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Blue Jays Enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame

ByClayton Richer|
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 15, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics special instructor Rickey Henderson talks with fans prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics special instructor Rickey Henderson talks with fans prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Rickey Henderson Inducted In 2009 With 94.8% Of The Votes

Rickey Henderson squeaked his way onto this list because he was with the club for little more than a cup of coffee in the second half of ‘93, picking up his second World Series ring in the process. A nice late-season add by Gillick, Henderson helped the Jays in their push for the post-season that year. He came over to Toronto from Oakland for prospects Steve Karsay and José Herrera.

Although he put up mediocre numbers at the plate for the remainder of the season that year (.215 in 44 plate appearances) and continued this trend in the postseason, batting a paltry.120 in the ALCS and.227 in the World Series, “Rickey-ball” was still alive and well in Toronto, as he continued to do what he did best: wreaking havoc on the base paths and swiping 22 bags while coming around to plate 37 runs during the remainder of the regular season.

The 1990 AL MVP winner sealed his place in Blue Jays lore though, by being one of the runs scored on Joe Carter’s epic World Series-winning 3-run homer against Phillie closer, Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams. The other runs on the shot-heard-round Canada were by Molitor and of course Carter himself.

Being the all-time stolen base champ, while amassing HOF-like numbers in other statistical areas as well (collecting over 3000 hits, which all but guarantees entry into Cooperstown for example), Henderson was a no-doubter for first-ballot induction as a member of the 2009 class.

Along with his prodigious career on the diamond, though, there is quite a bit of amusing trivia regarding the talented and exciting ball player. For some chuckles have a look here.

One of my favourites is while in contract talks with the A’s one year he allegedly told someone in the media, “If they want to pay me like (Mike) Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego.” I don’t think he meant any umbrage to Gallego, a very (defensively) capable utility middle infielder, but he definitely made his point. And I don’t think anyone can argue with him.

Authored by Ashley Weisdorf

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