Cooperstown, late July

Anyone going for the induction of Rice and Henderson?

[Northviewcats]

My wife and I go every year and I'm really looking forward to it. I love spending a day at the museum and another day buying autographs from the Hall of Famers. Most of the signers are nice and they will spend a little time talking with you. I would rather get autographs at some of the smaller shops on main street instead of the big crowd at the Turncliff Inn. There is a small vintage card show on Friday and Saturday and I can usually find a few cards for my collection. It's fun to talk to Ted at the show and his buddy Don Flewelling. I even enjoy sitting out in the sun and listening to the induction speeches. Rickey Henderson's speech should be pretty interesting.

I know a lot of folks don't like the crowds, but my wife and I find it exciting. I'm happy just to buy lunch from the vendors on the street and sit in the shade and people watch.

It would be nice if several Net 54 members are going if we can arrange a meeting place for dinner.

Joe

Not sure if I can make it, but would certainly like to see Rice get inducted. I also think Henderson's speech should be entertaining.

Last I was there (many years ago) I recall walking down to the lake and just sitting on a bench and watching the world go by...really an entertaining place in many ways.

If my plans firm up, perhaps we can plan a meet for lunch.

Al

[bigtrain]

I spend a lot of time in Cooperstown as I have a summer home there. Usually try to avoid the crowds at induction weekend but I'm tempted to go just to hear Henderson. He is so humble.

[mets41]

Induction weekend is my annual vacation. I've been doing this since 1985.

[donmuth]

I admit I don't know a lot about Henderson's off-field persona, but I do have one recount by a co-worker that kind of refutes the humble characterization.

Guy is at the baseball game with his elementary school age son who was a huge fan of Henderson. After the game, a bunch of fans are waiting to get autographs as the players leave the stadium. Guy asks Henderson for an autograph for his son. Henderson takes the paper from him, signs it, then wads it up and throws it back at the guy. Class act...

Maybe he had a bad day at the stadium or something, but he also smashed a little kid's world by ruining his image of his would-be baseball hero. That was uncalled for. If you make millions of dollars every year off of fans coming to see you play a game for a living then you should be professional enough to at least be courteous to your fans. Even saying "Sorry, no autographs today folks" would have passed as being OK.

Read the book called "3 Nights in August" by Buzz Bissinger for another account that talks a little about Henderson's true character when he played for Tony LaRussa.

[bigtrain]

Donny, I have met Henderson on a couple of occasions. Your story is no surprise to me. He is a jerk. The "humble" comment was an attempt at sarcasm. Sorry.

[bigtrain]

My brother just reminded me of a couple of Rickey stories that I had forgotten. You may remember when he broke Lou Brock's base stealing record that he held second base over his head and stated "Today I am the greatest of all time!" Very classy. Or when he homered to break the record for runs scored, he waved off his teammates gathered around home plate to congratulate him so that he could slide into home...on a home run. Too bad Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale weren't on the mound to drill him with a fastball next time up. Henderson also has a fondness for referring to himself in the third person. That's reason enough to anticipate a ridiculous acceptance speech.