Henderson, Rice will be inducted today
Associated Press
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Rickey Henderson knew what was expected every time he batted. So, too, did Jim Rice.
"Some way, I was going to scratch to get on base to steal that base," Henderson said. "I steal that base, my day was good. My pride and joy was coming across the plate."
Said Rice: "Believe me, I wasn't paid to walk. I was paid to try to do some damage."
Each player — Henderson, the quintessential leadoff man with an infectious smile, and Rice, the consummate power hitter with an icy glare — inflicted more than his share of damage on opponents, and they will be duly recognized for their considerable career accomplishments today when they are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
The pair will be the first inductees to primarily play left field since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski went into the Hall in 1989.
Former Yankees and Indians second baseman Joe Gordon, elected posthumously by the Veterans Committee, also will be inducted, while former Yankees star and longtime broadcaster Tony Kubek and writer Nick Peters will be honored as winners of the Frick and Spink awards, respectively.
A member of nine teams during his 25-year career, the fun-loving Henderson achieved more than most. He holds the all-time records for stolen bases in a season (130) and career (1,406), for runs scored (2,295) and for leading off a game with a home run (81).
"Competing against myself — I think that's what made me the player that I became," Henderson said. "I had a lot of desire to be a winner and play the game to the fullest."
The speedy Henderson, who spent most of his career with the Oakland Athletics, set the American League season steals record with 100 in only his second year, joining Maury Wills and Lou Brock as the only major league players of the modern era to steal 100 or more bases a season.
Henderson is just the 44th player elected to the Hall in his first year of eligibility.
Hitting homers was second nature to Rice, who played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox. Rice batted .298 with 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs from 1974-89. He was voted to eight All-Star teams and finished in the top five in AL MVP voting six times, winning the award in 1978.
Rice drove in 100 or more runs eight times, batted over .300 seven times, and topped 200 hits four times.
That it took until his final year of eligibility probably rankled every time a new class was announced. If there ever was any bitterness, though, it has long since vanished.
"You let bygones be bygones," the 56-year-old Rice said. "Yeah, I wish I could have gone in on the first ballot or the second, not the last. But I'm in and some guys are still out."
NOTES
Cubs: Chicago placed left-hander Ted Lilly on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder. Lilly also expects to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee tomorrow to repair an injury he believes is unrelated to the shoulder problem. The Cubs hope their lone All-Star will only miss four or five starts and return in mid-August.
Mets: New York outfielder Gary Sheffield is headed to the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. The 40-year-old Sheffield leads the team with 10 homers and is batting .286 with 36 RBIs in 75 games.
