Henderson humbled by Hall

Robalini's Note: Why Rickey Henderson still rules...

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Henderson humbled by Hall
John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, July 27, 2009

Cooperstown, N.Y. -- Rickey Henderson, humbled.

The significance of baseball's ultimate honor overwhelmed baseball's ultimate runner Sunday. It doesn't matter if a man led the league in swagger. Put him in the Hall of Fame, have him give a speech in front of 50 legends and he turns into an unassuming rookie.

Henderson's speech - by most accounts, he nailed it - showed a side not seen on the base paths or in the batter's box. He was clear, concise and not at all cocky. He even provided a suspenseful ending to his 13-minute, 50-second delivery, clearly the highlight on a muggy, drizzly day at the Clark Sports Center.

He mentioned Muhammad Ali, his hero, and reminded everyone that Ali called himself "the greatest. That is something I always wanted to be. And now that the (Baseball Writers') Association (of America) has voted me into the baseball Hall of Fame, my journey as a player is complete. I am now in the class of the greatest players of all time, and at this moment ..."

Uh oh.

Was Rickey going to do it again?

Any fan of the steals king knows he called himself "the greatest of all time" after breaking Lou Brock's career record in 1991, and it appeared a repeat performance was coming now that he was being enshrined.

But it was typically unpredictable Rickey.

Finishing his closing line, he said, "... and at this moment, I am ... very ... very ... humbled."

There you have it. The conversion from brash ballplayer to appreciative ambassador was complete as Henderson joined Jim Rice and Joe Gordon (posthumously), whose plaques were added to the walls of the museum, making it 289 Hall of Famers in all.

In an interview after his speech, Henderson was asked about the ending and said his three children helped with it.

"I just wanted to clarify this is what I meant," he said, recalling his '91 speech. "I didn't want to mean greatest player of all time, but the greatest stealer of all time."

It was Rickey's way of expressing humility.

"I'm proud to tears," said good friend and former teammate Dave Stewart, who sat in the front row near Rickey's family. Stewart won 20 games four straight years and was the top starter in a dynamic A's era, but he called Henderson's induction "my proudest moment in the game. I feel like my brother's just gone in."

Of the speech, Stewart said, "His personality came out. That's the person Rickey is. People called him a bad teammate or selfish player. There's no more misunderstood player than Rickey. He is a great individual, great player. Funny. Great to be around. Keeps you laughing. That all came out in his speech. He was absolutely outstanding."

Taking a cue from Earl Robinson, a speech teacher at Oakland's Laney College, Henderson was prepared and deliberate, mixing in history and humor, including a story about Reggie Jackson refusing to give him an autograph as a kid at the Coliseum. Not a single third-person reference, but it still was genuine.

He spoke of two early inspirations who helped guide him to baseball: Hank Thomasson, a youth coach who "tricked" him into playing by offering a glazed doughnut and hot chocolate, and Mrs. Tommie Wilkerson, an Oakland Tech High counselor who "bribed" him with a quarter for each on-field accomplishment.

"After my first 10 games, I had 30 hits, 25 runs and 33 stolen bases," Henderson said. "Not bad money for a kid in high school."

He gave thanks to his mother, Bobbie, and wife, Pamela, but was disappointed he mistakenly skipped the names of his three daughters. He named his boyhood idols (Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron and, yes, Jackson), the scout who signed him (Jim Guinn), a minor-league mentor (Tom Trebelhorn), his first owner (Charlie Finley) and favorite manager (Billy Martin).

So what's next?

Henderson will be at the Coliseum on Saturday to have his number (24) retired and will be honored later in San Diego. He said after his speech he wants to coach in the majors to teach young players his secrets, and Stewart said he'd be a great fit with the A's or Yankees.

He has a personal-service contract with the A's and will assist in spring training. As for a full-time on-field job? General manager Billy Beane, who was at the induction with owner Lew Wolff and A's President Mike Crowley, called Henderson the "greatest Oakland A and greatest leadoff hitter of all time" and seemed open to a coaching role.

"Whatever he puts his mind to. We talked a little about it," Beane said. "He has a lot to offer. If it's something he's committed to, it's certainly something worth discussing."

During the speech, a fan yelled, "Play, Rickey, play."

But those days are over, aren't they? Henderson's future is working with the next generation.

"Follow your dream. Believe in your dream because dreams do come true," he said. "When you think of me, I'd like you to remember that kid from the inner city who played with all his heart and never took the game for granted. Thanks everyone here for making my dream come true today."

E-mail John Shea at jshea@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle