The Athletics introduced on Monday that each participant will put on the No. 24 to honor late franchise legend Rickey Henderson when the staff opens its dwelling schedule on March 31 in opposition to the Chicago Cubs. That contest will function the primary the A’s play at Sutter Well being Park in West Sacramento, Calif.
Henderson, who died on Dec. 20, appeared in components of 14 seasons with the Athletics when the franchise was situated in Oakland. Moreover, he attended close by Oakland Technical Excessive College, making him a neighborhood product. He was maybe the best leadoff hitter in Main League Baseball historical past, tallying a .279/.401/.419 slash line (127 OPS+) with 297 dwelling runs and 1,406 stolen bases throughout his 25-year profession. Henderson’s contributions had been value an estimated 111.1 Wins Above Substitute and to this present day he stays the all-time profession chief in stolen bases, caught stealings, and runs scored.
“For a number of generations of baseball followers, Rickey Henderson was the gold commonplace of base stealing and leadoff hitting,” commissioner Rob Manfred stated in an announcement after Henderson’s loss of life was introduced. Rickey was one of the completed and beloved Athletics of all-time. He additionally made an affect with many different golf equipment throughout a quarter-century profession like no different. Rickey epitomized velocity, energy and leisure in setting the tone on the high of the lineup. Once we thought of new guidelines for the sport lately, we had the period of Rickey Henderson in thoughts.”
Earlier this offseason, the A’s introduced that they’d put on a patch honoring Henderson’s life. The 2025 jerseys may also embody a Sacramento patch, although the staff’s identify and jerseys will in any other case not acknowledge their residence in West Sacramento as a part of a multi-year layover earlier than they relocate once more to Las Vegas, Nevada.
The brand new period of A’s baseball will start on March 27 with a collection in Seattle in opposition to the Mariners.
