"There was only one Ricky Henderson in baseball," said Yankees boss George Steinbrenner...

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We all remember the first time we saw Ricky Henderson take off from first base blazing toward second with speed and grace that defied logic. He was so fast, you almost felt sorry for the catcher whose throw to second always seemed way too late. I never remember the green and yellow of the Oakland A’s look so amazing or the pinstripes of the Yankees seem so bold. You knew the man was special as Henderson personally redefined the role of leadoff hitter during his 25 seasons with nine teams in Major League Baseball. He exited the game as the sports all-time leader in steals (1,406) and runs scored (2,295). For Henderson’s efforts and the amazing memories he left us with, he was voted into the Hall of Fame on Monday in his first season of eligibility. It seemed like yesterday he was still defying logic and gravity while making catchers and infielders half his age look silly on the baseball diamond well into his 40s. Henderson finally shut it down in 2003. And befitting with the amazing speed he played, the Baseball Writers of America didn’t hesitate to elect him for enshrinement in Cooperstown by overwhelmingly voted him into the Hall of Fame. He made it in with 94.8 percent of the ballots in his favor, prompting some to question the sanity of the non-believer. That certainly wasn’t Henderson’s concern Monday. “I feel great about it,” said the 50-year-old Henderson to the New York media. “I love the game and I wanted to continue playing. It came to a time that I had to stop. It’s been five years and they chose me to go into the Hall of Fame. So I couldn’t be any more thrilled or pleased.” Henderson goes in with fellow left-fielder Jim Rice, who was on the opposite end of the spectrum facing his final year of eligibility for enshrinement. But be assured as great and inspirational as Rice was in his day, Henderson will stand alone on July 26. Do you remember a greater leadoff hitter or imagine there is one coming? “There was only one Ricky Henderson in baseball,” said Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. “He was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. I consider him a great friend with tremendous spirit and a true Yankee.”    

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