If you were lucky enough to watch him play you know why he had so much swag. Even though he was a showman, pitchers didn't try to hit him. They knew they stood a better chance to try and get him out than put him on base because he'd eventually end up on 3rd. An unbelievable talent.
Yup. And I would go so far as to say that he is perhaps the most effective offensive player of all time, certainly up there with guys like Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams etc. Rickey has the record for most career runs scored, and what could be more effective for your team as a batter than getting to home plate? He got a lot of RBIs too, especially for a lead-off hitter. As a pitcher, I can't think of anyone I'd less like to see at the plate. A great hitter, and if you walk him, chances are he'll soon be on 2nd, and then 3rd. The crazy thing is he could hit the long ball too, even hitting 28 of them one season. Just a deadly threat as a batter and base runner. Rickey is my favorite of all time, so I'm a bit biased.
Those late-80's, early-90's A's teams were ridiculous. You had Rickey leading off, some of the best power hitters of that era, AND a great pitching staff. I'm surprised they lost any games.
With out a doubt my favorite all time athlete. And baseball is down list of the sports I watch but there was.something undeniable watching Rickey growing up. He was electrifying!
Awesome! I just read he was literally unstoppable based on the 2.9 seconds it took him vs the 3.0,3.1-3.2 it took all contemporary catcher/pitcher combos, according to a scout who spent time researching this. And, according to a stats bureau, he is the best position player to have played that is not named Babe. They were kind of different roles though and Rickey was tops at what he did. I did not remember how strong he was, wow, just turning on a heal and absolutely exploding to the next base.
If I had to start a franchise in basketball, I would've chosen Michael Jordan. If I had to start a franchise in football, I would have chosen Joe Montana. If I had to start a franchise in baseball, I would have chosen Rickey Henderson. No position player could affect the game more than Rickey.
If you want to be a great hitter, just look at this guy. Ricky Henderson was the most complete player. Just take a close look at where his hands where located when he batted. They were about eye level. He has excellent hand to eye co-ordination. He kept his weight back, and then snapped into the pitch with incredible power. His hand to eye were similar to other great hitters like Rod Carew, and Pete Rose. All these there were great hitters because they kept the weight back, and hands right next to there eyes. As the pitch comes in, the eyes find it first, then the hands stroke the ball. These guys hit to all fields and put the ball exactly where they intended it to go. Rickey was solid and compact at the plate. Man, this guy had all the tools. Speed, power, contact hitter, great base runner, played defense, great arm. Just about as complete as it gets. If you are building a player, it's Ricky Henderson who you want to make the mold from.
Kim Kerchner You are mostly correct except that Rickey was never known as a great arm guy and his defense was seen as only about average especially from the early 90s on (even though he did win one Gold Glove). And you've got to put Tony Gwynn on your list of great hitters. A lot of people don't realize how much higher his BA would have been if he was actually trying to get hits all the time. Instead, he was trying to wear out pitchers and earn walks often taking a lot of pitches early in the count that great hitters usually pounce on. He was doing his job as a lead off guy, allowing his teammates to see what the pitcher was throwing that night, upping his pitch count and trying to get on base.
80s was the best decade for sports fans. 1980 Olympics, Bo Jackson, Montana, Rickey, Bird, Jordan, Magic, Mike Tyson, Gretzky... even Tennis and Track and Field were entertaining.
I was in class when he broke the record. Right after lunch break the teacher turned on the TV and we watched him steal third. My teacher was an old school Korean War Vet boring as hell but he came through that day.
I saw him play many times in Oakland during their winning seasons in the late 80's and early 90's. He was always just a bit overshadowed by the big home run hitters in the lineup, but in hindsight he was by far the best player on the team. One of the greatest of all time no doubt.
The way Rickey ducked his head almost into the strike zone was badass😂 Dudes throwing 90+ and Rickey's out there putting his head right in the target then dropping bombs😂
Hands down the best lead off hitter and the guy you don't want to look over your shoulder when he's on base. I can't imagine what it must have been like to see Ricky in his perfect stance about to take second and third on your ass.
Have to agree with alot of the comments no player did more for his team in creating wins than rickey there will be no better base stealer and no better creater of runs in baseball walk record should still stand ptichers didn't have to worry about the 290 foot fence in right and some one built up on steroids to be pitched around so they had no choice but to walk him
J davis The most amazing thing about the walk record (or non-record however you want to look at it) is that pitchers were trying to pitch around Bonds, they wanted nothing to do with him so they gave him nothing to hit and walked. On the flip side, the last thing in the world a pitcher wanted to do was walk Rickey. They knew that walk would often turn into a double or triple via the SB. So Bonds got walks as gifts while Rickey had to earn every single one of them with his great discipline at the plate and his ability to foul off the tough pitches.
It's all about power hitting now. The players are so much bigger now than they were in the 70s. Home runs are exciting sure, but they are so common now. I like to see great defensive plays and acrobatics and speed more than the power hitting.
Call me crazy, but I think that stolen bases are more interesting than home runs. It seems to be such a psychological thing and the strategy -- do you go? on which pitch? do they pitchout? It seems like a tense moment when you are waiting to see if he beats the throw. We just don't seem to have base stealers like Lou Brock, Tim Raines, and Rickey Henderson any more. :(
@@Mr.SalmaHayek lol. yep took me a while to time all that just right but got it for the most part. especially when he hits the Yankee stadium homerun right when the loud solo starts. had to get that perfect ha ha.
5:06 Watch the guy in the stands in the white pants and the green shirt going nuts in right field seats, 4 from the left just above rickey henderson's shoulder.
After Babe Ruth? Ruth played at a time when a whole group of people were excluded from the game due to skin color and religious beliefs. Ruth was an anomaly at that time. Asterisk needs to go by all ballplayers records before 1947.
Greatest leadoff hitter of all time
2:55 The absolute best HR bat flip/peek/celebration/trot.
Jason Lange Home run...pimped. No one did it better than Rickey.
If players did it now oldheads would be upset
Rickey Henderson was AMAZING!! PERIOD!!⚾⚾⚾⚾
2:38 is the greatest home run trot ever!!
bat flip was INSANE
eff yea
If you were lucky enough to watch him play you know why he had so much swag. Even though he was a showman, pitchers didn't try to hit him. They knew they stood a better chance to try and get him out than put him on base because he'd eventually end up on 3rd. An unbelievable talent.
72defender Yet he still had the all time walks record at retirement when pitchers were afraid to walk him. Amazing.
Ricky was simply amazing. He could do it all. One of the few for whom the word "great" applies.
top 10 ballplayer of all time easily
@Woody Last Name definitely 10
He’s my number 1 pick all time.
perfect song for this video
I was a clubbie for the brewers for 17years Ricky was the best i've seen play the game and I have worked 1,433 MLB Games
Rickey wasn't a ball player, he was a weapon!
Rickey is was and will be the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball Nuff said
Yup. And I would go so far as to say that he is perhaps the most effective offensive player of all time, certainly up there with guys like Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams etc. Rickey has the record for most career runs scored, and what could be more effective for your team as a batter than getting to home plate? He got a lot of RBIs too, especially for a lead-off hitter. As a pitcher, I can't think of anyone I'd less like to see at the plate. A great hitter, and if you walk him, chances are he'll soon be on 2nd, and then 3rd. The crazy thing is he could hit the long ball too, even hitting 28 of them one season. Just a deadly threat as a batter and base runner. Rickey is my favorite of all time, so I'm a bit biased.
Ichiro Suzuki has entered the chat
Those late-80's, early-90's A's teams were ridiculous. You had Rickey leading off, some of the best power hitters of that era, AND a great pitching staff. I'm surprised they lost any games.
With out a doubt my favorite all time athlete. And baseball is down list of the sports I watch but there was.something undeniable watching Rickey growing up. He was electrifying!
boyzbad1978 amen to that
boyzbad1978 yeah, when he was on base, it was so much fun to see what he did
Yes. I feel the Same I have Alì #1 Bo #2 and #3 Rickey
one of the best to ever hold a bat and to play as long as he did
The most exciting baseball player I've ever had the chance to see. He did everything well.
Awesome! I just read he was literally unstoppable based on the 2.9 seconds it took him vs the 3.0,3.1-3.2 it took all contemporary catcher/pitcher combos, according to a scout who spent time researching this. And, according to a stats bureau, he is the best position player to have played that is not named Babe. They were kind of different roles though and Rickey was tops at what he did. I did not remember how strong he was, wow, just turning on a heal and absolutely exploding to the next base.
Watching him play everyday as a young kid born in 76 in Oakland was one of my best memories
If I had to start a franchise in basketball, I would've chosen Michael Jordan. If I had to start a franchise in football, I would have chosen Joe Montana. If I had to start a franchise in baseball, I would have chosen Rickey Henderson. No position player could affect the game more than Rickey.
He's poppin his collar!!! 3:06
If you want to be a great hitter, just look at this guy. Ricky Henderson was the most complete player. Just take a close look at where his hands where located when he batted. They were about eye level. He has excellent hand to eye co-ordination. He kept his weight back, and then snapped into the pitch with incredible power. His hand to eye were similar to other great hitters like Rod Carew, and Pete Rose. All these there were great hitters because they kept the weight back, and hands right next to there eyes.
As the pitch comes in, the eyes find it first, then the hands stroke the ball. These guys hit to all fields and put the ball exactly where they intended it to go. Rickey was solid and compact at the plate. Man, this guy had all the tools. Speed, power, contact hitter, great base runner, played defense, great arm. Just about as complete as it gets.
If you are building a player, it's Ricky Henderson who you want to make the mold from.
Kim Kerchner You are mostly correct except that Rickey was never known as a great arm guy and his defense was seen as only about average especially from the early 90s on (even though he did win one Gold Glove). And you've got to put Tony Gwynn on your list of great hitters. A lot of people don't realize how much higher his BA would have been if he was actually trying to get hits all the time. Instead, he was trying to wear out pitchers and earn walks often taking a lot of pitches early in the count that great hitters usually pounce on. He was doing his job as a lead off guy, allowing his teammates to see what the pitcher was throwing that night, upping his pitch count and trying to get on base.
TheMarkcu24 Good points. Gwynn was a great hitter. I agree.
I was actually referring to Rickey the last half of that post, not sure if that came across.
TheMarkcu24 got it.
If I could be any player in the history of baseball, it would Ricky! Love this guy and his game!
Rickey Henderson was and always will be a hero to me. His never say die attitude was always awesome to watch.
Rickey is Mr baseball in my opinion and was a tremendous football player in high school. Hats off to him
Hell of an edit job.
80s was the best decade for sports fans. 1980 Olympics, Bo Jackson, Montana, Rickey, Bird, Jordan, Magic, Mike Tyson, Gretzky... even Tennis and Track and Field were entertaining.
Ricky was so fun to watch!
I was in class when he broke the record. Right after lunch break the teacher turned on the TV and we watched him steal third. My teacher was an old school Korean War Vet boring as hell but he came through that day.
So lucky to see him play in person for many years.
You know how to spell his name?
P-I-M-P.
Need a fathead of 2:59 for the mancave. Still the most entertaining ball player ever. Loved his swagger
Those muzuno batting gloves were the shit
Lime green
swag on swag on swag
I saw him play many times in Oakland during their winning seasons in the late 80's and early 90's. He was always just a bit overshadowed by the big home run hitters in the lineup, but in hindsight he was by far the best player on the team. One of the greatest of all time no doubt.
thank you. its a great song
The way Rickey ducked his head almost into the strike zone was badass😂 Dudes throwing 90+ and Rickey's out there putting his head right in the target then dropping bombs😂
Ricky is the best baseball player ever
More swag than any other person to live
That record will NEVER be broken
"Just Rickey being Rickey "😂
2:38-2:55 WILL DEFINITELY get you thrown at on ANY level of baseball nowadays! Gotta love Rickey!
Hands down the best lead off hitter and the guy you don't want to look over your shoulder when he's on base. I can't imagine what it must have been like to see Ricky in his perfect stance about to take second and third on your ass.
Ricky was all hot dog and mustard, sourkrout, relish, onions, chili, cheese. The works.
Have to agree with alot of the comments no player did more for his team in creating wins than rickey there will be no better base stealer and no better creater of runs in baseball walk record should still stand ptichers didn't have to worry about the 290 foot fence in right and some one built up on steroids to be pitched around so they had no choice but to walk him
exactly regarding the walk record........Bonds never woulduv passed Rickey without steroids.
I read on some baseball statistics website that, quite literally, Rickey was the greatest non-steroid position player of all-time after Babe Ruth.
J davis The most amazing thing about the walk record (or non-record however you want to look at it) is that pitchers were trying to pitch around Bonds, they wanted nothing to do with him so they gave him nothing to hit and walked. On the flip side, the last thing in the world a pitcher wanted to do was walk Rickey. They knew that walk would often turn into a double or triple via the SB. So Bonds got walks as gifts while Rickey had to earn every single one of them with his great discipline at the plate and his ability to foul off the tough pitches.
The best Rickey video!
That’s SWAG Right There..........THE GREATEST LEAD OFF & STOLEN BASE LEADER OF ALL TIMES !!!!!🏁🏁🏁
This is the greatest video on UA-cam
Thank u for this video!
It's all about power hitting now. The players are so much bigger now than they were in the 70s. Home runs are exciting sure, but they are so common now. I like to see great defensive plays and acrobatics and speed more than the power hitting.
This era was so much cooler than the current selfie era
Call me crazy, but I think that stolen bases are more interesting than home runs. It seems to be such a psychological thing and the strategy -- do you go? on which pitch? do they pitchout? It seems like a tense moment when you are waiting to see if he beats the throw. We just don't seem to have base stealers like Lou Brock, Tim Raines, and Rickey Henderson any more. :(
The best there ever was, the best there ever will be
LLS! The perfect song!
yep that's why I picked it. it came out right when Rickey was starting his career 1979.
@@johnmongani5223 wow no shit I was laughing the whole time especially when Rickey was sliding the hook was right on cue lol
@@Mr.SalmaHayek lol. yep took me a while to time all that just right but got it for the most part. especially when he hits the Yankee stadium homerun right when the loud solo starts. had to get that perfect ha ha.
@@johnmongani5223 it was perfect 👌
2:56 so much swagger style run ricky run happy to have see this show off ball playa
Nice vid.
5:06 Watch the guy in the stands in the white pants and the green shirt going nuts in right field seats, 4 from the left just above rickey henderson's shoulder.
Great compilation!
(Ty Cobb's SB total at 4:12 and 4:26 is incorrect. Cobb has 897.)
After Babe Ruth? Ruth played at a time when a whole group of people were excluded from the game due to skin color and religious beliefs. Ruth was an anomaly at that time. Asterisk needs to go by all ballplayers records before 1947.
Against My and His Yankees 2 stolen bases to seal the deal. My fav Player growing up. A machine.
bad ass ending
His legs were huge!
Great video
only 427 likes??? this is my ish
what song is this ?