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Randman · May 27, 2005, 02:03 AM

Rickey rides again
Henderson runs, scores, hits in Surf Dawgs opener

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Rickey Henderson did it all on his 30th opening day in professional baseball.

Too bad it was so far away from the major leagues.

The 46-year-old Henderson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, two walks and, what the fans -- all 3,000 of them -- probably came to see, a stolen base.

"I had a lot of fun out there," Henderson said. "For a couple of innings I had a little headache, but it went away and the game starts coming back to you and you're having fun and enjoying it.

"It was a good night tonight, especially for the kids. They went out and showed me they're ready to play and they want to win ballgames."

And the 40-something?

"The 46-year-old guy, it was a good night," Henderson said. "I stole a base for the fans to get them involved in the game. They were cheering us on well."

Henderson, baseball's career leader in runs and stolen bases, hopes to play his way back into the major leagues, although he hasn't been back in the bigs since late in the 2003 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This is the third straight season Henderson has started in the independent leagues, the lowest rung in the minors. He opened the last two years with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

Henderson signed with the Surf Dawgs for $3,000 a month in salary, and he'll receive additional compensation for making personal appearances with the team and league. He also gets his rent paid.

Henderson reached base four times Thursday night. In the sixth inning, he singled to left, then stole second, sliding in headfirst.

"It was fun to have the fans boost you up, pulling for you to go out and steal a base," Henderson said. "They know you can steal a base, they just want to see it."

Said manager Terry Kennedy: "Ricky did his thing. He stole that base easy. He didn't steal anything in spring training. He scored a couple of times, had a couple of hits. He's still contributing."

Henderson grounded out in his first at-bat off left-hander Adam Pettyjohn, who made nine starts for the Detroit Tigers in 2001.

In the third inning, he walked with a runner on first and eventually scored on a fielder's choice by Scott Goodman. After scoring, Henderson walked over and picked up Goodman's bat.

Henderson bounced an RBI double over the center-field fence in the fourth and got a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State. Armada second baseman Adonis Harrison came over and shook his hand.

Henderson's first minor league season was 1976. He made his big league debut in 1979 in Oakland. His first big league opening day was with Oakland in 1980.

Eynstyn · May 27, 2005, 02:35 AM

I cant tell you how much this story pleases me. I really admire RH's career. I got in a bar fight with a guy about the MVP one year. That bozo said someone else. I said the major league MVP was Rickey. I was right and have always had an interest in his play. I hope he makes it back to the majors and ends his career with a World Series winning team.

Go Rickey!

nredman · May 27, 2005, 08:09 PM

is rickey married? kids?

Eynstyn · May 27, 2005, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

is rickey married? kids?

Your not his type.

ManOfSteal · May 31, 2005, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by nredman

is rickey married? kids?

Yes/Yes.

Rickey is playing well so far...I'm not surprised or really impressed though either.

gofridge · May 31, 2005, 10:46 AM

gofridge misses the London Monarchs.

ManOfSteal · May 31, 2005, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by gofridge

gofridge misses the London Monarchs.

London enjoys having food stocked in stores again.

turtle777 · May 31, 2005, 12:57 PM

No threads about MacNN members

-t

Randman · May 31, 2005, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

No threads about MacNN members

Rickey Henderson is a member of MacNN?

wdlove · May 31, 2005, 01:58 PM

More a reason to support a fellow MacNN member, go Rickey.

turtle777 · May 31, 2005, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Rickey Henderson is a member of MacNN?

No, but gorickey is.

Rickey Henderson just named himself after the MacNN nick. His real furst (sic) name is Eberhard.

-t

Randman · May 31, 2005, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

No, but gorickey is.

Then it's not a +1 thread, is it?

turtle777 · May 31, 2005, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Then it's not a +1 thread, is it?

Whodathunkit ?!?!

-t

DarwinX · May 31, 2005, 04:35 PM

+1, gorickey, Rickey Henderson back in baseball....

To the Batmobile!

ManOfSteal · May 31, 2005, 05:54 PM

Trivial Pursuit: Independent Baseball League Edition

Q.) Who hit the 1st Homerun in San Diego Surf Dawg History?

A.) Rickey Henderson.

gomanute · May 31, 2005, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by ManOfSteal

London enjoys having food stocked in stores again.

gomanute is thin.