As they have all season, baseball fans and the media continue to focus on Barry Bonds' drive toward 71 home runs. At the same time, Rickey Henderson is about to accomplish something I thought would be impossible.

WILL BONDS HIT NO. 71?

At the beginning of the season, I didn't think Bonds would break the record. At midseason, I said he would do it if the pitchers pitched to him. Three weeks ago I felt he needed 80 official at-bats in the final 21 games to break the record. He's on pace for 72 at-bats. The week-long stoppage of play hurt Bonds because he was hot before the tragedies. However, I think he will break the record. I don't think the pitchers can pitch around him enough to keep him from hitting three or four more home runs. He will at least get a few pitches to hit. The pitchers can't just say they will throw him four pitches outside. The other day in Los Angeles, the Dodgers' fans booed when he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning in a one-run game. The fans are are booing managers and pitchers who don't try to get him out. Although I don't like to make predictions, I think Bonds will break the record next week in Houston, where he has yet to play a game this season. I think the Astros' pitchers will pitch to him in some manner, and Enron Field is conducive to home-run hitters. Look at what Sammy Sosa has done in Houston -- eight home runs in 10 games. Bonds' best bet may come against pitchers who haven't given up home runs to him. They may be more willing to challenge him. We'll see. -- Joe Morgan

With five more hits and two more runs, Henderson will join the exclusive 3,000-hit club and surpass Ty Cobb for the all-time record for runs scored. Coupled with his all-time records for walks and stolen bases, the two milestones would make Henderson's career accomplishments incomparable. The only ones close to Henderson's achievements would be Hank Aaron's 755 home runs and Babe Ruth's 714 because hitting a home run has always been the toughest aspect of the game.

In particular, the combination of 3,000 hits and more than 2,000 walks is unheard of. Ted Williams and Babe Ruth may be the two greatest hitters ever, but neither one reached 3,000 hits because they walked too much, more than any player but Henderson. In fact, the 24 players in the 3,000-hit club averaged 66.7 walks over a projected 162-game season. Henderson has averaged 117 walks.

Until now, players could not accumulate large numbers of both walks and hits. The two could not co-exist. When a player walks, he loses at-bats. Fewer at-bats mean fewer hits. That's why Henderson's feat is so incredible.

Going one step further, no baseball player has ever dominated a game on a daily basis like Henderson. Although he is not the greatest player ever, Henderson hit home runs from the leadoff spot, reached base, stole bases at will, played great defense and intimidated pitchers -- things a player can do everyday.

Aaron and Ruth could never hit home runs everyday because pitchers could throw them four pitches outside and walk them. Pitchers could stop Bonds the rest of the season if they avoided throwing him strikes. Walking Henderson only made the problem worse. Players usually hit one home run in a game. Henderson could impact a game three or four times.

Saying he is the greatest leadoff hitter ever fails to do him justice. Henderson was a true superstar, a complete player who rarely gets the credit he deserves. He has been criticized for loafing and for his perceived attitude, one that people find distasteful. He doesn't always say the right things in public to help his image.

People were turned off when he broke Lou Brock's stolen-base record, held up the base, and said, "I'm the greatest of all time." Knowing Rickey, he was not trying to disrespect Brock or anyone else; he just didn't know what else to say.

Regardless of what others think or say, his teammates like him. In my final season, 1984, he and I were teammates in Oakland and spent a lot of time together. He may do things to irritate the fans or the manager, but you can't help but like him. If you were mad at him, you wouldn't stay mad for long. If people made the effort to understand Rickey, they would see how likeable he is.

No one ever questioned his dedication to the team. He never played for himself, except maybe when he broke Brock's record. But who wouldn't? Pete Rose knew all his statistics all the time, but everything he and Henderson did on the field helped their teammates win. As leadoff hitters, they did their jobs -- getting on base.

MEETING RAY CHARLES

The great Ray Charles joined Dave Barnett and I in the booth Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Meeting him was one of the greatest honors I've ever had. His rendition of "America the Beautiful" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I asked him why he sang that song; it's nothing like "Hit the Road, Jack," a song my daughters, Ashley and Kelly, both love. He said he wanted to show America in all its beauty and its greatness. With all its shortcomings, he said America is still the greatest country in the world. It was fantastic the way he put it. -- Joe Morgan

When I got to Oakland, Rickey was already a patient hitter. As a base stealer, he relied on his instincts, his strong legs and his feet. He never read the pitchers' motions as well as Maury Wills. Henderson had an innate ability to know when it was time to go.

Instinctively, he could do things no one else could. His powerful legs have always given him excellent drive on the first couple of steps. He looks like a sprinter, like Bob Hayes coming out the blocks.

In his prime, there was nothing Henderson couldn't do on a baseball field. But now, if he continues to miss games, there's one thing he may not be able to do -- reach 3,000 hits.

After getting six hits in the first two games at Coors Field this week, he sat out Wednesday and Thursday. Why? I don't understand why he isn't playing everyday because the Padres are out of the pennant race.

Time is running out. Henderson is a guaranteed future Hall of Famer, but there's no assurance he will get five hits in the final nine games.

Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan is a baseball analyst for ESPN.