Rickey’s 1990 MVP Season!!!

Rickey’s 1990 MVP Season!!!

Rickey Henderson is the kind of player that can challenge for the MVP crown during each season that he plays.  His ability to separate himself from the rest of the league gave him constant respect from the voters.

It was no surprise that Rickey won the American League MVP award in 1990 – it’s just kind of surprising that it was his only one!!

In 1990, Henderson was the key that ignited the mighty Oakland A’s offense.  During that year, Rickey batted .325 and had an on-base percentage of .439.  He collected 159 hits, scored 119 runs, stole 65 bases ans smacked 28 home runs.  And in 594 plate appearances, Rickey struck out just 60 times.

Henderson’s 1990 campaign also included an All-star selection, a Silver Slugger award, and a trip to the World Series!!

Rickey Started Games With A BANG!!!

Rickey Started Games With A BANG!!!

Rickey Henderson started a game with a home run 81 times – another major league record!!

Leading this category but quite a large margin, the lead-off home run is just another way to separate Rickey from his peers.  Always physically ready and mentally prepared to take over, Rickey crushed 81 pitchers dreams before they were able to record a single out!!!

Truly remarkable!!

Rickey Henderson Scored Like Noone Else…

Rickey Henderson Scored Like Noone Else…

Scoring runs is what you want your lead-off hitter to do.  So why not do it better than anyone ever has before you?

For 25 major league seasons, Rickey Henderson batted lead-off.  He got on base in record numbers, which led to scoring a ton of runs.

While leading the league in runs scored just 5 times, it was Rickey’s consistency that landed him as the game’s all-time leader for runs scored.  Henderson accumulated 13 seasons in which he scored 100 or more runs.  And in total, he scored 2,295 times which is slightly above Ty Cobb who sits in second place. 

Bottom Line – When Rickey got on base he was a threat to score each and every time!!

Rickey Henderson Is A 10-time All-Star

Rickey Henderson Is A 10-time All-Star

Henderson tallied 10 All-Star team selections during his 25-year career.

All of his appearances on the All-star team came during his first 13 years in the league.  6 of his selections came from his playing days in Oakland while the other 4 were from his seasons with the Yankees.

All-star nominations and selections for Henderson were natural.  He was a dominant player that had the rare ability to change the game in many ways.  Whether it was with his bat, or his feet, or his glove, Rickey Henderson was one of the greatest players during the 1980′s and his appearance on 8 of the 10 All-star teams in that decade confirms his status as an elite player!

Run Rickey Run!!!

Run Rickey Run!!!

Obviously, Rickey Henderson was a very skilled baseball player.  But if there was one dominant trait that made Henderson stand head and shoulders above his teammates and peers, it was his base running.

Rickey ran the bases like no other.  Quite literally, he was the best base stealer and run scoring player of all-time.

In his 25-season big league career, Rickey stole 1,406 bases and scored 2,295 runs.  Each tally gives him sole possession of first place in baseball history. 

Personally, I don’t think either of these records will ever be contested.  Gone are the days of the 80 steals a year player, and if a player in today’s game could score 100 or more runs in 22 straight seasons, I would be shocked!

Rickey Henderson is one-of-a-kind!!

Happy Birthday Rickey Henderson!!!

A majority of the world is celebrating a special holiday today.  And in the ’30-YOC’ household we join in that celebration too!!

But I also save a few minutes of every Christmas to celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite baseball players from my youth – Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

And following suit, I will dedicate a day’s worth of posts to the newest player to be enshrined at Cooperstown!

Happy Birthday Rickey!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I just wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!

Whatever you decide to do today, enjoy it to the fullest.  On this special holiday, spend it with people you love, eat great food, and if you can sneak away for two hours, watch one of the greatest movies of all-time!!!

Those are my plans…

Tom Seaver 2011 Topps Lineage

Tom Seaver 2011 Topps Lineage

OK, let’s get right down to it…

When I think of Tom Seaver, the first thing I think is ‘What could have been’…

I am in no way downplaying Seaver’s marvelous career which was littered with awards, accolades, winning, and Hall of Fame enshrinement.

What I am referring to is that Tom Seaver joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.  So, what I mean when I say ‘What could have been’, I am referring to my question of Tom Seaver joining the Reds just a little too late to be part of the ‘Big Red Machine’.

The 2011 Topps Lineage card of Seaver captures him nicely in his Reds’ uniform.

And I am loving that logo in the lower-left corner!!!

Bo Jackson 1988 Topps

Bo Jackson 1988 Topps

I cannot recall what blog it was, but well over a year ago this card was awarded the ‘Top Card From The 1988 Topps Set’.  The blogger in chagre held a poll and let the readers whittle the set down to the final card.

To my surprise, it was the Bo Jackson card that rose to the top.

Here is that card:

Now, I don’t know about you, but this is not a top choice of mine.  Too much Blue for my liking – I cannot say that I cast a single vote for this one…

Sorry Bo.

Did You Know…

Tony Oliva won batting titles in each of his first twi full seasons in the major leagues.  In his first full-season campaign in 1964, Oliva hit .323.  He followed that up in his sophomore campaign in 1965 when he hit .321.  He won one more batting title in 1971, his 3rd, when he hit .337.