Remembering Rickey Henderson on his birthday
Photo credit: SportsNet/Getty Images
Christmas time brings many things. Gifts, singing, tolerating the extended family. People are also born on this day.
One such person in the latter category was Rickey Henderson.
While he was best known for his time in Oakland, he also appeared in games for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hendersonjoined the Blue Jays at the trade deadline of their 1993 World Series-winning season. Appearing in just 44 games, he managed to steal 22 bases and score 37 runs. He was also on 2nd base for the most iconic home run in franchise history.
Many Blue Jays past and present have been reminiscing about Rickey, including current bench coach Don Mattinglyas well as Dave Stewart, Al Leiter, John Olerud, and Mookie Wilson. The iconic stature of Rickey cannot be diminished.
Strangely, Henderson isn't the only Hall of Fame player associated with the Athletics franchise who was born on Christmas Day. There rises another.
While Nellie Fox, the great 2nd baseman and himself a Hall of Famer, is best remembered as a Chicago White Sox, he spent the first three seasons of his career as a member of the A's, back when they were based in Philadelphia.
Other Christmas-born notables include Pud Galvin, the pre-1900 baseball star who became the first pitcher to win 300 games. His 6003 innings are second only to Cy Young. Galvin is also in the Hall of Fame, having been elected posthumously in 1965.
Others still include three-time NBP All-Star Hideki Okajima, managers Gene Lamontand Rick Renteria, and longtime Blue Jays coach Bruce Walton.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 25 | 240 ANSWERS Remembering Rickey Henderson on his birthday Who is the best player born on Christmas? | ||
| Rickey Henderson | 231 | 96.3 % |
| Nellie Fox | 9 | 3.8 % |
| Pud Galvin | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
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