[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATING RICKEY HENDERSON

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Rickey Henderson on his induction into the National 
Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 2009. During a remarkable 25-year 
career, Rickey Henderson's keen batting eye and unique combination of 
speed and power earned him the recognition as one of the greatest 
leadoff hitters in the game's long and storied history.
  Born on Christmas day in 1958, Rickey Henderson and his family moved 
to Oakland, CA, when he was 2 years old. He was a standout athlete at 
Oakland Technical High School, where he excelled at basketball, 
baseball and football. Though his exploits on the gridiron as an All-
American running back earned him dozens of scholarship offers, Rickey 
chose to pursue a professional baseball career and follow his dream to 
don the green and gold of his hometown Oakland Athletics.
  Rickey Henderson made his major debut on June 24, 1979. Over the 
course of the next 25 seasons, he would compile one of the most 
impressive resumes in baseball history. In a game which defines 
greatness by statistics, Rickey Henderson's name can be found at or 
near the top of some of the more hallowed records in baseball history. 
The 10-time All Star retired as the all-time leader in career walks and 
holds the career records for runs scored and stolen bases as well as 
the single-season stolen base record. The 8 stolen bases that he 
amassed during his Most Valuable Player performance in the 1989 
American League Championship Series remains the record for most stolen 
bases in a single postseason series. A year after spearheading the 
Oakland A's 1989 World Series title, Rickey was named the American 
League Most Valuable Player in 1990.
  Rickey Henderson's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame 
will see him join Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson as a legend of the game 
who honed his skills and love for America's pastime during his 
formative years in Oakland. During three separate stints with his 
hometown team, Rickey established a bond with generations of loyal 
Oakland A's fans that remains as strong today as when Rickey stole 130 
bases in 1982. Speaking after his election into the Hall of Fame, he 
said that, ``in my eyes, I wanted to see the fans in Oakland enjoy the 
game as much as I enjoyed it . . . playing in front of friends and 
family there gave me a little bit more of a boost. It helped me out in 
my career, and I was proud to go out there and represent the Oakland 
area.'' Judging from his achievements on the field and his devotion to 
the fans, it is clear to see why Rickey Henderson is one of the most 
beloved sports figures in the bay area and a worthy exemplar of the 
rich history of major league baseball in Oakland.
  As his teammates and fans would attest, Rickey Henderson is a 
deserving inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Throughout 
his career in baseball, Rickey has consistently achieved excellence on 
the field and conducted himself with integrity and character off the 
field.
  I congratulate Rickey Henderson on his induction in the National 
Baseball Hall of Fame, and wish him continued success in his future 
endeavors.

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