Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson,  the all-time stolen base king and 2009 Cooperstown inductee,  has died of pneumonia.  He was 65.

It may be a controversial choice to some,  but if I was to manage a team of MLB's all-time greatest players,  I'd have Henderson at the top of the lineup. 

In my mind,  there was been no greater leadoff hitter in the long history of the sport. 1406 stolen bases. 3,055 hits and 2190 walks.  297 home runs and 510 doubles. 1,115 RBI's to go along with a record 2,295 runs. An OBP of .401 and more than 111 career WAR.

My word. 

I still remember the day in 1982 when he broke the record for most stolen bases in a season,  right here in Milwaukee.  I seem to remember my Dad thought Rickey came off as a pompous here that day,  and maybe he was; sometimes humility takes awhile to catch up with immense talent. 

RIP Rickey. You were spectacular. 

Chuck Woolery

When I was in grade school we were allowed to return home for lunch each day at 11:30, and with rare exceptions my sisters and I did. When we were younger we'd watch Seasame Street in that hour but in the later years we'd tune in to Love Connection,  the dating show hosted by Chuck Woolery.

A contestant would be shown three videos of prospective suitors (cashing in on the popularity of video dating at the time.) The in-studio audience would vote for which one was the best choice, with the result disclosed later,  and then the contestant

would reveal who he or she had chosen and actually gone out with on a date. Their choice would appear by video from backstage,  and the two would describe the date for Chuck, with the best ones being tales of awkward encounters. The audience poll was then revealed,  and the contestant was offered a date with the winner,  on the shows dime, or a second date with their original choice. If they chose their original connection,  he or she would be brought out to reunite with them on stage.

Silly,  but fun.  And Woolery, a veteran host of several other game shows, kept it light but with a modicum of class. He was great.

Chuck Woolery died today at the age of 83. 

RIP