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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Golden Baseball League Makes Rickey Henderson $1M Hall of Fame Offer

The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that they have offered professional baseball superstar Rickey Henderson $1M if he elects to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a San Diego Surf Dawg.

“Rickey played his final professional season in the Golden Baseball League in 2005 as a key member of the championship winning San Diego Surf Dawgs,” said Golden Baseball League CEO David Kaval. “Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame for professional players and the San Diego Surf Dawgs were Rickey’s last professional team and one of only three teams, along with the 1989 Oakland Athletics and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays, that Rickey won a championship with. We stood by Rickey in 2005 when no major league team would sign him and continue to support him with this offer. We are confident that Rickey will be a first ballot selection and we look forward to seeing a bronzed Surf Dawg cap displayed on his Hall of Fame plaque.”

Henderson played the entire 2005 season for the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the inaugural season of the Golden Baseball League, the premiere independent professional league in western North America, under Manager Terry Kennedy. He appeared in 73 of his team’s 88 games, hitting .270 as he stole 16 bases and led the league with 73 walks as a 46 year old centerfielder. His team went on to post the best record in the league, led by four former Major League 1st round draft choices, and is considered one of the legendary independent professional teams of the modern era. Both coaches, plus the manager ended up signed by major league organizations along with four of the players, although not Henderson.

Who’s gonna be the one to break the news to them that the player no longer picks the hat they go in with?

Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2008 at 07:56 PM | 16 comment(s)
Related News: General, Minor Leagues, Hall of Fame, Baseball Geeks

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1. Srul Itza Posted: December 03, 2008 at 10:11 PM (#3020384)

Who’s gonna be the one to break the news to them that the player no longer picks the hat they go in with?

Is that double-reverse snark? There is no way that they don't know that, or that this is a serious offer in any way, shape or form. Just a way to snag some more free publicity from being associated with Rickey Henderson.

2. OPS+ Posted: December 03, 2008 at 11:40 PM (#3020439)

I say that Ricky happily accepts the money and then goes into the Hall of Fame as an Oakland A.

3. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: December 03, 2008 at 11:43 PM (#3020444)

His team went on to post the best record in the league, led by four former Major League 1st round draft choices, and is considered one of the legendary independent professional teams of the modern era.

Yeah, up there with that team that had JD Drew and a woman on it, and the Long Island Ducks of Carl Everett and Jose Offerman fame, and the Allentown Ambassadors that featured future MLB GM Carlos Gomez. And the York Revolution that drew its entire coaching staff from ex-Orioles of the 1970s.

4. Fly is Part of the Landed Gentry Posted: December 03, 2008 at 11:54 PM (#3020453)

I say that Ricky happily accepts the money and then goes into the Hall of Fame as an Oakland A.

It's not like he'd cash the check anyway.

5. PreservedFish Posted: December 04, 2008 at 03:40 AM (#3020504)

I had an opportunity to see Rickey on the Surf Dawgs and did not take it. Really regret it.

6. Jeff K. Posted: December 04, 2008 at 04:53 AM (#3020506)

Independent league baseball is not terribly good, of course. I completely by happenstance saw Max Scherzer's debut when my mom and I decided to go to a Ft. Worth Cats game last summer when I went to visit. It's baseball to be sure, and it's quick-moving baseball, which I adore (as a Rangers fan, any game under 4.5 hours is a brisk pace...) but it's kind of like high-school baseball if you don't know any of the kids or care about either team. Surprisingly expensive, too, compared to real minor league baseball. It was about the same rate as Round Rock was when it was still AA.

7. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: December 04, 2008 at 05:09 AM (#3020510)

And if Rickey's not elected at all, everybody gets a free can of Dr. Pepper!

8. Zuvella! Posted: December 04, 2008 at 07:03 AM (#3020517)

I had an opportunity to see Rickey on the Surf Dawgs and did not take it. Really regret it.

This is creepy, but I'd probably pay good money to see Rickey go grocery shopping.

9. AJM Posted: December 04, 2008 at 07:20 AM (#3020519)

This is creepy, but I'd probably pay good money to see Rickey go grocery shopping.

"Could you tell me where I might find the Rickey-O's?"

10. Eddieot Posted: December 04, 2008 at 07:48 AM (#3020526)

Rickey's going in with a cap with a picture of Rickey on it.

11. Jeff K. Posted: December 04, 2008 at 08:42 AM (#3020554)

"Could you tell me where I might find the Rickey-O's?"

On aisle Rickey, of course. And when you're don't forget to try our new self-Rickey machines to speed up your checkout. Or you can just do the Ten Rickeys or Less lane. Will those bags be Rickey or Rickey?

---

At a friend's place last night, I saw "Chocolate Lucky Charms", which are Cocoa Puffs and marshmallows. I declared it to be the awesomest cereal ever. I already have to backtrack, because that spot has to stay open for the potential existence of Rickey-O's.

12. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: December 04, 2008 at 08:48 AM (#3020559)

"I'm GRRRRRRRRRREAT!"

13. Jeff K. Posted: December 04, 2008 at 08:56 AM (#3020563)

The best part of the whole thing is that before I was comfortable posting that, I had to Google to make sure Rickey-O's didn't already exist.

14. CFiJ Posted: December 04, 2008 at 08:59 AM (#3020566)

Yeah, up there with that team that had JD Drew and a woman on it,

Saint Paul Saints, owned by Mike Veeck and Bill Murray. Fun is Good!

15. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: December 04, 2008 at 09:17 AM (#3020575)

I already have to backtrack, because that spot has to stay open for the potential existence of Rickey-O's.

When you open the box, it tells you how Rickey! they are.

16. Gamingboy Posted: December 04, 2008 at 09:27 AM (#3020588)

Yes, it was "double-reverse snark", although I never thought of such a name for it. By the way, anyone who wants a good laugh should find "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader"'s Baseball Edition, their rundown of Rickey's antics is the funniest thing I ever read. I didn't even know about some of them.

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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Golden Baseball League Makes Rickey Henderson $1M Hall of Fame Offer

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