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Rickey Helmet Tale Just a Joke

ANDREW MARCHAND
The New York Post, Pg. 086
June 19, 2000

MILWAUKEE - The Rickey Henderson-John Olerud helmet story is a good one, except for one little fact. It's not true.

When Henderson was released in the middle of May at Shea, some people in the Mets organization joked that when Henderson got to the Mariners, he would ask former teammate John Olerud why he wears the batting helmet. Olerud would explain that he always does and thenHenderson would say that he had a teammate who wore the helmet last year. Olerud would respond, "That was me."

It was meant in harmless fun, but then ESPN reported it and Sports Illustrated in its latest edition followed with a story headlined, "Clueless in Seattle."

Several sources confirmed the origin of the story yesterday was in the Mets'clubhouse. Olerud has told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer it never happened.

The story is one many could believe because of Henderson's history of saying odd things. For example, last year Henderson couldn't remember GM Steve Phillips' name.

"It was all in fun, I imagine," said Pat Mahomes, who was Henderson's best friend on the Mets. "I think when it was started, the person who started it didn't think that it was going to be reported on. People already have their perception of Rickey. So it is definitely unfair to him, but what can you do about it?"

A Met player added, "It would be an unbelievable story, if it were true."

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