Oakland Mourns and Celebrates Rickey Henderson: “He Was the City”

The death of Rickey Henderson on December 20th was a devastating blow to Oakland and its A’s fans, especially coming so soon after the team’s departure announcement. Henderson, an Oakland native and baseball legend, was deeply intertwined with the city’s identity.

This past Saturday, fans, family, and Hall of Famers gathered at Oakland Arena to honor Henderson’s life. The arena was filled with a sea of A’s jerseys, bearing both his numbers, 35 and 24. The event provided a sense of community and closure for fans reeling from recent losses.

Attendees expressed the profound impact Henderson had on them and the city. Claudine Catledge felt it was a great tribute for Oakland after a difficult period. Arlene Rabuy, a lifelong Oakland resident, described the event as truly “Oakland,” emphasizing the free admission and parking, and how she felt compelled to attend.

Fans traveled from near and far, braving poor weather, to pay their respects. Mario and Kelly Gamez, who drove from Fresno, spoke of the particularly tough time for A’s fans, losing both the team and an icon like Henderson. Dennis Miguel, who followed Henderson’s career from the beginning, echoed the sentiment that Henderson represented the entire Oakland area.

Russell Hale, who knew Henderson from their high school days in Oakland, recalled his incredible athleticism even before his baseball career took off. Omar Ashford, who grew up watching Henderson from the left-field seats with his A’s-fan mother, described him as his favorite player and expressed the deep sense of loss.

Nicole Harris, who was too heartbroken to attend the A’s final game, took time off from work to honor Henderson. She emphasized the A’s as a community and the heartbreak of losing both the team and such a significant figure.

Stacy Brix and Cara Varon, who attended the A’s last game at the Coliseum, felt that this event, much like that final game, provided a sense of closure, shared with the same community of fans. They wanted to pay tribute to Henderson amidst the negativity surrounding the team’s departure.