Of course he won't be unanimous. Some old-fart BBWAA backbenchers won't vote for Rickey because he was too much of an egomaniac, or he wasn't a "team player," or just because they have this wrongheaded notion about the sanctity of the unanimous first-ballot choice.

If Cal Ripken wasn't unanimous, Rickey sure as hell won't be.

Rickey and Bert should go in.

Sure Henderson's a lock, and maybe an over 95% guy, but I doubt that all voters will be smart enough to vote for him. Some will probably think that since his career runs total is the all-time best by only a small margin, that he shouldn't be voted for until next year.

Although, I wouldn't be surprised if Rice finally in this year. He came very close last year.

Of course Rickey was a great player, but imagine how great he would have been if he was able to play more than 150 games in a season more than 3 times. Yes, Rickey only played more than 150 games in a season 3 times out of 24 seasons - 1980, 1986, 1998.

Getting in should be Ricky, Blyleven, Rice and Tommy John.

Of course, in three of Rickey's seasons it was impossible to play 150 games due to strikes cutting the season short.

Blyleven and Tommy John???????

Not the very good - only the very best.

"Of course Rickey was a great player, but imagine how great he would have been if he was able to play more than 150 games in a season more than 3 times. Yes, Rickey only played more than 150 games in a season 3 times out of 24 seasons - 1980, 1986, 1998."

If finding a knock on Ricky Henderson's game comes down to this...then you know he's one of the best ever. a real HOF'er, unlike Jim Rice.

150's an awfully high number. How many players EVER reach 150 games a season? The average player gets a day off here and there; they add up to more than 12 pretty easily, even if the player is injury-free.

2008 Red Sox, for example: One player over 150 games (Pedroia). 2008 Cubs: Two. 2008 Angels: None. It ain't easy to pay 150 games. And it's never been cited as a criterion for HOF induction before.

jwwalt,

150 games a season is not a criterion for Hall of Fame selection. However, when evaluating a player's career it is reasonable to note if the player was unavailable more often then should be expected. Don't get me wrong Henderson is a clear cut Hall of Fame selection, but we shouldn't completely ignore the warts. His legs were his meal ticket and he spent a lot of time in the trainers room for aches and pains (hamstring issues mostly IIRC).

Maybe after Henderson gets in, those BBWAA chuckleheads will get around to voting the overwhelmingly qualified Tim Raines, who was a player with similar strengths to Henderson, though clearly not quite as good.

Ty Cobb--who, of course, held the career SB record before Lou Brock and Henderson--missed his share of time to injuries, too. His games/season from 1910-1914, when he was at his peak: 140, 146, 140, 122, 98. The life of the professional base stealer can be a painful one, even for the very best among them.