Rickey dived headfirst into baseball history in 1991
A's star Henderson became 'the greatest' after breaking Brock's career steals record
This article was originally published on May 1, 1991.
OAKLAND » History forced Rickey Henderson, baseball’s fastest man between two bases, to become a marathon man.
The final 90-foot journey that turned Henderson into baseball’s all-time stolen-base leader ended Wednesday with
Henderson hurling his florescent green batting gloves at third base, ahead of the tag by the New York Yankees’ Randy Velarde.
After 23 days and 21 games, Henderson swiped his longawaited third base of the season — the amount needed this season to reach 939 for his career and pass Lou Brock. The record and ensuing celebration overshadowed all else in the A’s 7- 4 victory over the
Yankees, their fourth in a row.
Henderson pulled the base out of the ground and waved it over his head, as he did Sunday, after tying the record, and in 1982, when he broke Brock’s season record. Frank Ciensczyk, longtime A’s equipment manager, replaced the base and was the first to greet him. Then Henderson was hugged by Brock, Rickey’s mother, Bobbie, and a string of others.
Henderson’s gloves, shoes and uniform are headed to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“It took a long time, huh?”
Henderson said to the crowd. He thanked Tom Trebelhorn, his first minor league manager and now the Milwaukee manager; the late Billy Martin, his manager with the A’s and Yankees; and his mother. Then he let go whatever modesty he had left.
“Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all-time.”
That’s Rickey Henderson, all over. Brash, but able to back it up.
“Was I surprised he said that? No, that’s Rickey’s style,” said
A’s pitcher Dave Stewart, who grew up with Henderson in Oakland. “It’s a true statement, so there’s nothing wrong with it. There’s nothing wrong with bragging on the truth.”
Later, Henderson told reporters the record belongs in the same class as Hank Aaron’s record for home runs and Pete Rose’s record for hits.
Putting the finishing touches on the record proved tough. He stopped talking to reporters and went on the disabled list. His toughest task, however, was stealing with all eyes upon him.
“That’s the toughest test you’re going to get,” Henderson said. “They’re not focused on the baseball game but on me stealing a base. It’s the toughest test I’ve taken in baseball.”
Yankees catcher Matt Nokes twice caught Henderson stealing Wednesday, once after Henderson’s first at-bat and again in the fifth. Henderson had walked in the first inning. Pitcher Tim Leary twice made him dive back to first base, and Henderson eventually took off for second without a good jump. Nokes’ throw nailed him.
In the fourth, Henderson reached on shortstop Alvaro Espinoza’s error and went to second on Dave Henderson’s single. And the game began again.
After Jose Canseco flied out, Leary tried to hold
Henderson by stepping off the rubber and then throwing to Espinoza. But on a 1-and- 0 count to Harold Baines, Henderson got a terrific jump once Leary went into the set position.
“When he got his jump, I knew it was done,” third- base coach Rene Lachemann said. “Even if the throw was on the money, he was safe.”
Later, Henderson talked about how he would celebrate his achievement. He would open a bottle of Dom Perignon he was given as a high school graduation present. He might call Trebelhorn and Martin’s wife.
“What a day, what a day,” he said. “You can’t say in words how you really feel. I don’t think there are words to describe how you feel.”
Friday, he’ll go about putting some distance on all who pursue his record. He thinks he can reach 1,500 stolen bases by playing six to eight more seasons.
“I think (the record) will stand,” said A’s teammate Willie Wilson, who has 615 stolen bases. “The people close to him, like myself and Tim Raines, aren’t going to be around all that long. You don’t know if Vince Coleman is going to get on base as often, so you don’t know if he’s going to be able to close the gap.”
That’s why Henderson’s record is to be savored. For as long as it seemed to take, it should be around much, much longer.
“You’d like to replay it five, six or seven times,” Stewart said. “You wait so long for it, the anticipation, and then it’s over.”