Losing Number to Rickey Was No Big Deal

The Seattle Mariners are scouring the waiver wire for a player to replace Jose Cruz Jr., in left field and invigorate the offense as Vince Coleman did in 1995. The Mariners considered Rickey Henderson before he was acquired by the Angels but rejected San Diego’s overtures.

Ken Griffey Jr. said he would have given Henderson the shirt off his back.

“If they bring in Rickey,” Griffey said before Seattle’s 5-3 loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday, “I’ll give him No. 24. I swear I would.”

It was the Angels, however, who gave Henderson No. 24 in making a significant acquisition, said Padre coach Davey Lopes, the former Dodger.

“Rickey’s the best at doing what he does of anyone who has ever put on the uniform, and that’s not arguable,” Lopes said. “He doesn’t get enough credit for his desire to win. Regardless of what people think of him at times, he’s a tremendous player, teammate and person.”

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It was only a couple of weeks ago that Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf raised the white flag by trading Harold Baines to the Baltimore Orioles, and Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to the San Francisco Giants.

“Anyone who thinks we can catch Cleveland is crazy,” Reinsdorf said at the time.

Given the Indians’ ineptitude, the White Sox are still alive in the Central, and now Reinsdorf is saying: “I’m convinced that the talent we have left can still win. To them I say, ‘Prove me wrong.’ ”

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It was no surprise to Otis Nixon’s former Toronto teammate, Joe Carter, that Nixon stole two home runs to preserve the Dodgers’ 1-0 victory over Montreal on Thursday. Carter, Nixon’s first roommate when they broke in together with Cleveland in 1984, has long called him Ozone, the “O” for Otis and the ozone for his ability to sky. As Carter said in Toronto, “We’ve been through a lot of good times and bad. It’s sad to see a good friend leave, but Ozone is going Hollywood. I’m happy for him.”

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Nixon’s departure from the AL virtually assures Detroit Tiger center fielder Brian Hunter of the stolen base title. Nixon left with 47. Hunter has 60. Nixon, 38, recently chided Hunter, telling him not to let an old man sneak up and steal the steal title.

“To win the stolen base title is a dream that I’ve had since I started stealing bases in the minors,” said Hunter, 26. “I want to score 100 runs [he’s on a pace for 110] and that’s why the title would mean so much.”

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He had been the Orioles’ public address announcer since 1974 and brightened every trip to Baltimore with his warmth, smile and humor. It is sad to think of the Baltimore press box without Rex Barney, who died Tuesday at 72.

Barney was once a Brooklyn Dodger phenom who could throw 100 mph but retired prematurely because of a lack of control. He could have turned it into a lifetime of frustration and bitterness, complaining about his disappointments, what might have been.

Instead, he seemed forever grateful for what he had, his ability to still be a part of the game, and laughed at the incongruity of a man being able to throw 100 mph but not over the plate. Barney would blare into the microphone “Give that person a contract” whenever a fan caught a foul ball. It is safe to say that he was welcomed to heaven with a contract.