Remembering the late Rickey Henderson often brings to mind not only his unmatched brilliance on the baseball diamond but also the unforgettable stories that showcased his unique personality. One such tale, recently making waves on social media, is about the time Henderson became a millionaire—or so he thought.

The Oakland Athletics once gave Henderson a $1 million bonus check. Overwhelmed with pride and excitement, the baseball legend decided to frame the check and hang it on his wall rather than cashing it in. It wasn’t until the team’s accounting department noticed a discrepancy in their books that they realized the check had never been deposited. As fans remember ‘Man of Steal’, we not only celebrate his on-field greatness but also cherish the larger-than-life personality and stories that made him a legend.

A great story to remember the late Ricky Henderson by 

The late Rickey Henderson had a memorable moment during his 2009 appearance on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike, where he shared a lighthearted yet unforgettable story about a $1 million bonus check. Reflecting on the moment, Henderson recalled the excitement of receiving the check from the Oakland Athletics.

“You know when you’re a kid — you want to be a millionaire,” he said. “And at the time I got a signing bonus for $1 million, I go, ‘Wow I’m a millionaire! So I’m gonna frame this here check.’ And put it on my wall when I became a millionaire…” Henderson went on to describe how he was so caught up in the excitement of becoming a millionaire that he never cashed the check, opting instead to immortalize it as a symbol of his success. It wasn’t until later when the Oakland Athletics reached out, asking about the uncashed check, that Ricky Henderson realized his mistake.

Henderson went on to add that the team eventually told him to cash the cheque and put a duplicate on the wall. “The Oakland A’s finally called me when they was doing they booking in December and asked where was the check and I said it was on my wall,” the 10-time All-Star continued. “They said, ‘Can you take it down, go cash it, and then put a duplicate in the frame?’ So I eventually took the check down and cashed it.”

So, was Rickey Henderson truly a millionaire all that time he hadn’t cashed his cheque? Probably not. But he certainly won a million hearts of fans worldwide with his remarkable career, unforgettable charisma, and place in baseball history.

Fans need a place where they can offer their condolences 

Fans all over the world are mourning the loss of baseball legend Rickey Henderson, but they are also saddened by the fact that they have nowhere to gather and offer their condolences. The Oakland Athletics, where Henderson played the majority of his career and won most of his accolades, would have been the natural place for fans to pay tribute. Unfortunately, in a major turn of events, the A’s no longer have a home stadium.

John Fisher, the club’s owner, tried and failed to secure a new stadium in Oakland, leading to growing frustration among the fans. The A’s proposed relocating to Las Vegas, a move that has sparked outrage among long-time supporters. Many fans have voiced their displeasure by hanging banners, wearing “Sell the Team” t-shirts, and protesting during games. The controversy worsened when the team initially suggested moving to Sacramento as a temporary home while a new stadium was being built.

Meanwhile, the A’s and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred have issued statements mourning the loss of Rickey Henderson. Commissioner Manfred said, “For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and lead-off hitting.” Over his 25-year MLB career, Henderson played for nine different teams, but it was with the Oakland Athletics, where he had four separate tenures, that he became an iconic figure.