RICKEY JOINS JAYS? (c) 1993 J. B. Rainsberger All rights reserved July 31 1993 - 20.50 The Toronto Blue Jays have potentially cemented their outfield with the possible acquisition of Rickey Henderson, the most brash American Leaguer since Reggie Jackson. The now middle-aged hot dog, Henderson will be 35 on Christmas Day and debuted in the major leagues with Oakland on 1979 June 24. That season, through 89 games, he hit .274 with one home run, 49 runs scored and 33 steals in 44 attempts. Immediately, his impact was felt by American League managers, near and far. Henderson's career has been spotted with both turmoil and ultimate success. Entering the decade of the 1980s, Rickey scored a league-high 89 runs, stole a league-high 56 bases and had a total average of .968, which ranked in the top five in 1981. The next season, he set the Major League record for both stolen bases, 130, and times caught stealing, 42. That season, 1982, Henderson attempted to steal a base more than any other player in history. This was the midst of a string of seven consecutive American League stolen base crowns, ended in 1987 by Seattle's Harold Reynolds (60). While Henderson's speed has never been questioned, equally impressive have been his power numbers. While he has never led the league in home runs, Henderson hit 52 home runs over the 1985-86 period; in fact, his power numbers have been interesting over his career. While still with Oakland, Henderson never won a championship, but his lowest slugging percentage was .382 - as expected, the season he set stolen base record. Henderson's image as a brash, hot-dogger began when Henderson was traded to the New York Yankees during the 1984-85 offseason. Upon arrival in the Bronx, Henderson led the league in runs scored with 146, steals with 80 and stolen base runs with 15. As well, he set a personal high in slugging percentage with .516, which he never equaled while in New York. Henderson's stay in New York continued until the 1989 season, when he was returned to Oakland for Luis Polonia, Greg Cadaret and Eric Plunk. In fact, Henderson had been originally acquired in a package involving Plunk. His first season back in Oakland, Rickey stole 77, scored 113 runs and owned a .411 on-base percentage. It was considered at this time that he had passed his peak at age 30. Nevertheless, Oakland won a World Series championship. In 1990, Henderson proved his accusers wrong by bouncing back to a .439 on-base percentage, 65 steals and a career-high 28 home runs. Remarkably, Henderson drove in only 61 runs. Although Oakland had a most remarkable team, Henderson watched his club lose its second World Series in three years, this time to Cincinatti, four games to none. In 1991, Henderson was bothered by hamstring problems, thus only played 134 games. In that time, however, he retained an even .400 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 58 steals in 76 attempts. While Henderson's defense slipped, both in range and his throwing arm, his speed did not change, even at the age of 32. It is notable that Henderson hit .268, which is the lowest he had hit since 1982. Last season, Henderson had a come-back season offensively, hitting .283 with a .426 on-base percentage and a .457 slugging average. He slammed 15 home runs and stole 48 in 59 tries despite more injury problems, leading him to miss 45 games. What did slip a great deal at the age of 33 was Rickey's defense, which declined for the second consecutive season. As well, his strikeout total ballooned to 56, which was the highest it had been since the late 1980s. This season, working towards a new contract - he is no longer happy with $9-million over 3 years - has hit .324 with a .476 on-base percentage and an amazing .535 slugging percentage; he has stolen 28 bases in 34 tries, and his defense has become no worse then it was in 1991 and 1992 (numbers through July 20). While Henderson has missed a few games this season, having been used 16 times as a DH compared to 63 starts in left-field, there are no concerns about his health. The concern, however, is for his monetary stance - he wants a $20-million, 4-year contract, and unless *someone* agrees to augment Rickey's pocketbook, no deal will be made. While Toronto fans remember Rickey most for his single-handed disassembly of the Jays in the 1989 League Championship Series - he stole 8 bases, hit 2 home runs in game four and generally infuriated skydome fans, Rickey also dropped a key lead-off fly ball in last season's ALCS which helped Toronto on to their first World Series victory. Reaction among fans have run the gamut from genuine enthusiasm to downright disgust. While Henderson is one of the most hated players in Jay-land, the fact remains that he could become a Jay, and should be treated as such. Certainly, the Jays have acquired some of the most "hated" rivals in the past: Phil Niekro, Tom Candiotti, Dave Parker, Dave Stewart and Dave Winfield, and acquiring Rickey Henderson should be no different. Who could possibly be angry with a lineup that could read Henderson Alomar Molitor Carter Olerud Fernandez White Sprague Borders/Knorr when it would make an absolute joke out of the offenses, both power and speed-wise, of the rest of the American League, if not every team in baseball but Philadelphia and San Francisco? The reaction by those fans who do not like seeing Henderson coming to Toronto is more seeded in his attitude and flair for the dramatic, as opposed to his play on the field. The fact remains that Rickey Henderson is the greatest lead-off hitter in the modern era, if not history. Only Ty Cobb's running prowess could match the exploits of Henderson. Germany Schaefer once remarked of Cobb: "Don't blink, or he'll steal your pants." And certainly Henderson can do on the field today what Cobb did in his time. Henderson has become a legend as regards lead-off home runs (he has over 60 in his career, building upon his own record), and stolen bases - but he has also become legendary in his braggadocio. Upon setting the career record for steals, Henderson proclaimed, a la Ali, "I am the greatest of all time." Many baseball fans were pleased when Nolan Ryan cemented his 7th career no-hitter, even against Toronto, later the same day. That ought to show him, they said. They were wrong. Rickey Henderson is cocky, confident and he can back up his claims. He is one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and has become bigger than the game itself through his attitude and bravado. You could say exactly the same about Reggie Jackson, too. That's Hall-of-Fame-Inductee Reggie Jackson.