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Thread: Rickey is one old dude

  1. #1
    Admiral Merlin's Avatar
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    Rickey is one old dude

    Rickey Henderson, 46, last played in the major leagues for the Dodgers in 2003.

    On Thursday night in San Diego, when the San Diego Surf Dawgs take on the Long Beach Armada – what, you don't have tickets yet? – Rickey Henderson will stride to the plate in his new Dawgs digs to begin his 30th season of professional baseball. So what if it isn't the majors, but the startup, independent Golden Baseball League? When was the last time you scored three grand a month for playing ball?

    Henderson will, of course, do this at the age of 46. Which got us to thinking: When you come across a leadoff man older than "Oil Can" Boyd – who, by the way, is now lacing 'em up for the Brockton Rox of the Canadian-American League – some in-depth examination is in order.

    Without further adieu:

    Henderson is so old, he once played a major league game the same day as Lou Brock and Jesus Alou, as well as Bud Harrelson and Vic Davalillo. Not to mention Mark Fidrych, David Clyde and Catfish Hunter.

    Henderson is so old, one of his former teammates (Tommy John) and one of Babe Ruth's teammates (Lefty Gomez) shared a teammate (Early Wynn).

    This is all fine and dandy, but the best way to gauge age when it comes to Henderson is to take a look at the people he is older than – folks who aren't still lacing up the spikes to play baseball every night.

    Henderson is older than Terry Francona, Ozzie Guillen, Bob Melvin and Lloyd McClendon.

    He is older than Floyd Youmans, Jack Fimple and Frank Eufemia.

    He is older than Billy Jo Robidoux.

    Henderson is older than Bill Gullickson and Charlie Hudson. Come to think of it, he's also older than Britt Burns and Richard Dotson.

    He is older than Cal Ripken and Ryne Sandberg.

    He is older than George Bell, Rob Deer, Pete Incaviglia and Jesse Barfield.

    He is older than Joe DeSa, which is quite a trick, given that DeSa has been dead almost 20 years.

    He is older than Shooty Babbitt and Buddy Biancalana.

    Of course, Henderson is older than not just these baseball notables, but dozens from other sports and walks of life. For example, he is older than Willie Gault and Vai Sikahema.

    For the New York Giant fans among you, he is older than Lawrence Taylor, Joe Morris and Butch Woolfolk.

    He is older than Art Schlichter.

    He is older than Cris Collinsworth and Neil Lomax.

    He is older than Renaldo Nehemiah.

    Interlude: Rickey Henderson is older than the Barbie Doll, non-dairy creamer and the audiocassette.

    Moving back to sports, Henderson is older than Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre.

    He is older than Clark Kellogg and Ralph Sampson.

    He is older than Danny Ainge.

    He is older than Sleepy Floyd.

    He is older than Kurtis Blow, for heaven's sake.

    Rickey Henderson is older than Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe. He is older than Tracy Austin.

    He is older than Nadia Comaneci.

    He is older than M.C. Hammer, "Weird Al" Yankovic and Sheena Easton.

    He is older than Tatum O'Neil.

    He is older than Nastassja Kinski.

    In the end, it appears as if the only person Rickey Henderson is younger than is ... (drumroll) ... Julio Franco.

    But then again, aren't we all?

    "I'm not a proud man," Franco said last weekend in Boston. "But I am proud of that."

    =======================================================

    You know Rickey is one of the greatest players the game has ever seem and one of my all-time favorites. And considering how many millions he has it is clear that he is still playing simply because he loves it. So here is to Rickey a man who will play the game until someone tears the jersey off his back.
    :monkey:

  2. #2
    Ruler-Of-All-Things-Beer BrewMaster's Avatar
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    Hear hear! I wonder why he can't get a job in the majors. He's probably still better than a lot of guys up there. Perhaps he wants to play everyday, which would explain why he's not in the big leagues.

  3. #3
    Commander Booyamos's Avatar
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    I'm all for guys like him and Rice playing until they want to stop. They are not nearly as productive, or not playing in the spot light anymore. But its what they want to do and if they can still play at some level then good for them.

    i really hate how all the ESPN guys and what not say Rice/Henderson should retire, hang it up, time for them to go. i think a player who has played that long deserves the respect and options to play until THEY want to stop.

    After all its just a game.

    nothing agianst your post, heh interesting to see how old he really is. And oil can boyd... heh.
    Boo ya Grandma

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    President, Cowboys Nation MikeD's Avatar
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    2 pretty good reads...

    ...on espn.com. The first is on other "older" players they'd like to see return, the second is on Oil Can Boyd (yeah, he's back too!).

    Other "older" players

    Oil Can Boyd

    Hey, if Oil Can can comeback then I have no problem with Rice or Rickey. If someone is offering them a gig, who is the common fan to say otherwise?

  5. #5
    Secretary of Defense DarkFury's Avatar
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    Heh... I just wanna see him steal 2nd.


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  6. #6
    Admiral Kevster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DarkFury
    Heh... I just wanna see him steal 2nd.


    Hell yeah! I saw him play for the A's! And I was in grade school back then!
    I think over again
    My small adventures, my fears.
    The small ones that seemed so big,
    For all the vital things I had to get and to reach.

    And yet there is only one great thing, the only thing:

    To live to see the great day that dawns,
    And the light that fills the world.


    -old Inuit song

  7. #7
    President, Cowboys Nation MikeD's Avatar
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    Didn't he have like 130 steals in a season? That's RIDICIULOUS!!!

  8. #8
    Admiral Merlin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DarkFury
    Heh... I just wanna see him steal 2nd.
    Then you should have watched him. That's right - Stole second in his first game.
    :monkey:

  9. #9
    Secretary of Defense DarkFury's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Merlin
    Then you should have watched him. That's right - Stole second in his first game.
    SWEET!!!!

    Go Ricky!!!


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  10. #10
    President, Cowboys Nation MikeD's Avatar
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    Oil Can not bad in debut

    Got the No Decision, but still respectable...

  11. #11
    Captain Grubbie's Avatar
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    Oil is a crazy story, saying his arm is back. Then goes on to talk about pitchers who pitched till they were 60. Some people can do that(julio franco playing int he MLB at 46 i think or some old age). I would love to see oil make it back and last

  12. #12
    Secretary of Defense DarkFury's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grubbie
    Oil is a crazy story, saying his arm is back. Then goes on to talk about pitchers who pitched till they were 60. Some people can do that(julio franco playing int he MLB at 46 i think or some old age). I would love to see oil make it back and last
    *Cough* Gaylord Perry *Cough*


    Serve 'em up another spitter... Gaylord. Hack...


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  13. #13
    Captain Grubbie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DarkFury
    *Cough* Gaylord Perry *Cough*


    Serve 'em up another spitter... Gaylord. Hack...


    He was also taking about some other pitchers in one of the articles I read.

    "I just woke up one morning and I could flame again. I have longevity. The Lord gave me the ability to do this. He gave the ability to maintain this. I threw through the pain. I heard a story about a guy who had a dead arm, and he wound up pitching until he was 59 years old: Leroy Paige. My father had a relationship with him. They played together in the Negro League. My uncle once pitched against Satchel Paige. He beat him in a game, 1-0.

    When I was a kid, about 12 or 13, I'd watch 45-year-old and 50-year-old men pitch. They showed me how to trick people. One of those men, Early Moore, is 68 years old and he's still pitching. He coached the semipro team that I played for, he'd come in and close the game. He threw changeups and breaking balls. His fastball was as fast as his changeup because he was an old man. But no one could hit him. That was willed down to me."
    I mean that is great, I just woke up one morning and I could flame again. I hope he keeps it up and gets a chance somewhere.

  14. #14
    President, Cowboys Nation MikeD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grubbie
    Oil is a crazy story, saying his arm is back. Then goes on to talk about pitchers who pitched till they were 60. Some people can do that(julio franco playing int he MLB at 46 i think or some old age). I would love to see oil make it back and last
    It's got to be easier for hitters than pitchers (to play into their 40's). Guys like Franco and Ruben Sierra can play in the AL and DH forever. Pitchers are a different breed; it takes guys like Ryan and Clemens to do it successfully.

    I'd like to see the Can if only for the high comedy he brings...

  15. #15
    Captain Grubbie's Avatar
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    I would think if the arm holds up, it woudl be easier for a pitcher. I mean you lose bat speed when you age. I saw a video of ricky with a hit during one of his games for his new team. Man did his bat look SLOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW. I just think if the arm holds up, you can be a effective loogy. I am going to either train my kid to pitch left handed so he can become a loogy. Or teach him how to punt, so he can become a punter

    I think rickey could have a job with any team as a coach if he wanted it. I mean he is one of the greatest players to every play. I think that will be his next step, he still loves the game and loves to play. So once he cant play anymore, he will probably coach.

  16. #16
    Chief of Naval Operations attgig's Avatar
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    except when ricky's too busy playing cards with bobby bo.

  17. #17
    Admiral Merlin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grubbie
    I think rickey could have a job with any team as a coach if he wanted it.
    I don't know. I love Rickey but I'm not sure he has the people skills to be a teacher. I can see it now....."Rickey thinks you need a bigger lead." "Rickey thinks you need to steal...now!" ""Man, Rickey didn't like that...Thinks you need to run faster" Ah yes, it is always fun to lesten to Rickey talk about himself in the third person.
    :monkey:

  18. #18
    Captain Grubbie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Merlin
    I don't know. I love Rickey but I'm not sure he has the people skills to be a teacher. I can see it now....."Rickey thinks you need a bigger lead." "Rickey thinks you need to steal...now!" ""Man, Rickey didn't like that...Thinks you need to run faster" Ah yes, it is always fun to lesten to Rickey talk about himself in the third person.

    LOL i could see it now. RICKY DOESN"T AGREE WITH THAT CALL!!!

    I could see him as more of a roving hitting instructor/coach. I mean he has sooooooooo much baseball knowledge, keep him around the game, and allow him to pass his knowledge on.

  19. #19
    Admiral zenbooty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Merlin
    I don't know. I love Rickey but I'm not sure he has the people skills to be a teacher.
    I don't know. He was always well liked by his fellow players.
    Common sense is what tells you the Earth is flat.

  20. #20
    Ruler-Of-All-Things-Beer BrewMaster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Merlin
    I don't know. I love Rickey but I'm not sure he has the people skills to be a teacher. I can see it now....."Rickey thinks you need a bigger lead." "Rickey thinks you need to steal...now!" ""Man, Rickey didn't like that...Thinks you need to run faster" Ah yes, it is always fun to lesten to Rickey talk about himself in the third person.
    does Ricky refer to himself in the third person? i don't remember that about him.

  21. #21
    Rear Admiral Lower Half tupacboy's Avatar
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    i can't hate on a guy that can still play like that at 46.. more props to him...

  22. #22
    Chief of Naval Operations brainsmile's Avatar
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    he could teach so many how to run bases
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