Rickey With Rice

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has selected two more players for induction into the hallowed hall located in Cooperstown, NY. Joining the elite are Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson.

Rice was, for a time, the most feared batter in the game. He had a decent average and tremendous power. It also helped that the lineup he was in was usually pretty potent. He doesn't have the career numbers that many HOF players do and he was a DH for the bulk of his playing days, factors which hurt his chances for election. Indeed, he made it on his 15th try. I always liked him, but I was undecided over whether he merited election.

There are no such qualms over Henderson's election. He is simply the greatest lead off hitter the game has ever seen. He has more stolen bases that anyone, breaking the career record of my childhood hero, Lou Brock. He had more home runs from the lead off spot and scored more runs than anyone ever. A very deserving choice.

We celebrate Henderson's enshrinement by posting an image of Brock.