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Mariners vs. Yankees |
Mets vs. Cardinals
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Tuesday, October 10
Rickey's hit makes up for gaffe on bases
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The jeers started in left field and moved
through Yankee Stadium, section by section, from the upper deck to
the mezzanine to the field level. Pretty soon, Rickey Henderson was
standing in the middle of a world class Bronx cheer.
The noise didn't exactly upset Henderson.
|  | | Rickey Henderson is still a threat at the plate. His RBI single in the fifth put the M's on the board in his old stomping grounds, Yankee Stadium. |
"I enjoy playing in New York," he said. "The crowd seems to
get me involved in the game more than anything else. It's not
distracting. They can keep getting on me.
"I probably would be worried if they didn't make noise. I'm
always memorable."
Henderson has heard this before in cities all over the baseball
map. It hardly shakes the 41-year-old outfielder who is headed for
the Hall of Fame as the best leadoff man and greatest base stealer
in baseball history.
He had been embarrassed early in Game 1 of the American League
Championship Series, caught stealing in the first inning by such a wide
margin that he stopped in the basepath and tried to scramble back
to first base. Then he struck out in the third. Now he had a chance
to make up for those episodes.
Mark McLemore had just doubled with two out in the fifth inning
for Seattle's first hit in a scoreless game. Now, with Yankees
starter Denny Neagle working the count to 2-2 and the fans getting
progressively louder, Henderson dug in.
Yankees coach Lee Mazzilli came out of the dugout trying to wave
right fielder Paul O'Neill in closer, figuring at this point in his
career Henderson was not going to drive one deep the other way.
Finally, O'Neill got the message and moved in a couple of steps.
But not far enough.
Henderson lined the next pitch into right field, the ball
dropping in front of O'Neill and scoring McLemore from second with
the game's first run in a 2-0 victory.
"He threw me a fastball in and I hit it the other way,"
Henderson said. "I didn't expect him to throw me in."
Now it was his turn to gloat a little bit.
"They got on me pretty good," he said. "But when I got the
base hit, everybody went silent. I don't think they were pulling
for their team as much as they were hollering for Rickey."
It was a nice piece of hitting in a big spot, and especially
pleasant for Henderson since it came in New York, his last port of
call before he signed on with the Mariners.
Henderson was released by the Mets in May, too disruptive for
that team, charged with not hustling at bat or in the field. That
was what Yankees fans remembered when they started hooting him.
He batted just .238 in 92 games for Seattle, but still showed
off that old-time speed with 31 stolen bases. That's why manager
Lou Piniella had him leading off in the opening game of the pennant
playoff, in position to manufacture a run when the Mariners needed
one.
McLemore marveled at Henderson.
"It's his stage," the second baseman said. "Rickey's amazing.
Just because you don't get it done once doesn't mean you can't get
it done. He's got three rings."
When Piniella managed the Yankees, he and Henderson had a stormy
relationship.
"He's not the youngster I had here 14-15 years ago," the
manager said, "but he can still play. He'll be invaluable teaching
players once his career is over. He's a funny guy. I've enjoyed
Rickey."
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