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Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original
“Seldom does a sports biography—especially a page-turner—so comprehensively explain the forces that made an icon the way they are.” – Sports Illustrated
From the author of The Last A Life of Henry Aaron comes the definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball’s epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer who also stole America’s heart over nearly five electric decades in the game.
Few names in the history of baseball evoke the excellence and dynamism that Rickey Henderson’s does. He holds the record for the most stolen bases in a single game, and he’s scored more runs than any player ever. “If you cut Rickey Henderson in half, you’d have two Hall of Famers,” the baseball historian Bill James once said.
But perhaps even more than his prowess on the field, Rickey Henderson’s is a story of Oakland, California, the town that gave rise to so many legendary athletes like him. And it’s a story of a sea change in sports, when athletes gained celebrity status and Black players finally earned equitable salaries. Henderson embraced this shift with his trademark style, playing for nine different teams throughout his decades-long career and sculpting a brash, larger-than-life persona that stole the nation’s heart. Now, in the hands of critically acclaimed sportswriter and culture critic Howard Bryant, one of baseball’s greatest and most original stars finally gets his due.
From the author of The Last A Life of Henry Aaron comes the definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball’s epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer who also stole America’s heart over nearly five electric decades in the game.
Few names in the history of baseball evoke the excellence and dynamism that Rickey Henderson’s does. He holds the record for the most stolen bases in a single game, and he’s scored more runs than any player ever. “If you cut Rickey Henderson in half, you’d have two Hall of Famers,” the baseball historian Bill James once said.
But perhaps even more than his prowess on the field, Rickey Henderson’s is a story of Oakland, California, the town that gave rise to so many legendary athletes like him. And it’s a story of a sea change in sports, when athletes gained celebrity status and Black players finally earned equitable salaries. Henderson embraced this shift with his trademark style, playing for nine different teams throughout his decades-long career and sculpting a brash, larger-than-life persona that stole the nation’s heart. Now, in the hands of critically acclaimed sportswriter and culture critic Howard Bryant, one of baseball’s greatest and most original stars finally gets his due.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2022
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January 13, 2023
How great was Rickey Henderson?
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) isn’t the end-all-be-all of player evaluation, but it is a pretty good summary metric, so let’s have some fun with it. Rickey Henderson is 19th all-time in WAR according to Baseball Reference. But let’s look at players who are closer to his generation. Rickey Henderson was born in 1958. Of players born before him, you’d have to go all the way back to Willie Mays (born in 1931) to find a player with higher WAR. Mays was #1 in Joe Posnanski’s list of the Greatest Players of All Time, from The Baseball 100, which you should read if you want a fun book about baseball’s greatest players.
Of the players born after him, there are only 3 players with higher WAR: Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez. Bonds is another strong candidate for GOAT, if you are more dovish on dinging players for steroid use and more inclined to recognize the stronger competition modern players compete against. Ditto for Roger Clemens being a contender for “Greatest Pitcher of All Time”. So that’s pretty select company.
So, that leaves just 4 players with a higher career WAR than Rickey in the post-integration era.
And if you are more unforgiving of steroid users, you might appreciate this framing: Rickey Henderson has the highest career WAR of any player since Willie Mays whose career is not tainted by steroid use. I don’t think there are many that appreciate Rickey Henderson as being in this caliber of greatness.
Anyways, about the book
It was excellent. I really enjoyed it. Not just for the Rickey stories, but for the color it gave to the crazy places Rickey found himself in. In Oakland where he grew up, there was an incredible level of talent and competition amongst black athletes. Many of Rickey’s contemporaries made it to the majors or the highest levels of football and basketball.
When he made it to the majors, he played under Billy Martin. There are a lot of fun Billy Martin stories. Then he was traded to the Yankees and had his Bronx Zoo years, including two different reunions with Billy. Then he was traded back to the A’s and played during the Bash Brothers era. He was traded to Toronto and won a World Series. I loved all the crazy stories of these times, both about Rickey himself and his colorful teammates.
The book focuses primarily on Rickey’s life in baseball and is light on his personal life outside of baseball. This is what I was primarily interested in, so I didn’t mind, but I did leave the book feeling like I didn’t get a complete picture of what he was like as a person. I wouldn’t have minded a little more personal background.
Defending Rickey
The book talks a lot about the criticism Rickey used to get. He was sometimes viewed as selfish, as a show-off (“hot-dog” was the term of the day), and as someone who would beg out of games even when he was healthy enough to play. I think the author discusses these criticisms with fairness and nuance.
There was a grain of truth to these criticisms. Rickey was self-absorbed and narcissistic. He didn’t always perform the rituals players are supposed to: being sad and angry when his team loses, or expressing humility, or being nice to the media, or ingratiating himself with his teammates (in fact, he didn’t even bother to learn their names).
He complained about his pay often. Sometimes he had a strong case, but sometimes he was unreasonable, like when he did this after signing a long-term contract. He signed the long-term contract because he prioritized security over potential higher earnings. But salaries sky-rocketed and Rickey saw players not as great as him make more money. Ricky said “if they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego”. That’s threatening to welch on a deal he made (and needlessly insulting a teammate in the process).
But for the most part, this stuff was harmless. Rickey was also extremely driven and goal-oriented (when he was in High School, he told a scout his goal was to become “the greatest base stealer of all time”, which he achieved by the time he was 30), and to some extent this self-absorption is just the flip side of the same coin that drove him to greatness. It seems more constructive to remember him for what he gave to the fans and his teams, and not nitpick him for what he lacked.
For instance, we can remember him for his performance in the 1989 ALCS, when he single-handedly destroyed Toronto by constantly getting on base, wreaking havoc on the bases, and hitting a couple dingers.
The criticisms of Rickey being a show-off or begging out of games is even less substantive. As for showing off, it’s not clear what the harm is since it didn’t hurt his performance. It gave the fans some extra excitement and was never intended to insult his opponents (though to be fair it was sometime received as an insult). You can consider Rickey a pioneer of the more recent style of play, where players are encouraged to show emotion and celebrate, and “unwritten rules” about showing humility are going out of style. As for begging off games, no one knows Rickey’s body better than Rickey. It’s doubtful that him playing more often with injuries would have helped his teams. Teams are now more cognizant of the benefits of players being well rested, so if he played in today’s game he probably would have been given even more time off to rest from his injuries.
The author notes how some of the Rickey criticisms are more indicative of racial stereotypes than anything that has factual basis about Rickey’s actions. The same is true for some supposed “appreciation” of Rickey, that make him seem clownish and silly, like over-emphasizing how he spoke of himself in the 3rd person.
Celebrating Rickey
I don’t want to end this by just talking about criticisms of Rickey, even if it’s to say most of it was unfair. The book also showed why Rickey was awesome. In 1980, his first full season, he stole 100 bases – only the 3rd player to do that at the time. In 1981, he finished 2nd in the MVP vote and might have deserved 1st place. In 1982, he set the single season steals record. In 1985, he had perhaps his best season, with 24 home runs, 80 steals, and a .314/.419/.516 slash line (but again narrowly missed MVP in a season he might have deserved it). He led the league in steals his first 7 seasons, plus 5 other seasons. I already mentioned how he destroyed the Blue Jays in the 1989 ALCS, but the following year he finally won his MVP, with an incredible season. Even the later years were fun, as he played for lots of different teams, still being a valuable player into his 40’s.
Go watch some Youtube videos of Rickey highlights, it might brighten your day a little.
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) isn’t the end-all-be-all of player evaluation, but it is a pretty good summary metric, so let’s have some fun with it. Rickey Henderson is 19th all-time in WAR according to Baseball Reference. But let’s look at players who are closer to his generation. Rickey Henderson was born in 1958. Of players born before him, you’d have to go all the way back to Willie Mays (born in 1931) to find a player with higher WAR. Mays was #1 in Joe Posnanski’s list of the Greatest Players of All Time, from The Baseball 100, which you should read if you want a fun book about baseball’s greatest players.
Of the players born after him, there are only 3 players with higher WAR: Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez. Bonds is another strong candidate for GOAT, if you are more dovish on dinging players for steroid use and more inclined to recognize the stronger competition modern players compete against. Ditto for Roger Clemens being a contender for “Greatest Pitcher of All Time”. So that’s pretty select company.
So, that leaves just 4 players with a higher career WAR than Rickey in the post-integration era.
And if you are more unforgiving of steroid users, you might appreciate this framing: Rickey Henderson has the highest career WAR of any player since Willie Mays whose career is not tainted by steroid use. I don’t think there are many that appreciate Rickey Henderson as being in this caliber of greatness.
Anyways, about the book
It was excellent. I really enjoyed it. Not just for the Rickey stories, but for the color it gave to the crazy places Rickey found himself in. In Oakland where he grew up, there was an incredible level of talent and competition amongst black athletes. Many of Rickey’s contemporaries made it to the majors or the highest levels of football and basketball.
When he made it to the majors, he played under Billy Martin. There are a lot of fun Billy Martin stories. Then he was traded to the Yankees and had his Bronx Zoo years, including two different reunions with Billy. Then he was traded back to the A’s and played during the Bash Brothers era. He was traded to Toronto and won a World Series. I loved all the crazy stories of these times, both about Rickey himself and his colorful teammates.
The book focuses primarily on Rickey’s life in baseball and is light on his personal life outside of baseball. This is what I was primarily interested in, so I didn’t mind, but I did leave the book feeling like I didn’t get a complete picture of what he was like as a person. I wouldn’t have minded a little more personal background.
Defending Rickey
The book talks a lot about the criticism Rickey used to get. He was sometimes viewed as selfish, as a show-off (“hot-dog” was the term of the day), and as someone who would beg out of games even when he was healthy enough to play. I think the author discusses these criticisms with fairness and nuance.
There was a grain of truth to these criticisms. Rickey was self-absorbed and narcissistic. He didn’t always perform the rituals players are supposed to: being sad and angry when his team loses, or expressing humility, or being nice to the media, or ingratiating himself with his teammates (in fact, he didn’t even bother to learn their names).
He complained about his pay often. Sometimes he had a strong case, but sometimes he was unreasonable, like when he did this after signing a long-term contract. He signed the long-term contract because he prioritized security over potential higher earnings. But salaries sky-rocketed and Rickey saw players not as great as him make more money. Ricky said “if they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego”. That’s threatening to welch on a deal he made (and needlessly insulting a teammate in the process).
But for the most part, this stuff was harmless. Rickey was also extremely driven and goal-oriented (when he was in High School, he told a scout his goal was to become “the greatest base stealer of all time”, which he achieved by the time he was 30), and to some extent this self-absorption is just the flip side of the same coin that drove him to greatness. It seems more constructive to remember him for what he gave to the fans and his teams, and not nitpick him for what he lacked.
For instance, we can remember him for his performance in the 1989 ALCS, when he single-handedly destroyed Toronto by constantly getting on base, wreaking havoc on the bases, and hitting a couple dingers.
The criticisms of Rickey being a show-off or begging out of games is even less substantive. As for showing off, it’s not clear what the harm is since it didn’t hurt his performance. It gave the fans some extra excitement and was never intended to insult his opponents (though to be fair it was sometime received as an insult). You can consider Rickey a pioneer of the more recent style of play, where players are encouraged to show emotion and celebrate, and “unwritten rules” about showing humility are going out of style. As for begging off games, no one knows Rickey’s body better than Rickey. It’s doubtful that him playing more often with injuries would have helped his teams. Teams are now more cognizant of the benefits of players being well rested, so if he played in today’s game he probably would have been given even more time off to rest from his injuries.
The author notes how some of the Rickey criticisms are more indicative of racial stereotypes than anything that has factual basis about Rickey’s actions. The same is true for some supposed “appreciation” of Rickey, that make him seem clownish and silly, like over-emphasizing how he spoke of himself in the 3rd person.
Celebrating Rickey
I don’t want to end this by just talking about criticisms of Rickey, even if it’s to say most of it was unfair. The book also showed why Rickey was awesome. In 1980, his first full season, he stole 100 bases – only the 3rd player to do that at the time. In 1981, he finished 2nd in the MVP vote and might have deserved 1st place. In 1982, he set the single season steals record. In 1985, he had perhaps his best season, with 24 home runs, 80 steals, and a .314/.419/.516 slash line (but again narrowly missed MVP in a season he might have deserved it). He led the league in steals his first 7 seasons, plus 5 other seasons. I already mentioned how he destroyed the Blue Jays in the 1989 ALCS, but the following year he finally won his MVP, with an incredible season. Even the later years were fun, as he played for lots of different teams, still being a valuable player into his 40’s.
Go watch some Youtube videos of Rickey highlights, it might brighten your day a little.
October 25, 2024
A wonderful book about a true sports legend. Rickey Henderson was a first-ballot hall of famer. Yet he's actually underrated. His ability to get on base and disrupt the game has never been rivaled.
In baseball, Wins Above Replacement is a key statistic which shows the full value of a player. Rickey is 19th all time. All the players above him either came from a different era or were caught doing steroids.
And, of course, Rickey's personality was just as legendary as his game. The book captures this exquisitely.
As an Oakland A's fan it's hard to think about Rickey's heroics in Oakland given the team is now leaving for Las Vegas. They way i look at it, this season the A's didn’t just play their last baseball game in Oakland. They played their last baseball game—period.
The group of players that go play in Las Vegas won't be the A's. That might be what the name on the jersey says. That might be how the box score reads. And that might be what the owner John Fisher wants to have happen. But Mr. Fisher only owns the right to the logo. The soul of the A's belongs to Oakland.
It belongs to the people who've rooted for Rickey and the A's their whole lives. It belongs to the fans.
It belongs to us.
Mr. Fisher gets to keep the logo. It's his. But the A's will always belong to Oakland.
In baseball, Wins Above Replacement is a key statistic which shows the full value of a player. Rickey is 19th all time. All the players above him either came from a different era or were caught doing steroids.
And, of course, Rickey's personality was just as legendary as his game. The book captures this exquisitely.
As an Oakland A's fan it's hard to think about Rickey's heroics in Oakland given the team is now leaving for Las Vegas. They way i look at it, this season the A's didn’t just play their last baseball game in Oakland. They played their last baseball game—period.
The group of players that go play in Las Vegas won't be the A's. That might be what the name on the jersey says. That might be how the box score reads. And that might be what the owner John Fisher wants to have happen. But Mr. Fisher only owns the right to the logo. The soul of the A's belongs to Oakland.
It belongs to the people who've rooted for Rickey and the A's their whole lives. It belongs to the fans.
It belongs to us.
Mr. Fisher gets to keep the logo. It's his. But the A's will always belong to Oakland.
July 6, 2023
The midpoint of the baseball season is fast approaching and as usual I just want to eat, drink, and breathe baseball. Lately, I have been on a reading roll, and, while I would love to say that I have been reading a variety of books, it’s either mysteries or baseball and other sports related books that I have been inhaling like they are water. It is to the point that I am running out of baseball books to read at the library so branching out to other genres is only a matter of time until it isn’t. The first genre that I loved to read was biography and there is no shortage of biographies of baseball players, so it’s time for me to catch up. That is how I found myself reading about hall of fame hall player Rickey Henderson written by the esteemed Howard Bryant.
Howard Bryant is the noted biographer of Hank Aaron, which I have admittedly not read yet. His books are well researched and read more like a historical exploration than a straight biography, as I have found out when I have read some of his articles online. The one that stood out was about the time Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and a third player who never made it tried out with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox conducted the tryout for show only because during the 1940s they had no desire to sign any African American players; the Red Sox, as Bryant poignantly explains, were the last team to integrate. It was during this national environment that many African American families from the gulf coast region joined the Second Great migration west to California. California represented a tabula rasa, the final frontier, and a life that had to be better than the one left behind in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. By the time Rickey Henderson was born on Christmas Day, 1958, the city of Oakland had become a center of African American life that many families sought to join. By the time Rickey turned ten, his mother Bobbie moved the family west at the tail end of the great migration. Rickey would grow up in an Oakland that already had the reputation of being a pipeline of talent straight to the major leagues. It was only a matter of time before Rickey would let his name be known.
Due to de facto segregation, Rickey Henderson grew up in primarily African American West Oakland. Everyone who was everyone hung out at and grew up at Bushrod Park and then attended Oakland Tech High School. Rickey joined Fred Atkins as the two best athletes in the neighborhood, joining a pipeline that included Frank Robinson and Joe Morgan and all time basketball great Bill Russell. Also joining the boys was Lloyd Moseby who would be drafted by the Blue Jays the year Rickey got drafted by the As. West and North Oakland was a neighborhood full of African American flair, and the local boys would show it as they attempted to get an edge. Rickey and Fred had connections and would hang out at the Oakland Coliseum when the A’s were the best team in baseball. Boys from the neighborhood, the Burrell brothers, would get the boys gear from the A’s and even got then meetings with Reggie Jackson. Rickey wanted to be a Raider and Atkins an A. They played each other’s sport to keep each other company. Rickey’s mom wanted him to play baseball because it was safer or he could have been Bo Jackson before Bo Jackson. Rickey listened to his mom and got drafted by the As; he would be staying home.
Prior to joining the As in between championship windows, Rickey started his minor league career in Modesto under the tutelage of Tom Treblehorn. Treblehorn worked with Rickey to mold him into the base stealer that he would become. Living in California he had the support of his mother and girlfriend Pamela who would later become his wife of many years. It was Treblehorn who first gave Rickey the idea that he could be the best base stealer of all time. When he joined the As mid season 1979 Rickey learned from a manager who was a walking powder keg but also his best manager for his entire career, Billy Martin. Rickey thrived under Martin and broke the all time steals record for a season in his first complete season, 130 steals in 1980. The media, which Bryant portrays as for the most part anti Rickey, viewed him as selfish because the 1980 As were not in a pennant race. Rickey wanted to help his team, and he thought the best way was walk, steal, steal, come home on a sacrifice fly: a Rickey run. Being poorly educated and not articulate from West Oakland rubbed the white establishment reporters the wrong way. From that first year, the media would characterize Rickey as a me first player, and the belief would hold for most of his career.
Bryant follows Rickey down the path of his career: Oakland to New York and back to Oakland, Toronto and Oakland for a third time, and nine teams total over the course of a twenty five year career. His career mirrored that of Tim Raines as a speedster and Tony Gwynn as having a selective batting eye. While he may be known for his Rickeyisms and poor choice of words after breaking Lou Brock’s steals record, teammates note that Rickey was a gamer. He was a great teammate; he took young teammates under his wing and helped guide them early in their career. The white media saw him as a whiner who took days off because Rickey understand load management before it became popular. Pacing himself he player for a quarter century and still broke Brock’s steals record at age 32 while helping the A’s win the World Series in 1989 alongside his childhood buddy Dave Stewart. One can say that the that 1989 team was Oakland’s crowning moment because it allowed local kids to dream that maybe they could make it to the As one day.
Rickey Henderson has not played in the majors in twenty years but he does attend spring training as an instructor. The field in Oakland is named for him, but the As most likely will be moving to Las Vegas in the next year or two. The pipeline to the majors has all but dried up with most local kids opting for basketball or football. Rickey is still king even though he has chosen to remain guarded in his life after baseball. While he might have been misunderstood while playing, Bryant has through interviews with Rickey, Pamela, and their friends and colleagues gone a long way to dispel many of these myths, although the flair and Rickeyisms are still prevalent. I can now say I have read one of Bryant’s biographies that are an exploration of race and culture. I have a feeling it will not be the last one.
4 stars
Howard Bryant is the noted biographer of Hank Aaron, which I have admittedly not read yet. His books are well researched and read more like a historical exploration than a straight biography, as I have found out when I have read some of his articles online. The one that stood out was about the time Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and a third player who never made it tried out with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox conducted the tryout for show only because during the 1940s they had no desire to sign any African American players; the Red Sox, as Bryant poignantly explains, were the last team to integrate. It was during this national environment that many African American families from the gulf coast region joined the Second Great migration west to California. California represented a tabula rasa, the final frontier, and a life that had to be better than the one left behind in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. By the time Rickey Henderson was born on Christmas Day, 1958, the city of Oakland had become a center of African American life that many families sought to join. By the time Rickey turned ten, his mother Bobbie moved the family west at the tail end of the great migration. Rickey would grow up in an Oakland that already had the reputation of being a pipeline of talent straight to the major leagues. It was only a matter of time before Rickey would let his name be known.
Due to de facto segregation, Rickey Henderson grew up in primarily African American West Oakland. Everyone who was everyone hung out at and grew up at Bushrod Park and then attended Oakland Tech High School. Rickey joined Fred Atkins as the two best athletes in the neighborhood, joining a pipeline that included Frank Robinson and Joe Morgan and all time basketball great Bill Russell. Also joining the boys was Lloyd Moseby who would be drafted by the Blue Jays the year Rickey got drafted by the As. West and North Oakland was a neighborhood full of African American flair, and the local boys would show it as they attempted to get an edge. Rickey and Fred had connections and would hang out at the Oakland Coliseum when the A’s were the best team in baseball. Boys from the neighborhood, the Burrell brothers, would get the boys gear from the A’s and even got then meetings with Reggie Jackson. Rickey wanted to be a Raider and Atkins an A. They played each other’s sport to keep each other company. Rickey’s mom wanted him to play baseball because it was safer or he could have been Bo Jackson before Bo Jackson. Rickey listened to his mom and got drafted by the As; he would be staying home.
Prior to joining the As in between championship windows, Rickey started his minor league career in Modesto under the tutelage of Tom Treblehorn. Treblehorn worked with Rickey to mold him into the base stealer that he would become. Living in California he had the support of his mother and girlfriend Pamela who would later become his wife of many years. It was Treblehorn who first gave Rickey the idea that he could be the best base stealer of all time. When he joined the As mid season 1979 Rickey learned from a manager who was a walking powder keg but also his best manager for his entire career, Billy Martin. Rickey thrived under Martin and broke the all time steals record for a season in his first complete season, 130 steals in 1980. The media, which Bryant portrays as for the most part anti Rickey, viewed him as selfish because the 1980 As were not in a pennant race. Rickey wanted to help his team, and he thought the best way was walk, steal, steal, come home on a sacrifice fly: a Rickey run. Being poorly educated and not articulate from West Oakland rubbed the white establishment reporters the wrong way. From that first year, the media would characterize Rickey as a me first player, and the belief would hold for most of his career.
Bryant follows Rickey down the path of his career: Oakland to New York and back to Oakland, Toronto and Oakland for a third time, and nine teams total over the course of a twenty five year career. His career mirrored that of Tim Raines as a speedster and Tony Gwynn as having a selective batting eye. While he may be known for his Rickeyisms and poor choice of words after breaking Lou Brock’s steals record, teammates note that Rickey was a gamer. He was a great teammate; he took young teammates under his wing and helped guide them early in their career. The white media saw him as a whiner who took days off because Rickey understand load management before it became popular. Pacing himself he player for a quarter century and still broke Brock’s steals record at age 32 while helping the A’s win the World Series in 1989 alongside his childhood buddy Dave Stewart. One can say that the that 1989 team was Oakland’s crowning moment because it allowed local kids to dream that maybe they could make it to the As one day.
Rickey Henderson has not played in the majors in twenty years but he does attend spring training as an instructor. The field in Oakland is named for him, but the As most likely will be moving to Las Vegas in the next year or two. The pipeline to the majors has all but dried up with most local kids opting for basketball or football. Rickey is still king even though he has chosen to remain guarded in his life after baseball. While he might have been misunderstood while playing, Bryant has through interviews with Rickey, Pamela, and their friends and colleagues gone a long way to dispel many of these myths, although the flair and Rickeyisms are still prevalent. I can now say I have read one of Bryant’s biographies that are an exploration of race and culture. I have a feeling it will not be the last one.
4 stars
June 23, 2022
I usually like to read baseball books during the winter offseason to tide me over until spring training begins. But I went ahead and read this book. Rickey (yes, spelled with an "e") probably ranks as the best leadoff hitter in baseball history. This earnest, sympathetic, and funny biography looks at the all-time stole-base leader. I recognized many of the ballplayers' names who are mentioned. Rickey loved controversial Manager Billy Martin, which I'd forgotten. Rickey had his share of warts as the book shows, but don't we all? He was immense fun to watch play baseball, and I admired his prodigious talent. From what I've read, he didn't "juice" in an era when many of his fellow ballplayers did. The guy played pro ball until he was 46! It was an enjoyable read in the middle of the baseball season.
February 20, 2022
Ricky Henderson, retired now, although not officially, is the king of steals, baseball's all time steals leader by quite a lot, the all time runs scored leader, and the unintentional walks leader (2nd on all walks after Bonds). He played major league ball from 1979 to 2003 and was an unstoppable force of nature. Bryant's new biography offers an easy to read, well researched look at one of the greatest and most unique players ever. The biography not only gives the play by play stars, but offers a look at Rickey's controversies from both sides. Not only was Rickey one of the greatest ever, but he never stopped letting everyone know that with braggadocio, with hotdogging and showing off, and often an attitude that craved respect for his accomplishments, often measured by salary. Bryant also tackles with great skill the subject of race in sports and Rickey's feeling that he was treated differently because of race and that his animated show-off was not appreciated because of it. Bryant's narrative deftly brings out all sides of these issues. This is a must-read for baseball fans.
March 22, 2022
Rickey Henderson was a one-of-a-kind baseball player. He set many major league records, such as most stolen bases and most home runs to lead off a game. Those are just two of the many reasons, both on and off the field, that made him one of most interesting people to play the game and this biography of him by Howard Bryant is an excellent book on this excellent and exciting man.
Bryant has written several books on the topic of race and sports, including an excellent biography on Hank Aaron that discusses the topic and this book is very similar. Bryant takes a critical look at the topic as Henderson had to deal with it during his youth in Oakland, his time in the minor leagues, and especially when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. There are many eye-opening passages that deal with race, especially in the chapters when Henderson wore the Yankee pinstripes. Without being harsh, Bryant does raise some legitimate criticism of the team and specifically owner George Steinbrenner.
The criticism of Steinbrenner is in general terms and the difference in treatment between the team’s white players and the Black players. In this specific case, that is clear not only in the dealings with Henderson but also with Steinbrenner’s investigation of Dave Winfield. This is just one example of Bryant’s great writing on the topic, in which he casts a needed critical look but without blanket generalizations. Another good example is in Oakland during his second tour with the A’s when Henderson, despite setting the record for stolen bases during that time, always seemed to be in the shadow of a more prominent player. This could be either a teammate (Mark McGuire, Jose Canseco) or an opponent (Nolan Ryan).
This isn’t to say the book is all about that topic. It is a very good and complete look at Henderson’s life and baseball career. It also has lighter moments, especially when talking about some of the legendary “Rickey being Rickey” stories, whether they are embellishments, legends, or the absolute truth. These are especially enjoyable to read, such as the story about talking to John Olerud when both were teammates in Seattle when Rickey said that he had a teammate on the Mets who wore a batting helmet in the field like the Mariners’ Olerud did. That teammate – John Olerud.
The organization and structure are much like any standard sports biography, but that is about all that is ordinary about this book. Readers who either enjoy sports biographies or Bryant’s work will want to pick up this one. While it would be a stretch to call it as unique as Rickey Henderson, it is one that isn’t quite like other biographies – it is even better.
I wish to thank Mariner Books for providing a review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Bryant has written several books on the topic of race and sports, including an excellent biography on Hank Aaron that discusses the topic and this book is very similar. Bryant takes a critical look at the topic as Henderson had to deal with it during his youth in Oakland, his time in the minor leagues, and especially when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. There are many eye-opening passages that deal with race, especially in the chapters when Henderson wore the Yankee pinstripes. Without being harsh, Bryant does raise some legitimate criticism of the team and specifically owner George Steinbrenner.
The criticism of Steinbrenner is in general terms and the difference in treatment between the team’s white players and the Black players. In this specific case, that is clear not only in the dealings with Henderson but also with Steinbrenner’s investigation of Dave Winfield. This is just one example of Bryant’s great writing on the topic, in which he casts a needed critical look but without blanket generalizations. Another good example is in Oakland during his second tour with the A’s when Henderson, despite setting the record for stolen bases during that time, always seemed to be in the shadow of a more prominent player. This could be either a teammate (Mark McGuire, Jose Canseco) or an opponent (Nolan Ryan).
This isn’t to say the book is all about that topic. It is a very good and complete look at Henderson’s life and baseball career. It also has lighter moments, especially when talking about some of the legendary “Rickey being Rickey” stories, whether they are embellishments, legends, or the absolute truth. These are especially enjoyable to read, such as the story about talking to John Olerud when both were teammates in Seattle when Rickey said that he had a teammate on the Mets who wore a batting helmet in the field like the Mariners’ Olerud did. That teammate – John Olerud.
The organization and structure are much like any standard sports biography, but that is about all that is ordinary about this book. Readers who either enjoy sports biographies or Bryant’s work will want to pick up this one. While it would be a stretch to call it as unique as Rickey Henderson, it is one that isn’t quite like other biographies – it is even better.
I wish to thank Mariner Books for providing a review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
March 5, 2025
Fantastic bio. Just great. Highly recommend to anyone interested in MLB.
October 5, 2022
Very disappointing - how do you mess up the story of Rickey Henderson, one of the most charismatic and interesting baseball players of all time? In the Acknowledgments section, the author mentions that the original subtitle of this book was "Rickey Henderson and the Legend of Oakland." That would have been a more fitting title - there are many long tangents about Oakland history, and while they do sometimes help to form a more complete picture of the world Rickey Henderson was living in, more often they just seemed to bog the story down. You could easily cut 50 pages from this book and not miss out on much of Rickey Henderson's life. Better yet - fill those 50 pages with more stories about Rickey Henderson!
The author also seems to want to debunk every criticism that was ever lobbed at Henderson during his career, but if anything, the constant pushback against every Henderson criticism made me side more with the critics - I left this book liking Rickey Henderson less than I did going in. The Pedro Gomez story on page 275 about Henderson vs. Jose Canseco's playing time is particularly damning. It's very strange that the only player interview Howard Bryant did about Henderson and Bobby Bonilla's card game after the 1999 Mets playoff loss was with Robin Ventura, who he admits "was the most chill guy in any clubhouse." There was never any description of why Henderson was feuding with Bobby Valentine, or any quotes from the other players who witnessed Henderson's postgame behavior. This wasn't the only time in the book I felt like key details were omitted to make Henderson look better.
Also, for as much as Rickey's wife Pamela is quoted, there wasn't much about Rickey Henderson's home life. In the book, there is a point in the second half of Rickey's career where Pamela voices that she was ready to leave him, but then there is never any real resolution as to why she stayed. In the Acknowledgements, she is praised for all she has done for Rickey, but it's never made clear throughout the book what Rickey does for her.
It's rare that I quit reading a book, but I debated doing so with this one. The reason I kept going (and it gets two stars instead of one) is that the actual baseball stories of Rickey Henderson are fascinating. I had no idea just how great some of his individual seasons were. The minor league stories with Tom Treblehorn were informative, and the relationship Henderson had with Billy Martin was astounding. I enjoyed all the tributes from fellow players, especially Mike Norris, Dave Stewart, and Don Mattingly. And of course there's great Rickey stories, like the John Olerud story (not true) and the Phil Nevin story (true). At least half of this biography was well worth reading. I just wish I could say that about the entire book.
The author also seems to want to debunk every criticism that was ever lobbed at Henderson during his career, but if anything, the constant pushback against every Henderson criticism made me side more with the critics - I left this book liking Rickey Henderson less than I did going in. The Pedro Gomez story on page 275 about Henderson vs. Jose Canseco's playing time is particularly damning. It's very strange that the only player interview Howard Bryant did about Henderson and Bobby Bonilla's card game after the 1999 Mets playoff loss was with Robin Ventura, who he admits "was the most chill guy in any clubhouse." There was never any description of why Henderson was feuding with Bobby Valentine, or any quotes from the other players who witnessed Henderson's postgame behavior. This wasn't the only time in the book I felt like key details were omitted to make Henderson look better.
Also, for as much as Rickey's wife Pamela is quoted, there wasn't much about Rickey Henderson's home life. In the book, there is a point in the second half of Rickey's career where Pamela voices that she was ready to leave him, but then there is never any real resolution as to why she stayed. In the Acknowledgements, she is praised for all she has done for Rickey, but it's never made clear throughout the book what Rickey does for her.
It's rare that I quit reading a book, but I debated doing so with this one. The reason I kept going (and it gets two stars instead of one) is that the actual baseball stories of Rickey Henderson are fascinating. I had no idea just how great some of his individual seasons were. The minor league stories with Tom Treblehorn were informative, and the relationship Henderson had with Billy Martin was astounding. I enjoyed all the tributes from fellow players, especially Mike Norris, Dave Stewart, and Don Mattingly. And of course there's great Rickey stories, like the John Olerud story (not true) and the Phil Nevin story (true). At least half of this biography was well worth reading. I just wish I could say that about the entire book.
June 1, 2023
A book about Rickey, Oakland, money in sports, baseball politics, the double standards we place on Black athletes, and so much more. If you’re interested in at least one of those topics, this is worth the read .
September 14, 2023
“There have been opportunities where he has had a chance to be both, to be as great a man as he was an athlete. Those opportunities have been there, but sometimes…it was why we always knew the time we were able to spend as a family was so important. I always said Rickey lived his life with the same philosophy he used to steal bases: ‘If I don't get caught, I'm safe.’ He had been put on that pedestal for so long, he lost some of himself.” - Pamela Henderson
Always admired Bryant as talking head, but will be pursuing his other written works.
Always admired Bryant as talking head, but will be pursuing his other written works.
November 4, 2023
This was a great well written biography. I found it to be comprehensive, fair, and multifaceted. Rickey Henderson was an amazing man and player and I had not heard of him until this book was recommended to me and that’s a shame. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves baseball, biographies, or Black history/excellence
August 15, 2023
Rickey Henderson's story is a good one (and a sad one, in some aspects), and Bryant tells it well. As he does so, he also tells related broader stories such as the MLB and race, free agency and baseball, and the changes of baseball's culture and unwritten rules at the end of the last century.
Along with being one of the all-time best baseball players, Rickey was a unique individual and he played the game with verve. Much of that verve was ahead of his time, and I can't help but wonder what sort of bat flips and second base hit celebrations he would perform if he was still playing today.
If a movie, the book would be rated R for language.
Along with being one of the all-time best baseball players, Rickey was a unique individual and he played the game with verve. Much of that verve was ahead of his time, and I can't help but wonder what sort of bat flips and second base hit celebrations he would perform if he was still playing today.
If a movie, the book would be rated R for language.
July 9, 2022
There are few more talented and interesting characters in baseball history than the enigmatic Rickey Henderson. Be it his personality or ego which dominated a number of clubhouses or his play on the baseball diamond one accurate description emerges, unchallenged talent and a desire to be the greatest or one of the greatest in baseball history. Henderson set the record for the most stolen baseball in a season, the most career runs scored, walks, the most lead off home runs, 3000 hits, earning a series of gold gloves and was a force in of himself. All of these accomplishments are captured by Howard Bryant in his latest book, RICKEY: THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL, which is an apt title for his biography. Bryant has written a number of deeply researched and insightful books dealing with baseball and racism in American society. His JUICING THE GAME: DRUGS, POWER, AND THE FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL is a superb recounting and expose dealing with the steroid era in baseball; SHUT OUT: A STORY OF RACE AND BASEBALL IN BOSTON zeroes in on the Yawkey family and their role in making the Red Sox one of the most racist franchises in baseball history; FULL DISSIDENCE: NOTES FROM AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD uses baseball as a meditation on the idea that we are living in a post-racial America which he easily destroys; and THE HERO: A LIFE OF HENRY AARON which explores the life story of a different type of person and player than Henderson. Unlike Henderson, Aaron was not as flamboyant or controversial and was beloved for his dedication to his craft and “played baseball the right way,” not rubbing his peers the wrong way despite his talent and on field performance. In his latest effort, Bryant has prepared an intimate portrait of “the man of steal” discussing all aspects of his background, career, and life after many of his skills had eroded. What emerges is a very complex portrait of a man who thrilled baseball fans on a daily basis for over two decades.
As in all of his books Bryant places his subject in the context of the civil rights movement and racism in sports. RICKEY is no exception as he presents Henderson’s early life story within the framework of white backlash against integration as he grew up in Pine Bluffs, AK, 45 minutes from Little Rock amidst the “Crisis at Central High School” in 1957 to Oakland, CA which became central to the black exodus from the south following World War II – in a sense the city was the black Ellis Island. In 1940 Oakland was 2.8% black and by 1950 81% of blacks living in the city were born in the south and followed the concept of “chain migration.” Bryant’s approach is a thoughtful one as he recounts why so many blacks migrated to Oakland. The lure of jobs at the docks and defense industry as World War II commenced became a lifeline for southern blacks to escape violence, murder, lynching’s and all the “accoutrements” of living in the racist south. It is fascinating to realize the baseball talent that accrued to Oakland as southern black families arrived. Hall of Fame sports figures such as Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Joe Morgan, Curt Flood, Bill Russell, and Paul Silas all seemed to have the same migration background.
Bryant’s methodology toward sports biography is different than most. His portrayals are steeped in American history, especially white racism, the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, and the forces in American society and uses Oakland as a microcosm for white racism and the plight of the black community. It should not be a surprise that the Black Panther Movement of the 1960s and leaders such as Bobby Seale and Huey Newton hailed from Oakland. In the 1940s and 50s Oakland was 90% segregated and it is in this climate that the 10 year old Rickey Henderson arrived from Arkansas in 1969.
Bryant carefully traces Rickey’s early years and his path to the major leagues. Along the way we meet important personages like Charles O. Finley, the controversial and innovative owner of the Oakland A’s, Billy Martin, the abusive, racist, and brilliant manager of the team, Mike Norris, a pitcher who became Rickey’s best friend along with numerous characters that dominated baseball during Rickey’s career. Rickey was all about himself – what was his worth, and his overall goal of becoming the greatest base stealer of all time breaking Ty Cobb and Lou Brock’s records.
Rickey’s life story reflects the lack of education due to segregation to the point that Henderson never really learned how to read in school as with many black athlete’s teachers would pass them on despite not mastering basic reading and writing skills as long as they could perform on the field or the arena. Bryant explains this is why Rickey refused certain obligations knowing he could not read well and feared embarrassment and humiliation. “Rickey speaks,” or “Rickey being Rickey” was a reputation he acquired in large part because of his own inferiority when it came to private interaction or activities involving public speaking or reading.
According to Bryant Rickey burned to be great, but he was often a singular character, someone set apart from the rest. He was not one of the guys in the clubhouse and he showed none of the deference veterans expected. His lack of reverence was possibly a by-product of football being his number one choice as an athlete. Another reason was his belief in his own ability. He did not walk into the clubhouse in awe of everything baseball as many young players did. Thirdly, Rickey never forgot the day he was drafted and who was drafted ahead of him. He was chosen in the 4th round and believed he was a $100,000 ballplayer, not the $10,000 he signed for.
Billy Martin played an outsized role in Rickey’s development. Perhaps because they both hailed from Oakland and had a similar view of baseball they would get along except that Martin was a control freak who refused to give Rickey the “green light” to steal at will. Everything needed Martin’s approval, but it was under his managerial tenure that Rickey excelled and would break numerous records, which brought about Rickey’s resentment as his manager took a great deal of credit for his accomplishments. In the end it did not matter who his manager was, Rickey was fueled by his obsession with greatness.
Importantly, Bryant discusses Rickey’s “crouch” in the batter’s box which reduced his strike zone leading to increasing numbers of walks and steals as it forced pitchers to throw directly into his power. Outfielder Billy Sample described Rickey’s strike zone as that “of a matchbox.” Opposing players, umpires, particularly pitchers and catchers complained in vain, and Bryant’s vignettes are priceless. Rickey’s “style” made catchers look bad, increasing their hostility toward Rickey. When he slid into home they hit him hard, when pitchers tried to pick him off first basemen would slap on a tag to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible – but nothing stopped him. Rickey’s reputation as a “hot dog,” i.e., the development of his “snatch catch” was part of what he termed his “styling” something he had done since he was a kid, but according to Bryant many reporters evaluated his performance with a racial tone.
Bryant deftly places Henderson’s career and personality in the milieu of baseball history and carefully compares and contrasts him with others, contemporary and in the past. Stories about Joe DiMaggio, Lou Brock, Willie Wilson provide insights into Rickey’s approach to baseball and his amazing accomplishments. Different from others in his approach to his sport Rickey seemed to me in his own world. He would talk to himself in the batter’s box, he would stroll slowly to the plate, and had so many eccentric habits that a Yankee executive, Woody Woodward described him by saying, “I’ve never seen a guy look so fast in slow motion.”
For Rickey, the “unwritten rules of baseball” should never have been written! He went by a different drummer where his personal statistics were paramount. Bryant compares Rickey’s accomplishments with contemporaries like Tim Raines, Willie Wilson and James Lofton and despite their success they came up short. Rickey always measured himself against the accomplishments of others, particularly those he felt were a threat and these three individuals appear repeatedly in Bryant’s narrative.
At times Bryant digresses but does a wonderful job discussing Rickey’s relationship with managers such as Tony La Russa, who always believed and still does that he is the smartest man in the room, Buck Showalter, his New York Yankee manager who was considered a hard nosed manager, Bobby Valentine, the New York Mets Manager who Rickey held in disdain. Of course, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner appears, Dave Stewart, one of his closest friends, Jose Canseco, a home run hitter who Rickey saw as a buffoon, Reggie Jackson, a teammate in Oakland with an outsized ego, and Don Mattingly, a Yankee teammate who he admired among many portraits that are depicted.
Bryant’s work is extremely entertaining and satisfying. It is well written as all of Bryant’s books and provides evidence for Rickey’s place in baseball history. The book is a great read just for all the “Rickey stories” and “Rickeyisms” he quotes. As his career evolved his reputation changed from a self-absorbed record seeker who in his late thirties became a beloved person whose feats and numbers spoke for themselves. Playing at a time when players were beginning to flex their legal muscle entering the age of free agency as owners could no longer control them for life, Rickey’s performance on the diamond cannot be challenged. An excellent read!
As in all of his books Bryant places his subject in the context of the civil rights movement and racism in sports. RICKEY is no exception as he presents Henderson’s early life story within the framework of white backlash against integration as he grew up in Pine Bluffs, AK, 45 minutes from Little Rock amidst the “Crisis at Central High School” in 1957 to Oakland, CA which became central to the black exodus from the south following World War II – in a sense the city was the black Ellis Island. In 1940 Oakland was 2.8% black and by 1950 81% of blacks living in the city were born in the south and followed the concept of “chain migration.” Bryant’s approach is a thoughtful one as he recounts why so many blacks migrated to Oakland. The lure of jobs at the docks and defense industry as World War II commenced became a lifeline for southern blacks to escape violence, murder, lynching’s and all the “accoutrements” of living in the racist south. It is fascinating to realize the baseball talent that accrued to Oakland as southern black families arrived. Hall of Fame sports figures such as Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Joe Morgan, Curt Flood, Bill Russell, and Paul Silas all seemed to have the same migration background.
Bryant’s methodology toward sports biography is different than most. His portrayals are steeped in American history, especially white racism, the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, and the forces in American society and uses Oakland as a microcosm for white racism and the plight of the black community. It should not be a surprise that the Black Panther Movement of the 1960s and leaders such as Bobby Seale and Huey Newton hailed from Oakland. In the 1940s and 50s Oakland was 90% segregated and it is in this climate that the 10 year old Rickey Henderson arrived from Arkansas in 1969.
Bryant carefully traces Rickey’s early years and his path to the major leagues. Along the way we meet important personages like Charles O. Finley, the controversial and innovative owner of the Oakland A’s, Billy Martin, the abusive, racist, and brilliant manager of the team, Mike Norris, a pitcher who became Rickey’s best friend along with numerous characters that dominated baseball during Rickey’s career. Rickey was all about himself – what was his worth, and his overall goal of becoming the greatest base stealer of all time breaking Ty Cobb and Lou Brock’s records.
Rickey’s life story reflects the lack of education due to segregation to the point that Henderson never really learned how to read in school as with many black athlete’s teachers would pass them on despite not mastering basic reading and writing skills as long as they could perform on the field or the arena. Bryant explains this is why Rickey refused certain obligations knowing he could not read well and feared embarrassment and humiliation. “Rickey speaks,” or “Rickey being Rickey” was a reputation he acquired in large part because of his own inferiority when it came to private interaction or activities involving public speaking or reading.
According to Bryant Rickey burned to be great, but he was often a singular character, someone set apart from the rest. He was not one of the guys in the clubhouse and he showed none of the deference veterans expected. His lack of reverence was possibly a by-product of football being his number one choice as an athlete. Another reason was his belief in his own ability. He did not walk into the clubhouse in awe of everything baseball as many young players did. Thirdly, Rickey never forgot the day he was drafted and who was drafted ahead of him. He was chosen in the 4th round and believed he was a $100,000 ballplayer, not the $10,000 he signed for.
Billy Martin played an outsized role in Rickey’s development. Perhaps because they both hailed from Oakland and had a similar view of baseball they would get along except that Martin was a control freak who refused to give Rickey the “green light” to steal at will. Everything needed Martin’s approval, but it was under his managerial tenure that Rickey excelled and would break numerous records, which brought about Rickey’s resentment as his manager took a great deal of credit for his accomplishments. In the end it did not matter who his manager was, Rickey was fueled by his obsession with greatness.
Importantly, Bryant discusses Rickey’s “crouch” in the batter’s box which reduced his strike zone leading to increasing numbers of walks and steals as it forced pitchers to throw directly into his power. Outfielder Billy Sample described Rickey’s strike zone as that “of a matchbox.” Opposing players, umpires, particularly pitchers and catchers complained in vain, and Bryant’s vignettes are priceless. Rickey’s “style” made catchers look bad, increasing their hostility toward Rickey. When he slid into home they hit him hard, when pitchers tried to pick him off first basemen would slap on a tag to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible – but nothing stopped him. Rickey’s reputation as a “hot dog,” i.e., the development of his “snatch catch” was part of what he termed his “styling” something he had done since he was a kid, but according to Bryant many reporters evaluated his performance with a racial tone.
Bryant deftly places Henderson’s career and personality in the milieu of baseball history and carefully compares and contrasts him with others, contemporary and in the past. Stories about Joe DiMaggio, Lou Brock, Willie Wilson provide insights into Rickey’s approach to baseball and his amazing accomplishments. Different from others in his approach to his sport Rickey seemed to me in his own world. He would talk to himself in the batter’s box, he would stroll slowly to the plate, and had so many eccentric habits that a Yankee executive, Woody Woodward described him by saying, “I’ve never seen a guy look so fast in slow motion.”
For Rickey, the “unwritten rules of baseball” should never have been written! He went by a different drummer where his personal statistics were paramount. Bryant compares Rickey’s accomplishments with contemporaries like Tim Raines, Willie Wilson and James Lofton and despite their success they came up short. Rickey always measured himself against the accomplishments of others, particularly those he felt were a threat and these three individuals appear repeatedly in Bryant’s narrative.
At times Bryant digresses but does a wonderful job discussing Rickey’s relationship with managers such as Tony La Russa, who always believed and still does that he is the smartest man in the room, Buck Showalter, his New York Yankee manager who was considered a hard nosed manager, Bobby Valentine, the New York Mets Manager who Rickey held in disdain. Of course, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner appears, Dave Stewart, one of his closest friends, Jose Canseco, a home run hitter who Rickey saw as a buffoon, Reggie Jackson, a teammate in Oakland with an outsized ego, and Don Mattingly, a Yankee teammate who he admired among many portraits that are depicted.
Bryant’s work is extremely entertaining and satisfying. It is well written as all of Bryant’s books and provides evidence for Rickey’s place in baseball history. The book is a great read just for all the “Rickey stories” and “Rickeyisms” he quotes. As his career evolved his reputation changed from a self-absorbed record seeker who in his late thirties became a beloved person whose feats and numbers spoke for themselves. Playing at a time when players were beginning to flex their legal muscle entering the age of free agency as owners could no longer control them for life, Rickey’s performance on the diamond cannot be challenged. An excellent read!
Read
July 22, 2022Rickey the life and legend of a American original was a very good book. The book told the story of Rickey henderson and his rise from a minor league player to a major league player. I wasn’t in the mood to read it but I enjoyed it.
April 7, 2025
Rickey Henderson, the most interesting man to ever play the game of baseball, and also one of the best ever. This biography was fun, fascinating, and I learned a ton. It’s one of the best sports biographies that I’ve read in recent years.
June 17, 2023
As a lifelong baseball fan, I’ve obviously heard stories regarding Rickey. I am not old enough to have seen him play everyday and have any recollection of it, so I’m glad there’s a comprehensive overview of his career. What a character he was. It’s ridiculous how much the media chastised him, with huge racial overtones. Sport will never have another man like Rickey.
June 17, 2022
Rickey was a very fitting biography of Rickey Henderson. It was enjoyable, structured in a way that seemed like you were being told "Rickey Stories". The timeline seemed to jump around a bit, which got confusing from time to time, but overall, it fit the character of Rickey. Howard Bryant did a good job of diving into the complexity of Rickey's character, and covering him warts and all. He doesn't forgive some of Rickey's choices, but he works to explain them as best as he can. Bryant also worked to place Rickey in historical context, particularly because Rickey's career spanned multiple mindset shifts in the game. One of the primary complaints about Henderson was his taking games off, or not playing hurt, and Bryant takes this head on. What's interesting about reading some of this biography is how much of it is colored by my views on baseball and the current climate of the game. That isn't bad - but it made for some disconnect when I would read about the criticism of Henderson not playing enough games when he was playing 140+ games a year. Bryant did a good job of explaining some of the historical thought processes so that the reader is able to understand where the criticism was coming from.
I enjoyed (if that's the right word) how Bryant approached Henderson's race and how it affected the way he was raised, played, and was viewed within the game. Being a black player in baseball comes loaded with a history, and Bryant did a good job of tapping into that history. Since Henderson was such a private person throughout his career (and somewhat during this book), there wasn't always a huge amount of information for Bryant to share, beyond game/season reports. Adding in the information about Oakland, the Great Migration, and other historical information did help place Rickey in context and flesh out parts of the book.
I enjoyed (if that's the right word) how Bryant approached Henderson's race and how it affected the way he was raised, played, and was viewed within the game. Being a black player in baseball comes loaded with a history, and Bryant did a good job of tapping into that history. Since Henderson was such a private person throughout his career (and somewhat during this book), there wasn't always a huge amount of information for Bryant to share, beyond game/season reports. Adding in the information about Oakland, the Great Migration, and other historical information did help place Rickey in context and flesh out parts of the book.
July 21, 2022
Really, I wanted to make it 3.5 stars, but id there's a way to do that, I couldn't find it.
Anyhow, here's the thing. Bryant does a nice job on Rickey's career, though I think he doesn't take seriously enough the charges against him. The evidence, including Bryant's evidence, is that for much of his career Rickey was more interested in what he could do for himself than in what he could do for the team. He did plenty for the teams, of course, he really was one of the greatest of all time and surely the greatest lead-off hitter of all time. But in a team sport there's a virtue to being a team player. And too often, it seems, he wasn't.
That's not a knock on Rickey, particularly. Superstars (and he was one) are pretty much always first and last out for themselves. But it's a knock on Bryant who works too hard to deny the actual evidence he presents.
The other substantive gripe: The book, we learn in the "Acknowledgments," was originally to be called "Rickey Henderson and the Legend of Oakland." There's much of that Legend of Oakland still in the book, but it weighs it down rather than lifts it up.
Finally, the prose leaves something to be desired and the book drags at times. But it's a damn good sports bio of a pretty interesting guy, and spectacular ballplayer.
Anyhow, here's the thing. Bryant does a nice job on Rickey's career, though I think he doesn't take seriously enough the charges against him. The evidence, including Bryant's evidence, is that for much of his career Rickey was more interested in what he could do for himself than in what he could do for the team. He did plenty for the teams, of course, he really was one of the greatest of all time and surely the greatest lead-off hitter of all time. But in a team sport there's a virtue to being a team player. And too often, it seems, he wasn't.
That's not a knock on Rickey, particularly. Superstars (and he was one) are pretty much always first and last out for themselves. But it's a knock on Bryant who works too hard to deny the actual evidence he presents.
The other substantive gripe: The book, we learn in the "Acknowledgments," was originally to be called "Rickey Henderson and the Legend of Oakland." There's much of that Legend of Oakland still in the book, but it weighs it down rather than lifts it up.
Finally, the prose leaves something to be desired and the book drags at times. But it's a damn good sports bio of a pretty interesting guy, and spectacular ballplayer.
August 15, 2023
I gave up on the book after a few chapters.
The author was all over the place, He wrote as if he was chasing bumblebees and butterflies.
One moment he's talking about Rickey, The next paragraph he's off on some historical fact that has nothing to do with the story.
Several pages later he's back talking about Rickey.
It was too confusing to follow.
The author was all over the place, He wrote as if he was chasing bumblebees and butterflies.
One moment he's talking about Rickey, The next paragraph he's off on some historical fact that has nothing to do with the story.
Several pages later he's back talking about Rickey.
It was too confusing to follow.
April 22, 2023
A properly written sports biography because it never gets lazy and rehashes whole seasons or gives game-by-game analyses. Bryant also put a lot of legwork in interviewing people and not just using printed or recorded interviews, new stories, books or other sources.
Also, this serves as a biography of African-American baseball in Oakland, which I honestly did not know about how rich of a history it had.
I knocked this down two stars though.
This seems trivial on my part, but on page 168, Bryant (a writer who I have liked in the past) has an inexplicably jaded and biting paragraph about advanced analytics:
"In later years, when the smart guys from the Ivies took over the game and acted like they'd invented it in an MIT lab, everybody would talk about what Willie was talking bout that day with Rickey. Decades ahead of the Sloan Analytics Conference, they even gave the swing Willie Horton taught Rickey a catchy name to make it sound like their own creation."
He is describing "launch angle" ... you know ... hitting the ball very hard and in the air so it is uncatchable. Willie Horton didn't event it either. This paragraph adds nothing to the anecdote of Rickey hitting more home runs. It's odd that it was written to begin with more or less kept in by the author or an editor.
Why? Because the "smart guys from the Ivies" (and some smart guys not from the Ivies) created advanced metrics and a reliance on data to determine a player's ability and value without the bias of race, height, weight, primary language, ethnicity, false media stories or work ethic. This is the exact thing that Bryant spends 370 pages arguing AGAINST in regards to the false or overstated media tropes in Rickey's career. Why Bryant holds some animosity on page 168 against these people is asinine. Furthermore, he later admits that advanced metrics verified Rickey's greatness on the ball field.
Also, later in the book it's insinuated that Rickey attended a hospital fundraiser in Toronto at least partially because Toronto is known for its beautiful women. I'd never heard this of Toronto. Bryant also doesn't address whether this is his opinion or something Rickey said. Did Rickey Henderson attend a hospital fundraiser in Toronto to get laid? I guess we'll never know.
Also, this serves as a biography of African-American baseball in Oakland, which I honestly did not know about how rich of a history it had.
I knocked this down two stars though.
This seems trivial on my part, but on page 168, Bryant (a writer who I have liked in the past) has an inexplicably jaded and biting paragraph about advanced analytics:
"In later years, when the smart guys from the Ivies took over the game and acted like they'd invented it in an MIT lab, everybody would talk about what Willie was talking bout that day with Rickey. Decades ahead of the Sloan Analytics Conference, they even gave the swing Willie Horton taught Rickey a catchy name to make it sound like their own creation."
He is describing "launch angle" ... you know ... hitting the ball very hard and in the air so it is uncatchable. Willie Horton didn't event it either. This paragraph adds nothing to the anecdote of Rickey hitting more home runs. It's odd that it was written to begin with more or less kept in by the author or an editor.
Why? Because the "smart guys from the Ivies" (and some smart guys not from the Ivies) created advanced metrics and a reliance on data to determine a player's ability and value without the bias of race, height, weight, primary language, ethnicity, false media stories or work ethic. This is the exact thing that Bryant spends 370 pages arguing AGAINST in regards to the false or overstated media tropes in Rickey's career. Why Bryant holds some animosity on page 168 against these people is asinine. Furthermore, he later admits that advanced metrics verified Rickey's greatness on the ball field.
Also, later in the book it's insinuated that Rickey attended a hospital fundraiser in Toronto at least partially because Toronto is known for its beautiful women. I'd never heard this of Toronto. Bryant also doesn't address whether this is his opinion or something Rickey said. Did Rickey Henderson attend a hospital fundraiser in Toronto to get laid? I guess we'll never know.
April 2, 2022
I have been waiting for a long time to read a book about Rickey Henderson and Mr. Bryant does not disappoint. This book covers Rickey from his birth in his parents career to his illustrious playing days to his retirement and all the accolades that follow. Rickey is one of the greatest players of all time and has a outsized personality to go with it.
This book covers all the great Rickey stories like the framed check on the wall and the John Olerud story. Mr. Bryant does a great job weaving this story and separating fact from fiction. He conducts numerous interviews and uses actual newspaper and magazine articles in the text of the book. I really enjoyed this as I felt it conveyed the sentiments of various sportswriters who were around during Rickey’s career. Mr. Bryant did a great job showing a side of Rickey that isn’t well know while still covering Rickey’s larger than life personality. Mr. Bryant is very fair and lays out his thoughts both positive and negative about Rickey, his career, and his behavior. He uses facts from the articles and interviews to back up his analysis.
If I had one criticism of the book, it would be the opening chapter and the epilogue. Both seem to portray the book as a look at Rickey Henderson, The City of Oakland, and African American ballplayers during Rickey’s career. The problem is that the rest of the book really only focuses on Rickey. That is a small criticism, and by no means takes away from the enjoyment of the book.
Mr. Bryant brings a well throughout, factual, and entertaining look at Rickey Henderson in Rickey. It is well worth the time to read, especially for any baseball fan. Rickey Henderson is a fascinating person, and this book does a great job telling his story. Thank you to @netgalley, @HBryant42, and @marinerbooks for a free advance readers copy for an honest review.
This book covers all the great Rickey stories like the framed check on the wall and the John Olerud story. Mr. Bryant does a great job weaving this story and separating fact from fiction. He conducts numerous interviews and uses actual newspaper and magazine articles in the text of the book. I really enjoyed this as I felt it conveyed the sentiments of various sportswriters who were around during Rickey’s career. Mr. Bryant did a great job showing a side of Rickey that isn’t well know while still covering Rickey’s larger than life personality. Mr. Bryant is very fair and lays out his thoughts both positive and negative about Rickey, his career, and his behavior. He uses facts from the articles and interviews to back up his analysis.
If I had one criticism of the book, it would be the opening chapter and the epilogue. Both seem to portray the book as a look at Rickey Henderson, The City of Oakland, and African American ballplayers during Rickey’s career. The problem is that the rest of the book really only focuses on Rickey. That is a small criticism, and by no means takes away from the enjoyment of the book.
Mr. Bryant brings a well throughout, factual, and entertaining look at Rickey Henderson in Rickey. It is well worth the time to read, especially for any baseball fan. Rickey Henderson is a fascinating person, and this book does a great job telling his story. Thank you to @netgalley, @HBryant42, and @marinerbooks for a free advance readers copy for an honest review.
January 22, 2023
I'm finishing this book as a baseball fan who was only old enough to see Rickey play with my Mets in '99. The book gave me great insight into his prowess as a player, and one of the main narratives throughout is that Rickey didn’t get due respect during his playing days. Having finished, if it's at all possible, I still think it somehow undersells just HOW good Rickey was.
Something's missing.
The problem with sports bios that are made up mostly with interviews and press clippings is that it doesn't "show" the reader how dominant a player was, it only "tells" us. Provide some prose about how dominant he was, don't just rely on quotes. Other sports writers like Jeff Pearlman and Joe Posnanski are very very good at this.
I enjoyed it, but I got the sense that it could have been even better. (Ironic, because the author consistently shared that very criticism was levied unfairly against Rickey throughout his career). It didn’t do the legend of Rickey full justice despite offering throughout the book just how legendary he was as a player.
An article like this covers more of the dominance of Rickey, comparatively speaking than this book does.
https://www.mlb.com/news/rickey-hende...
And for the love of god, if there's ever a baseball bio that is crying out for a career stats page before the index and after the acknowledgements, it's this one.
4/5 stars. The quality of the writing doesn't do the subject justice, IMO, and I've enjoyed other books by Bryant.
Something's missing.
The problem with sports bios that are made up mostly with interviews and press clippings is that it doesn't "show" the reader how dominant a player was, it only "tells" us. Provide some prose about how dominant he was, don't just rely on quotes. Other sports writers like Jeff Pearlman and Joe Posnanski are very very good at this.
I enjoyed it, but I got the sense that it could have been even better. (Ironic, because the author consistently shared that very criticism was levied unfairly against Rickey throughout his career). It didn’t do the legend of Rickey full justice despite offering throughout the book just how legendary he was as a player.
An article like this covers more of the dominance of Rickey, comparatively speaking than this book does.
https://www.mlb.com/news/rickey-hende...
And for the love of god, if there's ever a baseball bio that is crying out for a career stats page before the index and after the acknowledgements, it's this one.
4/5 stars. The quality of the writing doesn't do the subject justice, IMO, and I've enjoyed other books by Bryant.
August 22, 2022
Absolutely well done by Howard Bryant. A very delightful mix of Oakland history, Rickey’s rise and the capriciousness of the Major League Baseball world. Howard Bryant is so clear, efficient, and effective with his affable prose that all the ingredients meld together to make this an alluring read.
He delves into the Rickeyisms and does an excellent job of parsing the apocryphal tales that made people view Rickey as “stupid” at times. But Howard Bryant insures the reader that Rickey more often than not, was well aware of the difference of being laughed at, as opposed to being laughed with.
Rickey Henderson is undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play baseball, and Howard Bryant excellently discloses the evidence through the use of game statistics and contemporary player interviews. A highlight of this great biography is the unmasking of how media can affect the perception of a player to the general public. It’s fascinating to clearly see how Rickey was often victimized by vicious writers, seemingly intentionally to paint an unflattering portrait of Rickey Henderson.
In the final analysis this is a five star biography that details Rickey’s life from talented youngster to big league baller with all the trappings of a determination that was singular and focused. I highly recommend this comprehensive biography.
He delves into the Rickeyisms and does an excellent job of parsing the apocryphal tales that made people view Rickey as “stupid” at times. But Howard Bryant insures the reader that Rickey more often than not, was well aware of the difference of being laughed at, as opposed to being laughed with.
Rickey Henderson is undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play baseball, and Howard Bryant excellently discloses the evidence through the use of game statistics and contemporary player interviews. A highlight of this great biography is the unmasking of how media can affect the perception of a player to the general public. It’s fascinating to clearly see how Rickey was often victimized by vicious writers, seemingly intentionally to paint an unflattering portrait of Rickey Henderson.
In the final analysis this is a five star biography that details Rickey’s life from talented youngster to big league baller with all the trappings of a determination that was singular and focused. I highly recommend this comprehensive biography.
November 20, 2023
Always a huge fan of athlete biographies - especially on a character as profound and polarizing as Rickey. This book does a great job of telling the complete story of Rickey Henderson, his upbringing in Oakland, his 24-year career, and his quest to be the greatest of all time. I have a newfound appreciation for how he played the game and all the incomprehensible records he’s set. Howard Bryant, through numerous interviews with those that know Rickey best, does a fantastic job of telling his story through his contemporaries and teammates, while also including newspaper stories of those who didn't have a great opinion of him and were uber-critical. Stylistically the book seemed to ramble at times, randomly jumping from story to story or avalanching, but it fits with the life of Rickey. Highly recommend for fans of baseball and associated subjects
November 19, 2025
A worthy subject of a biography, and I appreciated the vast range of perspectives in here. The most interesting theme is that Rickey sat out for injuries when he probably didn't have to, which was looked down upon at the time, but is more in line with how teams treat players today and may have contributed to his longevity and success when he did play.
Other things I learned:
- A lot (though not all) of the famous "Rickey being Rickey" stories were made-up, like the John Olerud one.
- Rickey liked football better but chose baseball because he could get drafted out of high school and didn't have the grades to get into a four-year college for football. (That feels like a story that probably wouldn't happen today; there's a narrative that MLB is losing young talent to other sports now and I wonder how much of that story is just about better academic support and higher college enrollment generally?)
Other things I learned:
- A lot (though not all) of the famous "Rickey being Rickey" stories were made-up, like the John Olerud one.
- Rickey liked football better but chose baseball because he could get drafted out of high school and didn't have the grades to get into a four-year college for football. (That feels like a story that probably wouldn't happen today; there's a narrative that MLB is losing young talent to other sports now and I wonder how much of that story is just about better academic support and higher college enrollment generally?)
September 21, 2024
Howard Bryant has put together another great baseball biography, this time on Rickey Henderson. I have many memories of Rickey’s baseball career, including his single season stolen base record, his breaking of Lou Brock’s career base stealing record and declaring himself the greatest of all time (in front of Lou no less), his 80+ lead-off home runs, and his staying in the MLB for several seasons too long; although he did reach the 3000 hit plateau during those additional seasons. He fought for what he thought was his, while sometimes alienating himself from baseball and his own family. Like many of us, were the decisions made in the moment the correct decisions? A recommended read.
July 10, 2022
A richly-detailed book that covers Rickey with the greatest intensity - akin to reading a biography of a prominent political figure.
Howard is so good at crafting themes that carry through all 400 pages. The stories - whether they be funny or serious - all connect to the same message.
Highly worth reading (as is The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron)
Howard is so good at crafting themes that carry through all 400 pages. The stories - whether they be funny or serious - all connect to the same message.
Highly worth reading (as is The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron)
December 25, 2022
I think it is only appropriate and good timing to write this review on Christmas Day which is Rickey's birthday. Too say that he was one of a kind wouldn't do him justice. A dominating player at the plate and on the basepaths. Rickey and Billy Martin are a big reason why I grew up an Oakland A's fan. The man had swagger for days and Billy Martin for all his faults gave him the green light to run. Bryant does a really good job of exploring not only the character on Rickey Henderson, but also the circumstances that both brought his family to Oakland and how they helped shape him as a person and ballplayer. The funny stories about him being a card shark and how he never remembered anyone's name are pretty good. What's also interesting is how he his career achievements have really held up.
January 3, 2025
Excellent. Is this one of the best baseball books ever? One need not be a Rickey fan to enjoy. It covers a lot of important issues facing baseball in the 70's, 80's and 90's. If you were a baseball fan during that time, you will recall hundreds of the people mentioned. Lots of good Oakland lore as well.
December 10, 2023
Ricky was great. Yet there’s no getting around that he was dumb as a stone. Though this book hints at it, it never really says how his inability to understand or communicate left him mostly perusing personal goals in a team sport.
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