Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, December 23rd, 2024
On the morning of Saturday, December 21st, there were unconfirmed rumors that were confirmed by the early afternoon. The baseball world had lost a true titan of the game far too young: Ricky Nelson Henley Henderson—the “Man of Steal”—had passed away at the age of 65.
Henderson was unequivocally the single greatest base thief of all time, a master of his craft. Henderson holds baseball’s career stolen base record at 1,406, which is 468 steals more than the next man up. He also holds three of the league’s highest single-season steal totals, including the top spot in the modern era after stealing 130 bases with the Oakland Athletics in 1982.
Rickey Henderson was a 10-time All-Star and 12-time American League stolen base leader over an astonishing 25-year long career. His career stolen bases mark is considered one of baseball’s “unbreakable” records alongside Henry Aaron’s 6,856 total bases and Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts.
Henderson’s passing at the age of 65 is indeed far too young, but what makes it feel even more strange is that this true legend of the game was still playing not very long ago. Despite making his major league debut in 1979, he played multiple games against the league’s four most recent expansion teams in the Tampa Bay Rays (then the Devil Rays), the Miami Marlins (then of Florida), the Arizona Diamondbacks, and our very own Colorado Rockies.
Not only did Henderson play 53 games against the Rockies in their first decade of existence—hitting .264/.385/.354 with 11 doubles, a triple, one home run, and 17 stolen bases—but the Rockies played a pivotal role in achievements made during the waning days of his storied career.
On October 7th, 2001, the Rockies played the San Diego Padres for the final game of the 2001 regular season in a game that had been rescheduled from mid-September. It was the final game of another late and great player, Tony Gwynn.
Despite both teams polishing off losing seasons, the stands of San Diego Stadium—then known as Qualcomm Stadium—were packed 60,103 strong to watch Gwynn’s final game and to see the 42-year-old Rickey Henderson attempt to reach a career milestone only accomplished by 24 players before him. Henderson was originally hesitant to play, not wanting to take attention away from Gwynn. However, Gwynn insisted.
Batting in the leadoff spot, Henderson waited for Rockies starter John Thomson’s first pitch. He made contact and deposited the ball in the outfield between first baseman Todd Helton, second baseman Terry Shumpert, and right fielder Mario Encarnación for a double.
One at-bat. One pitch. 3,000th hit. Henderson left the game after third baseman Phil Nevin drove him in on a single.
Fast-forward to 2003.
Henderson was now 44-years-old and for the first time in his very long career he was not on an Opening Day 25-man roster. He wasn’t ready to retire. He didn’t want to retire. He signed with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League and bided his time until the Los Angeles Dodgers called.
Henderson only appeared in 30 games that season, and somehow managed a positive WAR despite hitting .208/.321/.306 in 72 at-bats.
On August 29th, the Dodgers kicked off a three-game set against the Rockies at Chavez Ravine. The Rockies lineup consisted of Todd Helton, Larry Walker, and some other names you might not remember. For the Dodgers, Rickey Henderson was in left field and hitting second in the order behind future manager Dave Roberts.
In the bottom of the third inning with one out, Henderson laced a line drive single to center fielder Preston Wilson. Henderson took a moderate lead off at first base, and bolted just before Rockies starting pitcher Cory Vance started the pickoff move. First baseman Todd Helton made the throw to shortstop Pablo Ozuna at the keystone.
The 44-year-old Rickey Henderson dove for second and swam under the tag.
Unbeknownst to all, that would be the final stolen base of his career: his 1,406th stolen base and the final tick on an already unbreakable record.
Rickey Henderson wasn’t the only Hall of Famer to play against the Rockies, and he certainly won’t be the last. However, his accomplishments coming against the Rockies in the early days of our fledgling franchise seem extra special following his passing.
Although the Rockies are struggling right now—and are likely to continue doing so for the near future—the passing of such a special player far too soon should serve as a reminder. Cherish these types of moments while possible—either from Rockies players themselves or those that face off against them—and let them live on forever like Rickey Henderson’s special place in Colorado Rockies history.
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Prospect stats of the year — each team’s best of 2024 | MLB.com
Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline look at each team’s top prospect and the top stats to go along with them. For the Rockies, left-handed pitcher Sean Sullivan (no. 7 PuRP) led all minor league pitchers (minimum 100 innings) with a 1.17 BB/9 rate while also striking out 8.33 hitters for every walk issued.
Rox exec guides kids on MLB career paths | MLB.com
Rockies vice president and assistant general manager of scouting Danny Montgomery used to have a big league dream of his own. In this excerpt from Thomas Harding’s newsletter, he discusses how that dream changed and how he is teaching today’s youth of the possibilities outside of playing that can keep them around the sport they love.
“I was always helping my teammates and watching those guys make it to the big leagues. They are still my friends today. And as I speak, I tell people, ‘You can be like me. Or you can be a scout, a photographer, a journalist.’ There are so many avenues that sometimes kids, especially kids of minority representation, don’t understand. My whole thing has been always trying to have inclusion as a part of who I am as a person. It means a lot to me when other people lean in that direction.”
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