49ers GM Lynch remembers athleticism and baseball ‘legend’ Henderson originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The death of an athletics legend Ricky Henderson touched everyone’s hearts a week ago — especially within the Bay Area sports community.
One person particularly affected by Henderson’s death was the 49ers’ president of football operations and general manager. John Lynch. On Friday, he discussed Henderson’s legacy with KNBR’s Greg Silver and Derek Papa.
“It was really sad,” Lynch told Silver and Papa. “(49ers Vice President) Keena Turner told me in Miami that Rickey Henderson had passed away.
“We have Michael Zagaris, the photographer who has been with the 49ers forever; Z was close to Rickey and, you know, and we were talking in the locker room before that (Miami Dolphins) game, he said he just saw Rickey a month ago and (Henderson) always looked to be able to play.
Lynch a lot admired the man of flight.
As a longtime Bay Area athlete – and former baseball star turned second-round selection of the Florida Marlins – Lynch misses Henderson and will cherish its impact on countless sports fans and ordinary community members.
“I’m a (San Diego) Padres fan and I grew up in San Diego, and Rickey spent time there,” Lynch added to Silver and Papa. “There are a lot of retired baseball players living in San Diego. …A lot of these guys are my buddies – the love they had for Rickey as a teammate (and) the admiration for the player and then Rickey’s humor.
“I had the opportunity to meet him once or twice, and he is one of those legends. … This is a guy who looked like a football player playing baseball. His hamstrings were sticking out of his uniform. Just a unique athlete who had speed, power, who was really a special baseball player – that sounds like a special human being. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and he will be missed, that’s for sure.
Henderson stood 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds and is one of, if not the greatest pound-for-pound athletes of all time. Lynch, who evaluates NFL talent for a living, probably wasn’t kidding when he suggested Henderson’s ability to play professional football.
No matter what, there will never be another Rickey Henderson. Lynch is honored to have met and admired Henderson, and the San Francisco leader will miss his presence.
