I was -6 years old when Rickey Henderson broke into the big leagues.

Hmmmm . . . Fire the hitting coach, and bring back an ex-legend. Where have we seen this before? Ladies and gentlemen, Queens is burning.

Tim,

You're right, the parallels to the Yanks are compelling. In fact the man that Rickey replaces, Rick Down, was fired as Yanks hitting coach after the '03 season in favor of Don Mattingly. Down was also the Yanks hitting coach that Steinbrenner really wanted to fire after the '95 season, but Buck Showalter refused, so Big Stein cleaned the whole staff out including Buck. (Including, presumably, assistant to the traveling secretary George Costanza.) Chris Chambliss served as the Yanks' hitting coach the next season under Joe Torre.

One difference, though, is that while an ex-legend, Rickey was never really a Mets legend. His brief tenure in Queens is known more for his postseason card game than any heroics on the field. As I'm sure you're well aware.
--Pete

There is that difference, Pete. I guess I won't worry unless and until Rick Peterson gets axed in favor of Art Fowler.

Where's John Olerud?

This NEEDS to happen - Rickey needs to play. How can MLB pass up having Rickey AND Franco on the field at the same time? That would make GREAT TV. I can hear Buck and McCarver right now (of course the NY team is going to be on fox...)

Another writer that has nothing better to do than trash one of the greatest ballplayers of our generation. YES.....he kept the foul ball and didn't refuse to give it to a kid. He did even better...He gave the kid an autographed ball. Get your story straight! Also, look at the "Greatest" speech before you sound like an idiot next time. He didn't say he was the greatest of all time. He said "Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing but today I am the greatest of all time". The guy can't catch a break!! It's time to start showing some RESPECT!!!

Is ruddles the president of the Rickey Henderson fan club?

It is so easy to respect a guy who has been out of baseball for 3 seasons, is 48, and was relies on his speed. It makes perfect sense that he would want to come back, at least Franco would have someone to carpool with from the nursing home.

Yes....I am President of the Rickey fan club!! (Or at least I should be.) It's just that the Media created this false impression of Rickey over the yrs. and he doesn't deserve the treatment he gets. You can take a poll of many major leaguers that played when he did and most will tell you he's one of their favorite teammates.

Greg Oden doesn't think Rickey's too old to play.

I always thought Ricky Henderson was the president of his fan club.

Was it the media who said "Today, I'm the greatest of all time"?