Yes, folks, I sat down for a two-hour or so interview with A's owner Lewis Wolff today at his Los Angeles office and he confirmed to me that he's in negotiations to bring Rickey Henderson back to the Oakland Athletics, where the greatest player in Oakland history will be when he is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2009.
Lew wasn't specific with the capacity in which Henderson will be with the organization, but it won't be as a player. He hinted at a goodwill community ambassador-type of position but that they may also use him to tutor the young A's. I think they're still developing what exactly that role will be.
It's been far too long that Rickey has been away from Oakland and I'm happy to report that, as long as things go well between Wolff and Henderson in negotiations, that will not last much longer. It's only fitting that Rickey will be Rickey once again with the green and gold in the year that he'll wind up being enshrined at Cooperstown. Even if it isn't as a player.
As for the rest of my lengthy Wolff interview which covered everything from his frustrations around the plodding movement of Cisco Field's future to the rebuilding of our beloved franchise to the recurring injury problems with A's players, I'll be transcribing and hopefully running it in several parts early next week.
0 recs | 82 comments
If Rickey came back as a player,
would he still be our third best hitter? Second? First?
Nico - August 20, 2008
I'm guessing second behind Frank
At least until Gonzalez figures things out more consistently.
Tyler Bleszinski - August 20, 2008
I'm not convinced that Frank has a whole lot left after this last injury
I’d bat Rickey leadoff, third, fourth, and sixth. Cust can bat second, Thomas and Gonzalez can fight it out for fifth.
Nico - August 20, 2008
Well, it's been 20+ years since he's had the power of Cust
And I think that now he would bat about .200, at best, so his OBP would be lower, too. I don’t think he’d be better than Suzuki, Swooney, or Gonzalez, either.
thejd44 - August 21, 2008
rajai davis is now redundant.
xbhaskarx - August 20, 2008
Was he ever really dundant?
Nico - August 20, 2008
Jack Cust has always been kinda redunndant
monkeyball - August 20, 2008
Don't tease me
nevermoor - August 21, 2008
took the words right out of my mouth
Leaving aside batting average, he’d trail only Thomas or perhaps Swooney as an overall offensive player.
Reminds me of the great Ty Cobb story— circa 1960 or so while Cobb was still alive. Modern BallPlayer to OldTimer: “Hey Grandpa— what would the great Ty Cobb hit these days?” OldTimer: “oh, about .280 or so” Modern Player: “280— he had a lifetime average of 361— he’d only hit 280!!” OldTimer: “You gotta remember, he’s 75 years old.”
windyfelix - August 21, 2008
Awesome, awesome news, Blez.
Maybe Rickey can teach some of his baserunning-strategies to Patterson, Pennington and anyone else who will listen. Can’t wait for the rest of the interview!
Taj Adib - August 20, 2008
And maybe Mark Ellis can teach Rickey about leadoff HRs!
Nico - August 20, 2008
Rickey doesn't want to hear about no "Mark Ellis"
Tyler Bleszinski - August 20, 2008
and the thrid base coach or better yet
lets make Rickey the 3B coach and assistant hitting coach
A'sfaninNC - August 21, 2008
that is GREAT news!!
YAY RICKEY!!!
gotgreen - August 20, 2008
Disputed home runs
The crew chief will have access to instant replay? This sounds horrible. Awesome news about Rickey though.
LibrariAN - August 20, 2008
Thanks to Blez
Pretty cool to get scoops on your team’s blog ahead of the beat writers, etc.
One-of-a-kind access here. Awesome work Tyler.
notsellingjeans - August 20, 2008
so I'm curious: ambassador ... to whom?
There are multifarious potential uses to which Ambassador Rickey can be put:
My guess is Number 5 will get most of the press, but Number 2 will be the most important to the franchise.
monkeyball - August 20, 2008
Or #6
“providing a winning attitude” or whatever Joe Morgan will say.
nevermoor - August 20, 2008
7. ambassador to the UN.
xbhaskarx - August 20, 2008
Jeanne Kirkpatrick also referred to herself in the third person
monkeyball - August 20, 2008
I'm thinking he'll probably be the A's ambassador to Venezuela,... maybe Kirgystan or Kazakhstan..South Korea's also a possibility... :-)
iljackb - August 20, 2008
So...
… is Wolff hiring Rickey to be a tour guide, or to wear the stomper costume?
Maybe there is an Oakland embassy in Mexico City or something.
oaklandSMASH - August 21, 2008
and actually, now that I've thought about it overnight ...
… andeux’s “lipstick on a pig” comment looms large as a motivation — are we perhaps finally seeing the attendance drop actually bite Crywolffisher in the pocketboook?
Maybe Lew, drawing on his experience as a fancy hotelier, is planning on using Rickey as a greeter?
monkeyball - August 21, 2008
Interpreters don't come cheap though
67MARQUEZ - August 21, 2008
Rickey doesn't need anyone to tell Rickey what Rickey meant when Rickey said it
monkeyball - August 21, 2008
In the time it took me to parse that
Rickey stole second. And my watch.
nevermoor - August 21, 2008
Rickey can tell you what time time it is before you need to know
monkeyball - August 21, 2008
and my wallet
A'sfaninNC - August 21, 2008
Capper3 thinks that's the best news he's heard all season!
capper3 - August 20, 2008
Rickey for hitting coach!
Helloooo 1st - August 20, 2008
And baserunning coach!
And leadoff coach!
mikev - August 20, 2008
And 3rd base coach
Because why not.
nevermoor - August 20, 2008
You don't really have to do anything -
The A’s don’t put on any plays, and no one is ever rounding third!
Nico - August 20, 2008
Nice work, Tyler
Absolute great news about Rickey’s return. My family is already making plans to take my oldest sister to Cooperstown next year (she turns 50; as does Rickey this Christmas).
I could not be more thrilled to learn this.
67MARQUEZ - August 20, 2008
New coaching position?
Is there anything in the rules that dictates how many coaches a team is allowed to have? If not, I wonder if the A’s might think about creating an entirely new coaching position modeled for Rickey to fill. It would be pretty nice if he was able to impart his experience to the team.
There were a number of stories a few years ago about how much he helped Jose Reyes while coaching for the Mets, particularly in regards to base running/stealing. As I recall there was some dispute as to how much credit should have been given to Rickey versus Reyes’s natural talent.
In the end, it’s just great to have Rickey back with the A’s – no matter what the capacity.
JLeverenz - August 20, 2008
Sure. Can't. Hurt.
Nico - August 20, 2008
Here's an idea
Make Rickey the Getting-On-Base-And-Then-Doing-Something-About-It coach. I’m all for having guys that walk a lot on the team, but it would be awfully nice if they could actually put some pressure on the defense (for example, the Toluca Lake Vermin of Westminster) and force some action – at least it might cut down on the GIDPs we all bitch about.
doctorK - August 20, 2008
I believe there's a limit on the number of coaches on a staff
or at least on the field at a given time. Though there seems to be a bit of discrepancy when it comes to medical personnel at times. At the very least he could be on the field working before & after the games.
DMOAS - August 20, 2008
Keep Larry Davis away from him!!!!!!!!!!!
Nico - August 20, 2008
Seeing Rickey in a Mets uniform makes doctorK an unhappy camper
Great job scooping the
realtruecomplacent sports media, Blez.doctorK - August 20, 2008
Bring him back, Lew!
Looking forward to the whole interview, too.
Flashfire - August 20, 2008
Minor league notes of note...
Jeff Baisley is 3 for 3 with 2 doubles so far tonight for Sacramento (2-2 in the 6th).
James Simmons pitched great in a win for Midland: 7.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K. Jared Lansford finished up with 1.2 IP of scoreless ball (2 hits) to keep his 0.00 ERA intact.
Shane Spencer has hit his 5th HR for Stockton (they lead 4-3 in the 6th).
Nico - August 20, 2008
Oops - there is a Shane Spencer, but this was Matt.
Nico - August 20, 2008
I was going to say...Shane Spencer is Lake Elsinore's hitting coach ;-)
Flashfire - August 20, 2008
Scab
ohtobe21likehuston - August 21, 2008
Yeah, but can they hit?
nevermoor - August 21, 2008
the man of steal coming back...
sweet. best news in the last 6 weeks. he can come out of retirement in 2010. that should give him 5 decades and they will have to redo his plaque at the HOF
KCB58 - August 20, 2008
I'd leave that to his dentist
Nico - August 20, 2008
Lipstick on a pig
andeux - August 20, 2008
xbhaskarx - August 20, 2008
well, that explains why Nico likes it
monkeyball - August 20, 2008
I love this. Just because.
UncleLeo - August 20, 2008
thanks blez. looking forward to it.
as i sit tonight in empty place on a lawn chair. movers came today. two more nights in alaska and then on the road!
ak_A - August 20, 2008
Sweet ... devo has always wanted to see Rickey in an A's uniform again ...
devo - August 20, 2008
A's fans sure needed this
What a great shot in the arm during a rather depressing stretch of baseball. Thanks Blez, for once again bringing us great inside A’s info.
peanut gallery - August 20, 2008
Seriously, can he hit for us?
I’m not convinced he wouldn’t be the best hitter on the team.
baseballgirl - August 20, 2008
Rickey's back!!
This is the best Lew Wolff signing of any kind since he became owner. Maybe he’ll sign some good veteran players next year. Doubtful, but one can dream. Look forward to a great read. Thanks in advance Blez.
jdub69 - August 20, 2008
Thanks, Blez!
This made my evening….and I wasn’t even an A’s fan when Rickey was last with the team.
Englishmajor - August 21, 2008
Sadly...
Taj was not either. Will Clark was too much of an all-american to deter his attention to the other side of the Bay. But Taj will always talk in the 3rd person to appease Rickey from here on out…
Taj Adib - August 21, 2008
This is all kinds of awesome
I don’t even care what capacity or if it has any practical use whatsoever. I just love me some Rickey.
iglew - August 21, 2008
Keep Rickey in Oakland
Our new guys could learn some old school by one of the best in the business.
oaklandSMASH - August 21, 2008
In a limited capacity, I hope
I certainly don’t want him teaching them how to walk on and off the field between innings, how to sit in the bullpen during pitching changes, how to look in the stands while the ball is in play, or how to step out of box to bitch about every called strike.
Monday Fan - August 21, 2008
Let's not forget showing up late for Spring Training
But hey, that was just Rickey being Rickey. He was part on-field performer, part entertainer. And most fans loved that about him (so long as the on-field part was at a high level).
67MARQUEZ - August 21, 2008
I'm looking forward to parsing every word
that comes out of Lew’s mouth! Can’t wait for the interview. The Ricky intro is a nice little tease to boot! Mad blogging skills there Mr. Blez. Pretty soon, people will be interviewing you.
alox - August 21, 2008
Looking forward to reading more on your interview w/Lew.
Rickey has rounded third and is coming home. Time to retire the #35 and #24 for good.
OakFaninFL - August 21, 2008
Good news!
Rickey being Rickey around the Coliseum would be a good thing!
LongTimeFan - August 21, 2008
This is great but I dont expect too much...
I remember being there when Rickey stole his base, and I was also there for all season 1988-1990 and watching really was fantastic.
There are however a few truths if you have watched Rickey over the years:
#1. Its Rickeys World. Hes one of the greatest ball players in the world but its all about him
#2. Hes probably not a great coach. There is a reason the Mets arent throwing a fit about not having him around anymore. Rumors were he missed his first day as batting coach with them as he was strolling around CA. Also for the reason above hes probably not great.
#3. Hes not long for any one position Look at his past since he stopped playing for San Diego Surf Dogs, calling Billy every week to see if he could play. Lets all remember Rickey HAS NOT been part of the A’s organization largley because he wouldn’t let go of the dream of playing. ITs the reason Billy wouldnt bring him back in years past.
ALL THAT ASIDE: If Rickey can bring a winning attitude to this team and put some fire under some butts; Van Burk, Tony Disco, Shooty Babbit, I dont care who you fire, Bring On The Greatest! Just remember his best asset is his largest liability. He knows hes the greatest EVER.
asfan777 - August 21, 2008
I always though he got a bad rap
for the whole “Greatest of All Time” thing. But people embraced Ali for pretty much the same thing. Or at least I think they did.
67MARQUEZ - August 21, 2008
I don't care ...
I’m just glad that he will be back in the green and gold…where he BELONGS.
IM4Oakgal - August 21, 2008
Rickey can be Rickey
simply because the man has earned it. He is single handedly the reason I became an A’s fan in the first place in 1979. I don’t care what people say about him and it is about time the A’s have brought back the ultimate Athletic.
Go Rickey, go! Nice work Blez.
mrod - August 21, 2008
Next up: Blez interviews Rickey
Flashfire - August 21, 2008
rickey interviews rickey
stm72 - August 21, 2008
"Rickey...
what do you think about Rickey coming back to Oakland?"
“Well, Rickey, Rickey is very pleased to have the opportunity to come back home and see Rickey’s fans. Rickey sure does miss those fans. And I know they miss Rickey, too. Rickey just hopes that 67MARQUEZ never finds that one photo of Rickey in that red jumpsuit. Rickey can’t believe Rickey wore that.”
67MARQUEZ - August 21, 2008
Has a HOFer ever unretired?
…of course, I don’t think Rickey has ever officially retired…
calgbear - August 21, 2008
Jim Palmer tried
but lasted only one game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Palmer
guapobob - August 21, 2008
Is Hendu available these days?
gregorymark - August 21, 2008
At his fantasy camp, yes.
I really want to go to that soon. I also want to see if he remembers a little story from one of the rare times he played RF in Oakland.
Flashfire - August 21, 2008
You need to go to the next camp
I go every year, Hendu turns 50 this year and he is going to be a camper instead of a coach. The camp is an absolute blast. Last year my locker was between Hendu, and Campy. Campy was one of my coaches, I now see why we won back then, he is full of fire and wants to win, even with us old guys out there.
billyball1981 - August 21, 2008
Rickey! Rickey! Rickey!
he was a big reason why I first met and fell in love with the A’s in 1980
OaklandSi - August 21, 2008
Anyone ever wonder how the A's would be doing if the team
wouldn’t have been sold to Reggie Jackson’s group of investors? I’m a little bit curious.
ohtobe21likehuston - August 21, 2008
"WOULD"
ohtobe21likehuston - August 21, 2008
Late to the thread
on account of partying with scandinavian students up in sweden (God bless Sweden)
Anyhoo … this is awesome news … I’d love to have him back in some form of coaching/marketing capacity …
In regards to his batting ability, even now, I wonder how a lineup of 9 Rickeys would do.
Rickeyfan - August 23, 2008
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