ESPN
Rickey Henderson discussed his move to the National League and his mindset as a base stealer during a UpClose with ESPN's Chris Myers. Here are excerpts from that interview:
Myers: After 16 years in the American League, now you move over to the National League. Are you excited about this kind of challenge?
Henderson: It's a new fresh look. I'm excited to go the National League and see all the ballparks and to play against every team in the major leagues, and to see what I can do in the National League. Frank Robinson told me that if you can play in both leagues then you are a great ballplayer, so I'm getting that opportunity.
Were you humbled a little bit by the way things ended in Oakland?
Henderson: I was a little humbled and disappointed. I wondered what they wanted out of me. What did I have to do for them to be a native of Oakland and be with the A's to the finish.
Myers: Did the relationship with Tony La Russa sour at the end?
Henderson: I can't say it was sour, at all. I think I was disappointed at what he said at the end, that hurt. But other than that, I think our relationship is great.
Myers: Could you have made a difference in Cleveland, had you been traded there? Would you have won the World Series?
Henderson: With my luck, and as Tony La Russa always said, I always rise to the occasion. If it's a big game I will be the one that shines, so I felt that if I were with Cleveland I would have helped out. I can't really say we would have won the World Series, but I would have been a big plus for them.
Myers: Have you ever put yourself in front of a team?
Henderson: No. I put the rookies in front of me. If you ask a rookie in camp with Rickey Henderson, he'll tell you, "Rickey put me in the same boat with him and he's a superstar. But he makes me feel like I'm just as good a player as he is."
Myers: You're baseball's all-time stolen base leader, yet you've said that there's three or four guys on other teams that are faster than you. What is the key for Rickey Henderson in stealing bases?
Henderson: I think the biggest key is not being afraid, not being afraid to get thrown out. If you get thrown out, you get back up and go again. I think that fear of being thrown out is something that I don't think about. A lot of great runners and guys that can run fast might try to steal and get thrown out, you won't see them try it the next time. I'll get back up and try again because I feel that I have a chance to run. My desire, and not being afraid, keeps me wanting to do it again.
Myers: You're the active leader in runs scored in Major League Baseball, the all-time record Ty Cobb owns. You are about 400-450 away, is that something that you would like to accomplish?
Henderson: That's something very important to me. I want to accomplish that. I don't know how long it will take. Whatever it takes, if I can stay in the game and still love the game when that time comes, I'll be in the game until I break it.
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