and took a 1-2 pitch high and deep over the left-field fence for a walk-off home run. Right then, I wanted to be a ballplayer and roam center field next to him. It’s funny how life works. I never made it to the show as a player, but I did make it there as a journalist, and I stood right next to him on that same field many times.

On May 1, 1991, I skipped school to sit in the upper deck behind first base and watch him steal #939. I’ll never forget that day. It was well worth the Saturday detention!

Baseball changed when Rickey retired. The magic I felt since I was 12 years old just wasn’t the same. I still loved the game, and I always will, but it never again felt quite like it did when he was on the field. I didn’t attend a single MLB game from 2004 to 2010. I finally went back as a sports writer in 2011. I met Rickey, and although he was no longer a player, he was there, and that was cool. Now he’s gone…and, well…

I last spoke to him prior to the A’s vs Yankees game on September 20th. He was on the field with his daughter who threw out the first pitch. I walked by him, he saw me and smiled, we shook hands. “How ya feeling?” I asked. “Amazing!” he replied. Then prior to the A’s last game at the Coliseum ( a somber day in itself) on the 26th, I was walking towards the dugout, he was walking towards me to the clubhouse. We exchanged a look, no words, a smile, a fist bump, and we kept walking.

What can I say. I’m beyond sad that I will never see him again. But I find comfort in the fact that I met my baseball hero and had multiple memorable interactions. What more could I really ask for?

Rest easy, Rickey. Thank you.

Photo, taken Mauricio Segura- 2015

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Ultimate Game Changer

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Oakland A’s Rickey Henderson gestures toward the stands after hitting a first inning home run off San Francisco Giants’ starting pitcher Don Robinson during the fourth game of the World Series at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Oct. 28, 1989. (AP Photo/Leonard Ignelzi)

The Ultimate Game Changer

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

There are so many stats in today’s game that when I read them before broadcasting a game, they might make you dizzy. There are stats for everything baseball; some are silly, like when a guy hits a home run inside a dome stadium compared to when he hits a home run in an open-air stadium. Yes, they keep track of that, of course. But who cares? For me, the only difference in a Homerun is an ‘inside the park”; everything else is bla bla bla, but it gives the PR departments something to write about, and that is fine. By-the-way, TV loves that.

Rickey Henderson is number one in the game’s history in stolen bases with 1,406; he is also number one in scoring runs with a total of 2,295; Ty Cobb ranked second. If you take a minute to digest those numbers, you realize those are two of the most important stats in baseball. Rickey Henderson was a threat from the undeck circle. Everybody knew what he was going to do, and he did it. Pitchers were always concerned when Rickey Henderson reached first base. In Major League Baseball today (MLB), pitchers are limited to two pick-off attempts or step-offs per plate appearance. Before this new rule, a pitcher could throw 10 or more times to first base to keep a runner close to the base, and when Rickey Henderson got on first base via hit or walk, pitchers were on notice. Pitchers “could not stop Rickey” once he reached base, and they knew it.

Rickey Henderson was not just a singles hitter or stolen bases specialist. In his 25 years (consecutive years) playing in the MLB, he also hit 297 home runs. Rickey would let a pitch come right through the heart of the plate for a strike; he would not complain. He was the most selective hitter, working pitchers to thousands of 3 and 2 counts until he succeeded. Once he got on base, the “cat-and-mouse “game began. Everybody knew he was going; he did and stole the base. He mixed all that talent with excellent style, the joy of playing the game, and a million-dollar smile.

The Rickey Run. This was when the A’s were on a collective offensive slump. Rickey would walk, steal second, and then score with a base hit, or he would get on, then steal second, and then steal third, and then a sacrifice fly, and A’s had a Rickey Run! Dave Stewart would go 7 or 8 innings, and the bullpen with closer Dennis Eckersley and the A’s would win by one run. Why one run? Credit Rickey Henderson, the Man of Steal.

I believe that Willie Mays was the greatest player of all time, but Rickey Henderson is on that Mount Rushmore of players, a man who could do it all, with class, with that fabulous physique and the joy that you could see on that big smile.

I feel proud and privileged to have seen and covered Rickey Henderson when he first came to the A’s as a rookie in 1979 to play left field. I remember that excellent outfield of Rickey Henderson in left, Dwayne Murphy in center, and Tony Armas in right field. I will never forget Rickey Henderson as one of the greatest baseball players I have ever seen. All of Rickey’s accomplishments you can find were contained in the sports section. The only time he made the front page of a paper was his passing on Friday. Never a scandal, lived through the steroids era, never betting issues, nothing negative (even playing for the Yankees’ #1 market and most controversial media in the world). Rickey Henderson was a family man who loved what he did in his profession.

What is a game changer? “Game changer” is frequently used because it’s a concise and impactful phrase that effectively conveys the idea of something significant altering the status quo or introducing a major new development. That was Rickey Henderson.

For most baseball fans, people who covered and knew Rickey Henderson, the media, and the players, it was like everybody expected him to live forever, and we were all right because he will live forever in our minds. Oakland has been mostly in the negative column during the past few years, the team’s relocation to Las Vegas with a stop in Sacramento, the strife in City Hall, and many social issues. God gave us Rickey, and he left us way too early. One of the best things the team ever did was name the Coliseum playing field Rickey Henderson Field. My wife suggested that ‘the powers to be’ now name Hegenberger Road, Ricky Henderson Boulevard. This would make Oakland proud; this city needs a makeover, and they need to change their image.

Quote: “If you walked him, it’s like giving up a triple” -Pitcher Charlie Hough.

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s should have stayed in a big league park

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Sutter Health Ballpark future home of the Athletics for the 2025-27 seasons before they move onto Las Vegas in 2028 (AP file photo)

Athletics Relocaton podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Big splashy talk about the A’s move . The Athletics who were on a tight budget and couldn’t afford to bridge the $36 million gap in 2023 with then Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to make a deal to build Howard Terminal park couldn’t get that money together and now is finding money hidden in the many Oakland A’s couches to cover the construction cost the new Las Vegas stadium and sign some expensive players.

#2 Fans were duped into thinking the A’s didn’t have the budget to surpass the $62.1 million they had on their rosters for the last two years in player salary that was ranked a fifth of what the New York Yankees and Mets payroll was.

#3 The A’s who moved from the fifth largest TV market Oakland move to Sacramento the 20th mid size TV market for the interim 2025-2027 seasons and leaves for the 40th sized TV market Las Vegas in spring of 2028. On paper at least it looks as if the A’s will lose money but that might happen after a honeymoon with Sacramento and Las Vegas fans.

#4 The A’s during their last three years in Oakland had lost 307 games and one of the worst records in the game. Now the A’s had signed Luis Severino and are banking on Severino and newest signed pitcher Jeffrey Springs to hold the line for the upcoming 2025 season.

#5 The move to Sacramento helps keep the A’s within the same TV price range they were getting when they played in Oakland at $45 million.

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Rickey’s passing comes as a shock to sports world

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Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s waves to the crowd at the Oakland Coliseum after he stole third base to break Ty Cobb’s stolen base record in the seventh inning at the Oakland Coliseum May 30, 1990 (AP file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The passing of Rickey Henderson at age 65 comes as a shock. Rickey looked like a picture of health the last time he made two public appearances. The first one was at the A’s last home game ever in Oakland on Sep 26, 2024 and at the Reggie Jackson Classic one month later on Oct 27, 2024 all at the Coliseum.

#2 Rickey’s family made the sad announcement confirming Rickey’s former teammate Dave Winfield’s X tweet that announced Rickey’s passing on Friday night.

#3 Charlie, Rickey’s playing days he had that swagger once he came on the scene. Rickey even waved his glove at the fans in leftfield during his playing days.

#4 Rickey’s most famous moment came when he stole his 939th stolen base that broke Lou Brock’s stolen base record in 1991. Rickey holds the record for stolen bases in season at 130 and holds the record for the most bases stolen of all time at 1406.

#5 Charlie, I have to ask you in closing you and coachie had the opportunity to interview Rickey numerous times during his tenure with the A’s in Oakland. How special was that and what was that relationship like?

Charlie O does Headline Sports Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Rickey Henderson, Oakland A’s and MLB Hall of Fame, dead at 65

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Rickey Henderson (left) poses with the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) at the Oakland Coliseum (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Rickey Henderson, Oakland A’s and MLB Hall of Fame, dead at 65

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Rickey Henderson began his Hall of Fame career with the Oakland Athletics in 1979 and died today of pneumonia, just six days short of his 66th birthday, December 25. I have covered Rickey Henderson since he arrived in Oakland in 1979 as a rookie.

He played for 25 years and holds the Major League Baseball record for career stolen bases with 1,406. One of the best leadoff hitters in baseball, Rickey always had a smile on his face, played with a lot of ‘gusto’, and enjoyed every minute.

The last time I spoke with Rickey, we discussed today’s game, where hitters’ average is in the low .200s, and nobody is close to challenging his record of stolen bases. He always called me “Chief. A broad smile and a physique were given to him by God.

In my opinion, he was the best player ever to wear an Oakland A’s uniform, which he wore four times throughout his career. He played for 25 years in the major leagues for nine (9) different teams from1979 to 2003; Athletics, Yankees, Blue Jays, Padres, Angels, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox and Dodgers.

Rickey Henderson was one-of-a-kind. Although he played for a quarter of a century with different teams in the American and National Leagues, he will always have a special place for Oakland A’s fans. Rest in Peace, Rickey.

Rickey Henderson Awards – From Baseball Reference:

1981 Gold Glove Award (American League Outfielder) 1981 The Silver Slugger Award (American League) 1982 Joe Cronin Award (Outstanding Achievement in an AL Season) 1985 MLB Player of the Month Award 1985 The Silver Slugger Award (American League) 1989 A.L.C.S. Most Valuable Player Award 1990 Most Valuable Player Award (BBWAA) 1990 The Silver Slugger Award (American League) 1999 The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award 2002 Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award 2009 National Baseball Hall of Fame

Amaury Pi Gonzalez called most of Rickey Henderson’s games through his career and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Angels Mgr Wash says get rid of 3 throws to first base limit; How Springs fits in A’s rotation; plus more news

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Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington seen managing against the Oakland A’s on Sat Jul 20, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum. The last visit for Washington and the Angels to Oakland. Washington said in a ESPN interview that the three throw limit rule for pitchers to first base should be junked. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 In a ESPN interview with Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington who was asked what rule changes he would like to see he said, to give pitchers all the time they need to make pitches, and get rid of the throwing to first base only three times limit. Washington said experienced pitchers can handle the pitch clock whereas it affects the younger pitchers.

#2 Amaury, talk about how the Athletics are building up their pitching staff first with acquiring Luis Severino and now getting Jefferey Springs from the Tampa Bay Rays. Springs in 2024 made seven starts was 2-2 ERA 3.27. How do you see him shoring up the starting rotation for Sacramento?

#3 The New York Yankees acquired pitcher Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. Williams a closer had an impressive ERA last season at 1.83 in 97 relief appearances. The Brewers in exchange got LHP Nestor Cortes and rookie prospect Caleb Durbin with cash considerations.

#4 Amaury, talk about the deal that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Isaac Paredes a first baseman, pitcher Hayden Weneski, and prospect Cam Smith. Tucker who suffered a shin injury played in 78 games for the Astros.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman’s World Series walk off grand slam ball sold for $1.56 million including the buyers premium at SCP Auctions on Saturday night. Freeman hit the grand slam during game 1. The ball is the third most expensive ball bided it on behind Shohei Ohtani’s $4.392 million ball that he hit for his 50/50 home run, and Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball he hit in 1999 worth $3 million.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: All of sudden A’s in the chips with Severino signing and covering Vegas ballpark costs

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Luis Severino A’s pitcher (right) who signed for a two year $67 million deal shakes hands with A’s general manager David Forst (left) at the Severino press conference at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Fri Dec 10, 2024 (Athletics X photo)

On the Athletics relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 A’s owner John Fisher who has owned the A’s for 20 years and had signed pitcher Luis Severino to the largest contract since they had third baseman Eric Chavez. Severino signed for two years at $67 million. In 2004 Chavez had a six year deal with the A’s worth $66 million.

#2 The criticism about the Severino deal is that the A’s and the city of Oakland back in 2023 couldn’t reach a deal for Howard Terminal which fell some $36 million short for it to close the deal but the A’s were able to find the money to sign Severino for $67 million this month.

#3 It was pointed out that Fisher said of the reasons to move the A’s was that the attendance was horrible, nobody shows up, it’s the ballpark, and now they have to play in a minor league park in Sacramento but they couldn’t afford to pay the City of Oakland $90 million to play their remaining three interim years at the Oakland Coliseum before moving to Vegas.

#4 Also the A’s who originally were to pay $1.5 billion for the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark those costs have gone up to $1.75 billion and that cost could go up even further to $2 billion. It’s amazing what can happen if the A’s need to get something but couldn’t find the money for Howard Terminal?

#5 What about Commissioner Rob Manfred was he duped thinking the A’s had no money for Howard Terminal therefore they could get some love from the State of Nevada in public funding to build the park but who’d a thunk the A’s found funding with the Severino deal and covering their Vegas ballpark costs all this month?

Join Daniel Dullum Sundays for the A’s relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

SF Giants podcast report: Could Adames be best SF shortstop since Brandon Crawford?

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (right) shakes hands with Giants president Buster Posey (left) at Thu Dec 12, 2024 press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 No doubt about it San Francisco Giants team president Buster Posey and the Giants had their eye on trying to acquire shortstop Willy Adames from the Milwaukee Brewers. Stephen talk about Posey’s excitement in getting Adames?

#2 There is a lot of confidence that Adames will be that solid shortstop since former Giant Brandon Crawford who can lead and help get the Giants back to the post season?

#3 Adames is excited himself he posted to Instagram a message saying “Are you ready?” what sense did you get from Adames at the presser about getting started with spring training just less than two months away?

#4 Adames hit .251, with 153 hits, 32 RBIs and 112 RBIs last season. Talk about what he can do at the plate and his noted defensive skills at shortstop.

#5 Adames is looked as the future of this organization signing a seven year, $182 million contract with the Giants last Saturday. The Giants are hoping that he will turn out to lead and perform the same way Crawford did?

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Rangers lose 8 of last 10 drop game to Blackhawks; Blackwood joins Aves for Georgiev to Sharks; plus more news

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The Seattle Kraken Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) scored on the New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) in the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York on Mon Dec 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 The New York Rangers are trying to figure out what has gone wrong with their hockey club. The Rangers had best record last season but now have lost eight of their last ten games. After two games after trading defenseman Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks the Rangers lost both of those games which included a home loss to one of the worst teams in the NHL the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1.

#2 The Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The Aves also picked up Giovani Smith from the Sharks in exchange for goaltender Alexander Georgiev and rookie forward Nikolai Kovalenko.

#3 The Chicago Blackhawks have put goaltender Petr Mrazek on injured reserve with left groin injury on Sunday. Mrazek was replaced by goaltender Arvid Soderblom in the first period in Saturday’s game. The Blackhawks lost to the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 loss. Hawks continue to struggle just to get a win and losing Mrazek in the first period

#4 Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella had some criticism after their game after the Flyers loss to the Boston Bruins in overtime 4-3 at TD Waterhouse in Boston on Saturday. The Flyers were hit for two tripping penalties in the third period and one of the tripping penalties led to a goal against. That led Tortorella to said in the post game conference that he doesn’t teach his team to dive but maybe he should team them to dive.

#5 Washington Capitals Tom Wilson who scored two goals Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens got hit with a puck in the left cheek and came back later in the first period. The Caps rallied to beat the Canadiens for a 4-2 win on Wilson’s two goals. Wilson said it felt like his face was falling off but got looked at by the trainer and got back in the game to pick up two goals.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com every other Wednesday night

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Soto improves Mets World Series chances; Phils to take a chance on Romano; plus more news

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New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto in the sunset will he improve the Mets chances to get into the World Series for 2025? (photo from Stable Diffusion Online)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Mets odds to make the 2025 World Series went from +1200 to +750 after acquiring Juan Soto on Sunday night. What is your take away on the Mets chances to make the World Series with Soto in the line up and does the Yankees chances diminish now that Soto has left the Bronx?

#2 The Philadelphia Phillies have come to a one year agreement with Jordan Romano. Romano pitched in the 2024 for the Toronto Blue Jays but was suffered injuries and missed some relief duties and later had to have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. Romano had four strong seasons pitching before 2024 and was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball with a 2.29 ERA in 200 2/3 innings, 251 strike outs. Romano is taking a physical if he passes he’ll be relieving for the Phillies in 2025.

#3 Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki was posted to Major League teams and will be able to sign as a free agent on Tue Dec 10 to Thu Jan 23. Chiba Lotte Marines waited for the deadline until they were able to post Sasaki to a Major League team.

#4 Former Pittsburgh Pirate Dave Parker and former Chicago White Sox Dick Allen were elected to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Parker was the 1978 National League MVP and Allen was the 1972 American League MVP. Parker hit .290, 339 home runs, 1493 RBIs from 1973-1991. Allen who passed away in 2020 hit .292, 351 home runs, 1119 RBIs.

#5 Their jumping ship in San Francisco for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Outfielder Michael Comforto has signed a one year $17 million contract with the Dodgers. Comforto hit .238, 35 home runs, and 124 RBIs in 255 at bats and played left and right field for the Giants. Comforto is second ex Giant to leave for the Dodgers along with pitcher Blake Snell.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com