Quotes from Rickey Henderson

I don't want to be one of those great players who never made it to the Series.

Lou Brock was a great base stealer but today I am the greatest.

I was stealing all the bases, and when you had to go to arbitration they said, 'You know, only the big boys make the money.' So I got to try and figure out how to hit a home run, too.

My dream was to play football for the Oakland Raiders. But my mother thought I would get hurt playing football, so she chose baseball for me. I guess moms do know best.

It gave me no chance. He (Nolan Ryan) just blew it (strikeout #5,000) by me. But its an honor. I'll have another paragraph in all the baseball books. I'm already in the books three or four times.

Certain guys, they can see a guy do a certain thing with their glove and know what pitch is coming. I couldn't do that. But I can get on first base and I can tell you by his move if that pitcher is going to first base or home plate every time.

Once you can accept failure, you can have fun and success.

To all the kids out there: Follow your dream. Believe in your dream. Because dreams do come true.

Somehow, I've been blessed to be able to have the young spirit inside - not feel like every year I get a year older. I feel like every year I get a year younger. I don't wake up in the morning with aches and pains.

I'm disappointed about how my career ended.

Well, Rickey's not one of them, so that's 49 percent right there.

The only name on my birth certificate was Henley, no first name.

Rickey got a big ranch. Rickey got a big bull. Rickey got horses. Rickey got chickens and everything. And Rickey got a 20-gallon hat.

My impact on the game was going out there and making things happen.

Even the slowest guy can go from first to third and help win a ballgame.

I'm a Hall of Famer and I'm still fighting for it because I love the game and I love to play.

I did so many things that made me a threat.

I told myself that if I ever make it to the big leagues that I would be the one to appreciate the fans. Take a little time out to sign autographs and shake their hands and say hello to them.

Today I am the greatest of all time.

I haven't had the time to say, 'I'm retiring.' But baseball says, 'You're retired.'

I don't think I could have dreamt it up any better than how things went, of being at my peak at just the right time, and have everything go my way.

People recognize me - but if you've been in the public eye as long as I have and people don't recognize you, I feel bad about myself.

Once you can accept failure, you can have fun and success.

I love the game and I wanted to continue playing. It came to a time that I had to stop.