Dave Henderson obit

Former MLB outfielder Dave Henderson dies at 57

He was not on the list.

Dave Henderson, the former major league outfielder who hit one of the most famous home runs in postseason history, died Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 57.

Henderson died early Sunday morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a statement from the Mariners, one of five teams Henderson played for in his career. Henderson had a kidney transplant in late October.

Henderson was best known for his home run in the 1986 AL Championship Series for Boston. With the Red Sox one strike from elimination in Game 5, Henderson hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth against the California Angels to send the series back to Boston. The Red Sox won Games 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series.

But beyond his memorable playoff moment, Henderson was a reliable contributor to four teams that reached the World Series and played 14 seasons total in the majors. His greatest success came from 1988-91 with Oakland. During that four-year stretch, the A's went to the World Series three times.

Henderson played in 575 regular-season games during that span, hitting .275 with 84 homers, 123 doubles and 322 RBIs. Henderson was an All-Star in 1991.

"Henderson was an instrumental part of the A's 1989 World Series championship club and an even more impactful member of the A's family and community," the A's said in a statement. "Hendu and his smile will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family."

Tributes to Henderson began to pour in on social media.

Oakland Athletics tweeting, "The A's mourn the passing of our dear friend Dave Henderson. We'll miss the person, the player, that smile. #RIPHendu."

 

Some of his memorable teammates, managers, team owners and coaches were: Maury Wills, Rene Lachemann, George Argyros, Floyd Bannister, Richie Zisk, Tom Paciorek, Gaylord Perry, Bill Caudill, Phil Bradley, Del Crandall, Alvin Davis, Mark Langston, Harold Reynolds, Danny Tartabull, Chuck Cottier, Gorman Thomas, Iván Calderón, Tony Armas, Mike Greenwell, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Don Baylor, Wade Boggs, Bill Buckner, Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens, Buddy LeRoux, Haywood Sullivan, Jean Yawkey, Dennis Oil Can Boyd, Spike Owen, Marty Barrett, Bruce Hurst, Rich Gedman, Bob Stanley, Ellis Burks, Roger Craig, Will Clark, Chili Davis, José Uribe, Rick Reuschel, Kirt Manwaring, Matt Williams, Dave Dravecky, Candy Maldonado, Jeffrey Leonard, Kevin Mitchell,  Jose Canseco Mark McGwire, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson,Tony La Russa, Walter A. Haas, Jr., Sandy Alderson, Tony Phillips, Dave Stewart, Carney Lansford, Bob Welch, Storm Davis, Dave Parker, Mike Moore, Willie Randolph, Harold Baines, Willie McGee, Scott Sanderson, Curt Young, Ron Darling, Vance Law, Willie Wilson, Brook Jacoby, Rubén Sierra, Scott Brosius, Bobby Witt, Rich Goose Gossage, Dale Sveum, Vince Coleman, Kevin Appier, Mark Gubicza, Brian McRae, Tom Gordon, David Cone, Hal McRae, Wally Joyner, Greg Gagne, Gary Gaetti, Bob Hamelin and David Glass.