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Sublime Rickey As the Bronx hit fever pitch, Henderson is right at home
NEW YORK (AP) -- The jeers started in left field and moved through Yankee Stadium, section by section, from the upper deck to the mezzanine to the field level. Pretty soon, Rickey Henderson was standing in the middle of a world class Bronx cheer. The noise didn't exactly upset Henderson. "I enjoy playing in New York," he said. "The crowd seems to get me involved in the game more than anything else. It's not distracting. They can keep getting on me. "I probably would be worried if they didn't make noise. I'm always memorable." Henderson has heard this before in cities all over the baseball map. It hardly shakes the 41-year-old outfielder who is headed for the Hall of Fame as the best leadoff man and greatest base stealer in baseball history. He had been embarrassed early in Game 1 of the American League pennant playoff, caught stealing in the first inning by such a wide margin that he stopped in the basepath and tried to scramble back to first base. Then he struck out in the third. Now he had a chance to make up for those episodes. Mark McLemore had just doubled with two out in the fifth inning for Seattle's first hit in a scoreless game. Now, with Yankees starter Denny Neagle working the count to 2-2 and the fans getting progressively louder, Henderson dug in. Yankees coach Lee Mazzilli came out of the dugout trying to wave right fielder Paul O'Neill in closer, figuring at this point in his career Henderson was not going to drive one deep the other way. Finally, O'Neill got the message and moved in a couple of steps. But not far enough.
"He threw me a fastball in and I hit it the other way," Henderson said. "I didn't expect him to throw me in." Now it was his turn to gloat a little bit. "They got on me pretty good," he said. "But when I got the base hit, everybody went silent. I don't think they were pulling for their team as much as they were hollering for Rickey." It was a nice piece of hitting in a big spot, and especially pleasant for Henderson since it came in New York, his last port of call before he signed on with the Mariners. Henderson was released by the Mets in May, too disruptive for that team, charged with not hustling at bat or in the field. That was what Yankees fans remembered when they started hooting him. He batted just .238 in 92 games for Seattle, but still showed off that old-time speed with 31 stolen bases. That's why manager Lou Piniella had him leading off in the opening game of the pennant playoff, in position to manufacture a run when the Mariners needed one. McLemore marveled at Henderson. "It's his stage," the second baseman said. "Rickey's amazing. Just because you don't get it done once doesn't mean you can't get it done. He's got three rings." When Piniella managed the Yankees, he and Henderson had a stormy relationship. "He's not the youngster I had here 14-15 years ago," the manager said, "but he can still play. He'll be invaluable teaching players once his career is over. He's a funny guy. I've enjoyed Rickey."
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