Steve Henderson | |
---|---|
Left fielder | |
Born: Houston, Texas, U.S. | November 18, 1952|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
June 16, 1977, for the New York Mets | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 1988, for the Houston Astros | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .280 |
Home runs | 68 |
Runs batted in | 428 |
Teams | |
Steven Curtis Henderson (born November 18,1952) is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."
Henderson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft out of Prairie View A&M University. After leading the Eastern League with 158 hits,eleven triples and 255 total bases,and batting .312 in 1976 for the Reds' Double-A affiliate,the Trois-Rivières Aigles,he was batting .326 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1977 at the time of his trade to New York.
Tom Seaver was in a contract dispute with New York Mets chairman M. Donald Grant when on June 15,1977,the Mets traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry,Doug Flynn,Dan Norman and Henderson,one of a series of trades that became known as the "Midnight Massacre". [1]
Henderson debuted with the Mets the following day as a pinch runner for Ed Kranepool,and his first major league run was the tying run in the Mets' 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros. [2] On June 21,facing the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium,Kranepool hit a ninth inning home run off Andy Messersmith to send the game into extra innings. Following a one-out double by John Stearns in the 11th inning,the Braves intentionally walked Félix Millán to get to Henderson. The strategy didn't work,as Henderson connected for a three-run walk off home run. [3]
He set a Mets rookie record,tied by Josh Satin in 2013,by reaching base in 29 consecutive games that he started. [4] [5]
For the season,Henderson had a .297 batting average in 99 games and 350 at-bats with twelve home runs,65 runs batted in,67 runs,104 hits,sixteen doubles,six triples,six stolen bases,43 base on balls,and four sacrifice flies. He finished second to Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos in National League Rookie of the Year balloting by only one point (10–9).
On June 14,1980,Henderson had perhaps his best moment in a major league uniform. The Mets had recovered from a terrible start to the season,going on a tear to approach the .500 mark. That day,facing the Giants,Mets' starting pitcher Pete Falcone was lit up,staking the Giants to a 5-0 lead,which later became 6-0. Still trailing 6-2 with two outs in the ninth,the Mets staged a highly improbable comeback,which ended with Henderson hitting a three-run home run to win the game 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth,pulling the team within a game of .500. The Mets resumed their losing ways immediately thereafter,as that day turned out to be the high point of the season. [6] [7]
According to Henderson,he was at his best when he focused on getting hits,and suffered when he was pressured by the Mets to try to hit home runs. Henderson was not a natural power hitter,but the Mets were desperate for power at the time. [6]
On February 28,1981,eager to make right with a fan base that had become disenchanted with the team,the Mets sent Henderson and cash to the Chicago Cubs in order to reacquire Dave Kingman,who had been traded away during the "Midnight Massacre". For his Mets career,Henderson batted .287 with 35 home runs and 227 runs batted in.
Henderson batted .293 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in during the 1981 strike shortened season. His production fell off considerably the following season,as he batted only .233,and found himself sharing playing time in left field with Keith Moreland and Jay Johnstone. He was traded from the Cubs to the Seattle Mariners for Rich Bordi at the Winter Meetings on December 9,1982. [8]
After two seasons in Seattle,Henderson and Kingman became teammates when Henderson signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics on March 31,1985. Batting only .077 for the season,he was released by the A's on May 29,1986.
He signed with the Chicago White Sox shortly afterwards. The ChiSox released him at the end of the season. Henderson then signed again with the A's for 1987,and split the season between Oakland and their Triple-A affiliate,the Tacoma Tigers.
Henderson signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros for 1988. After splitting the season between the Astros and their Triple-A affiliate,the Tucson Toros,Henderson was released during the off season. He played the entire 1989 season with the Buffalo Bisons,who were now a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate,before retiring.
Games | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | HBP | Avg. | Slg. | OBP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1085 | 3484 | 459 | 976 | 162 | 49 | 68 | 428 | 79 | 58 | 386 | 677 | 13 | .280 | .413 | .352 |
Henderson spent 1989 with the Buffalo Bisons,where he batted .298 with seven home runs. [9]
Henderson finished in the top ten in the National League in on-base percentage twice during his career.
Following his retirement,he won the Senior Professional Baseball Association championship with the St. Petersburg Pelicans.
Henderson served as a coach in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system from 1990 through 1993. He moved to the Houston Astros organization in 1994,and served as their hitting coach from 1995 to 1996.
He moved to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization in 1996,serving as hitting coach during their inaugural 1998 season and from 2006 to 2009,making the first trip of his baseball career to the post season in 2008. He was relieved of his duties as hitting coach of the Tampa Bay Rays on October 5,2009. [10] Henderson joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 as an outfield/baserunning coordinator,and he spent 2011 and 2012 as the organization's hitting coordinator. On October 4,2012,he was promoted to hitting coach for the major league team. [11] He was fired by the Phillies after the 2016 season. [12]
He and his wife,Pam,reside in Tampa,Florida. He graduated with degrees in Multimedia and Political Science from McMaster University in 2006. [13]
Bob Kelly Abreu,nicknamed "El Comedulce" and "La Leche",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Philadelphia Phillies,New York Yankees,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Los Angeles Dodgers,and New York Mets.
David Arthur Kingman,nicknamed "Kong","King Kong",and "Sky King",is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder,first baseman,third baseman,and designated hitter who was a three-time MLB All-Star with 442 career home runs and 1,210 runs batted in (RBI) in 16 seasons. In his career,Kingman averaged a home run every 15.11 at bats,tied for 14th best all-time.
Alfredo JoséPedrique García is a Venezuelan professional baseball player,coach,and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop for the New York Mets (1987),Pittsburgh Pirates (1987–88),and Detroit Tigers (1989).
Edward Emil Kranepool III was an American professional baseball player. He spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets. He was predominantly a first baseman,but he also played in the outfield.
Ty Allen Wigginton is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Houston Astros,Baltimore Orioles,Colorado Rockies,Philadelphia Phillies,and St. Louis Cardinals. He mainly played as a first and third baseman,but also platooned as an infielder and an outfielder during his career. He batted and threw right-handed. Wigginton resides in Chula Vista,California.
Joel Randolph Youngblood III is an American former professional baseball player. He was a versatile player,who could play many different positions,as well as pinch hit. After his playing career ended,he served as the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Richard Joseph Hebner is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1968 through 1985,most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971. After his playing career,Hebner spent several years as a hitting coach at the major league and minor league levels. He also managed minor league teams in the Pirates,Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
Louis Benjamin Francisco,is an American former professional baseball outfielder,who is currently a major league scout for the Los Angeles Angels. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays,Houston Astros,Tampa Bay Rays,and New York Yankees.
The 1984 New York Mets season was the 23rd regular season for the Mets. They went 90–72 and finished in second place in the National League East. They were managed by Davey Johnson. They played home games at Shea Stadium.
The 1983 New York Mets season was the 22nd regular season for the Mets. They went 68–94 and finished in sixth place in the National League East. They were managed by George Bamberger and Frank Howard. They played home games at Shea Stadium.
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets,who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre,the team posted a 64–98 record and finished in last place for the first time since 1967,and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in 1969.
The 1975 New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets,who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan,the team had an 82–80 record and finished in third place in the National League East.
The 1969 New York Mets season was the team's eighth as a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise and culminated when they won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. They played their home games at Shea Stadium and were managed by Gil Hodges. The team is often referred to as the "Amazin' Mets" or the "Miracle Mets".
Kenneth George Boswell is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.
Reid Michael Brignac is an American professional baseball manager and former professional baseball infielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays,Colorado Rockies,New York Yankees,Philadelphia Phillies,Miami Marlins,and Atlanta Braves. He is currently the manager of the minor league Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
Daniel Edmund Norman is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played for the New York Mets and Montreal Expos of Major League Baseball (MLB). His professional career started in the Cincinnati Reds organization but he never played a major league game for the Reds.
Erik Floyd Kratz is an American former professional baseball catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays,Kansas City Royals,Houston Astros,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Tampa Bay Rays,and New York Yankees during an 11-year career. Kratz was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.
Jonathan Rafael Villar Roque is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros,Milwaukee Brewers,Baltimore Orioles,Miami Marlins,Toronto Blue Jays,New York Mets,Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels. Prior to 2017,Villar was primarily a shortstop.
Joseph Patrick Wendle is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics,Tampa Bay Rays,Miami Marlins,and New York Mets. He is one of the few MLB players to not use batting gloves.
Cal Stevenson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Stevenson played college baseball for the University of Nevada,Reno Wolfpack,Chabot Junior College,and the University of Arizona. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Stevenson in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB draft.