7 minutes that explain the greatness of Rickey

Howard Bryant’s new Rickey Henderson biography provides amazing insight into the aura of Rickey. But there is one sequence in the book that defines Rickey as a player. In it, Bryant describes a particular series of events in the 1989 ALCS as a prime example of how disruptive Rickey was, and how he could singlehandedly turn a game around without ever putting bat on ball. It was the bottom of the fourth inning of Game Two, and a seven-minute clip of video is all one needs to watch to see the greatness of Rickey. 

Todd Stottlemyre was on the mound for Toronto with the Jays leading 1-0 in the game but trailing 1-0 in the series. Let’s break it down:

Pitch One: Curveball that Rickey takes for a ball. Bryant discusses at length in the book how difficult it was to pitch to Rickey because of the crouch he used. It drove pitchers crazy, as well as umpires.  

Pitch Two: Another breaking ball that Rickey takes for a ball. This one was almost definitely a strike but Rickey’s crouch, and likely his reputation, gives him the benefit of the doubt and home plate umpire Dan Morrison calls it a ball to run the count to 2-0. Color commentator Tony Kubek notes how Rickey’s crouch is even more exaggerated when he leads off an inning and it is definitely working for him here. 

What do you do here if you’re Stottlemyre? You’re in your second year in the big leagues pitching to a future Hall of Famer and you’re behind in the count 2-0 on two pitches that probably would have been called strikes to anyone else. Add to that the fact that if you walk Rickey he could be on third base in two pitches and you’re in trouble. 

Pitch Three:  Another breaking ball that Rickey takes for ball three. This one was definitely up and Rickey is in complete control of the at-bat. Up 3-0, he has the option of working a walk while simultaneously looking for a certain pitch in a certain area that he can drive. 

Pitch Four: Rickey takes a fastball on the outer half for strike one. 

Pitch Five: Rickey takes a fastball in for a called strike two and slowly looks back at Morrison. It’s obvious he thought it was ball four and he steps out of the box to emphasize his point. At the same time, Kubek is stating quoting Billy Martin as saying Rickey is the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. 

Pitch Six:  Rickey takes a fastball up for ball four. Not content to just take his walk, he stares at Stottlemyre all the way to first base. Stottlemyre appears not to notice at first, but once he does, his eyes follow Rickey to the first base bag. Again, you’re a second-year player and you just walked Rickey Henderson to lead off the inning of a playoff game. Trailing in the series, it’s a game you have to have. You know he’s going to steal and he just stared you down in an attempt to intimidate you. What is your next move? 

The walk to Rickey brings up Carney Lansford. In Game One, Lansford hit what appeared to be an inning-ending double play grounder to Tony Fernandez at shortstop in the sixth inning. But Rickey’s takeout slide forced an errant throw from Toronto second baseman Nelson Liriano which allowed the eventual game-winning run to score. 

While this is happening, viewers at home are listening to NBC’s Bob Costas ticking off Rickey’s accomplishments. He has averaged more runs per game than any active player and scored more runs than anyone in the decade. A threat to go on any pitch, Rickey takes his lead off first base. 

Pitch One to Lansford: A breaking ball outside for ball one and Rickey stays put. NBC cuts to an angle from high third base that shows both Stottlemyre and Rickey and Stottlemyre makes a token pickoff attempt. Rickey gets back easily. 

Kubek begins to discuss the technical part of Rickey Henderson’s ability to steal bases… how he times pitchers to pick the best spot in which to run.  Stottlemyre makes another pickoff attempt, this one more serious but, again, Rickey is back easily. He throws over again, this one another “keep ’em honest” throw. 

Pitch Two: NBC cuts to a low angle from first base that shows Rickey and Stottlemyre before cutting to the center field camera as Stottlemyre delivers. 

Rickey is off with the pitch and slides safely headfirst into second. Kubek notes that Stottlemyre didn’t vary his delivery which allowed Rickey to time him and take off. The NBC camera shows a tight shot of Toronto catcher Ernie Whit and, while you can’t see his face, his frustration is evident. 

“Ernie Whitt had no chance,” says Kubek. “Now (he) might be even more dangerous.” 

Pitch Three: A fastball on the outer half and Lansford hits a line drive foul down the first base line to make the count 1-2.  Stottlemyre is ahead in the count but he also needs to consider how to pitch to Lansford with Rickey on base. Throwing him fastballs will make it easier for Whitt to throw out Rickey if he takes off for third, but Lansford already has a batting title under his belt and hit .336 in 1989 so he’s dangerous as well. 

Stottlemyre wheels and throws to Fernandez at second base in another pickoff attempt but Rickey is back safely. 

Pitch Four: Stottlemyre comes to a set position and goes home quickly. In fact, had he gone a tick faster it may have been a balk. No matter, Rickey is off with the pitch but Lansford hits another foul ball down the right field line. 

Again, the Rickey factor is on full display here. Fernandez comes to the mound to talk to his young pitcher and Whitt takes a few steps out to the mound to say something as well, none of which takes place with the bases empty. But when Rickey Henderson is on base you have to change the way you do things or he will kill you.  

Pitch Five: Rickey has Stottlemyre’s timing down and as soon as he moves Rickey is off for third. Whitt’s throw is late and Rickey is safe. 

There have been eleven pitches in the inning thus far and Rickey has drawn a walk, stolen two bases, and induced four attempted pickoff throws. Now he is on third base with no one out and one of the game’s best hitters at the plate and Toronto pulls the infield in to potentially cut down Rickey at the plate if Lansford hits a ground ball in the infield.  

On top of that, Stottlemyre may not have the option of trying to get Lansford to strike out by burying a curveball in the dirt. If the ball gets past Whitt, Rickey scores easily.    

Pitch Six: A low breaking ball on the outer half that Lansford gets to and hits a soft line drive over the head of a drawn-in Fernadez at shortstop and into left field for an RBI single to tie the game. 

In the span of twelve pitches over seven minutes, Rickey Henderson demonstrates why he is one of the game’s best players and why he would become the best leadoff hitter in the history of baseball. 

Oakland would go on to win the ALCS and sweep San Francisco in the World Series. Rickey would win another ring four years later, this time as a member of the Blue Jays. 

Watch the entire sequence here.