Thunder and Lightning

Rickey thinks Rickey's the best!

All time steals leader Rickey Henderson and former Red Sox slugger Jim Rice were inducted into Cooperstown, with the "best leadoff hitter ever" Rickey Henderson earning 94.8% of the vote to earn induction on his first try. Jim Rice, often labeled as the most feared slugger of the 1970s, received 76.4% of the voters approval to gain entry into the Hall of Fame on his 15th and last year of eligibility on the ballot. Although the all time steals and runs leader was a virtual lock on his first year on the ballot, Rickey Henderson's 94.8% of the vote means that 27 writers left Henderson off their ballots. This also means 27 writers left arguably the greatest leadoff hitter of all time off the ballot. Jim Rice's long awaited entry into the most exclusive club in sports is a great story, and a befitting honor for a man who is the only player in MLB history to have 3 straight seasons of 35+ home runs and 200+ hits.



RICKEY HENDERSON
1406 steals(All time leader)
2295 runs(All time leader)
10 All Star selections
1990 AL MVP
MLB single season record for steals(130 in 1982)
MLB all time record for HRs leading off games(81)
Played for 9 teams

JIM RICE
382 HRs
2452 hits
1451 RBIs
8 All Star selections
1978 AL MVP
Spent all 16 seasons with Red Sox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm30dRuOeDU&feature=related
Jim Rice's 200th HR at Fenway(June 13th, 1988)