NEW YORK, NY – I remember back in 1999 when I was inside the China Club, the famed New York hotspot, where I saw NY Mets outfielder Rickey Henderson hanging out with lefty pitcher Chuck McElroy. Rickey had a hole on the top of his shoe, which clearly showed he was wearing a white sock. I asked Rickey, “What’s up with that holey shoe?,” he responded, “Rickey needs air through his kicks.”
In 2001 outside that same China Club, a limo pulled up and out popped Rickey with a few of his San Diego Padres teammates. They just finished beating the Mets and Rickey had the swagger of Tony Manero, as he strode toward the velvet rope with his teammates behind. I jumped between them to blend in as we all made our way into the club.
Inside the club Rickey struck up a conversation with Spinderella, the third wheel of the duet rappers, Salt-N-Pepa. She led him to the dance floor where they grooved to the beats. My eyes were fixated on the tall and pretty Spinderella. I made my move near them as they danced. Suddenly I grabbed her hand and spun her towards me. She smiled as Rickey laughed and sprinted off the dance floor as though he was stealing 2nd base.
A few years later in 2004 Rickey was playing for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. I took a woman named Cierra Byrd with me to watch a game. There were about 200 fans in attendance and me and Cierra sat in the front row down the left field line. She turned to me unamused and asked, “What are we doing here?” I pointed to the left fielder and said to her, “That’s Rickey Henderson over there.” She responded, “No it ain’t, why would he be playing here?”
During a pitching change Rickey walked over to the left field where me and Cierra were sitting. I asked her to go ahead and ask him, why was he playing here. Cierra froze and got starstruck as Rickey asked her if she was enjoying the game.
When Roberto Alomar got inducted into Cooperstown, I was there as one of his guests. I remember watching Rickey going around the room getting his fellow Hall of Famers to autograph the annual yearbook. He was so excited while handing them a sharpie so they can sign their page.
All this came back to my mind after hearing about Rickey’s sudden death. May he Rest in Peace, and may God give him a pardon for all those stolen bases and let him sprint through the Gates of Heaven.
