Following the passing of Oakland A’s legend Rickey Henderson, San Francisco Giants icon Will Clark shared a funny story about the stolen base king.
Rickey Henderson, the greatest base-stealer in MLB history and a Hall of Famer, tragically passed away on Friday, December 20th. San Francisco Giants legend Will Clark shared a memorable story about Henderson that perfectly highlighted his character and abilities.
Henderson was an incredible baseball player, most famously known for his time with the Oakland A’s. He is widely regarded as the best leadoff hitter in MLB history, a title easily justified by his achievements. Over his 25-year career, he stole 1,406 bases and hit 297 home runs, showcasing his blend of power and speed.
As the MLB career leader in stolen bases by a significant margin, Henderson’s record is unmatched—Lou Brock is the closest with 938 steals. Additionally, Henderson holds the record for the most times leading off a game with a home run, accomplishing the feat 81 times.
Legendary SF Giants first baseman Will Clark shares hilarious Rickey Henderson story
Facing Rickey Henderson to start a game was a true nightmare for pitchers. You couldn’t afford to pitch around him because he’d easily steal second, but if you threw it over the plate, he was capable of sending it out of the park.
Beyond his impressive stats, Henderson’s larger-than-life personality is captured in a hilarious story shared by Will Clark on KNBR. The clip, linked below, tells of an encounter between Clark and Henderson during a Spring Training game when Henderson was with the A’s and Clark was with the Giants.
In the story, Clark recalls how Henderson would refer to himself in the third person when on first base. “Thrill, Rickey wants to run,” Henderson said, prompting Clark to warn his manager, Roger Craig, about the steal. Despite the pitch out, Henderson slid safely into second, then jumped up and taunted Clark, saying, “I told you, Thrill, Rickey gone!”
This story is a perfect example of Henderson’s confidence. He was so skilled at stealing bases that he could openly announce his plan and still pull it off. His swagger was undeniable, but he backed it up with incredible talent.
It’s sad to hear of Henderson’s passing, but Will Clark’s story allows us to remember him for both his flair and his skill. On a personal note, my dad once went to an A’s game as a kid and, unlike the other kids, wasn’t loud or pushy when seeking autographs. Henderson noticed this and kindly asked, “What do you want?” before giving him his signature. This shows that Henderson cared about his fans and could be both humble and kind, especially to a young fan.
We at Around the Foghorn send our condolences to the Henderson family and celebrate the life and legacy of Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest players in Bay Area baseball history and Major League Baseball as a whole.
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