made over $44million in his time as a player

Then pulling up next to John Olerud and doing the same.

Bumped so that a few more people might read the excerpt.

Perhaps you saw the photograph that was picked up by newspapers around the country: Henderson gently holding a crying nine-year-old girl named Erin States. The caption probably told you that Henderson, on his first trip to Oakland since the Athletics traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 31, was reassuring Erin that her favorite player had not forgotten her.

I love that Rickey's being looked back on with such fondness now.

As for the other question, it was Rickey Henderson. I really pretty much had my way with him. We get along fine now, but I thought he was a hot dog at the time he was playing. I didn't like that, I didn't like his showboating. So I pretty much struck him out every time.

(Editor's note: Henderson had 11 plate appearances vs. Gossage, with nine at-bats. Henderson had no hits, two walks and struck out nine times.

I love that Rickey's being looked back on with such fondness now.

During his playing days — and especially around his I'm-the-greatest-of-all-time speech — the media was incredibly unfair to him. He was a black kid who grew up in the heart of Oakland and he talked like it, and the predominantly older white sports media took that to mean he was stupid. They would put him next Nolan Ryan and his 5000th K on the same day and say how much better a person Ryan was than Rickey because Ryan gave the "Aww, shucks" speech that you're supposed to give. Ryan worked hard, Rickey was "naturally gifted." Ryan never missed a start, Rickey was always dinged up. Ryan's clothes were understated, Rickey loved nice threads. Ryan wanted to be the first million/per player, but it was Henderson was got criticized for selfish holdouts. And, oh yes, Ryan was white and Rickey was black.

My favorite Rickey story. If you read it and don't get a little emotional, you're dead inside

Rickey got his, there’s no denying that: made over $44million in his time as a player. But Rickey knew that not everyone in the game would get their shot to make millions, and Rickey didn’t know what kind of #### people had going on at home, so maybe Rickey figured people went through some of the same #### that Rickey came through — ’cause Rickey had it kinda tough. So when Rickey can vote to spread some wealth around to those who don’t have his talents (and really, who does?), he can’t see a single damn reason not to do so.

I love Rickey stories. He is one of my favorite players ever, and I really appreciate the love he has for the game. I completely understand players who view baseball as a job and not a passion, and I don't fault them for it. But that means when you get someone so great who really does simply love playing, it adds a little something.

I think his HOF induction speech also helped his image a lot.

Think about that: a 44-year-old future Hall of Famer playing in the minor leagues, and he still wants to go get some extra work in.

During his playing days — and especially around his I'm-the-greatest-of-all-time speech — the media was incredibly unfair to him. He was a black kid who grew up in the heart of Oakland and he talked like it, and the predominantly older white sports media took that to mean he was stupid. They would put him next Nolan Ryan and his 5000th K on the same day and say how much better a person Ryan was than Rickey because Ryan gave the "Aww, shucks" speech that you're supposed to give. Ryan worked hard, Rickey was "naturally gifted." Ryan never missed a start, Rickey was always dinged up. Ryan's clothes were understated, Rickey loved nice threads. Ryan wanted to be the first million/per player, but it was Henderson was got criticized for selfish holdouts. And, oh yes, Ryan was white and Rickey was black.

Me too. I think it has a lot to do with a very simple generational shift. Folks who were kids back when Rickey was at his peak are now sportswriters. And to speak for everyone in the world who is roughly my age, we all loved Rickey. His skill, his style, his charisma, his love of baseball, just his essential Rickey-ness were entirely obvious to every one of us. There are no exceptions to this statement. So now that people who loved Rickey unreservedly are sportswriters, the picture being drawn of him has changed.

Surely she could've at least named the boy "Dummy."

The Man loved to play! I was lucky enough to catch him in an independent league in San Diego. He played for the Surf Dawgs in 2005, at 46!

When Rickey murders his wife and kids, will you guys be red-faced.

Yeah! 'Cause, as we all know, cute little offhand jokes about disabled people are a freaking riot!

Mattingly drove in Henderson 56 times in 1985. That is a ridiculous total. I haven't exactly made an exhaustive search, but I've only found one larger number in recent history (excepting a player driving himself in, of course) - and I bet nobody can guess what it is.

My favorite Rickey story. If you read it and don't get a little emotional, you're dead inside

The 58. I think one of them is still active (sort of). An awful lot of talent on such a forgotten team.

I think one of them is still active (sort of).

Erin States 16 years later

Maybe, at least for career total (although the records don't go back that far). But the highest single-season numbers I've found have all involved run scorers who didn't drive themselves in nearly as often as Ruth did.