Mariners First Ever Draft Pick

One person to ever hit one of the most famous home runs in post-season history, passed away after suffering a massive heart attack.

Dave Henderson originally from Merced, California passed away at the young age of 57 early Sunday morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

This is according to a statement issued from the Seattle Mariners, which was one of five teams that Henderson played for during his impressive career.

He was best known for his home run in the 1986 AL Championship Series for Boston. and with the Red Sox one strike from elimination (Game 5) he managed to hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth against the California Angels sending the series back to Boston.

The Red Sox won Games 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series and it’s interesting to note that Henderson was a reliable contributor to four teams that reached the World Series in which he played 14 pro-seasons in the MLB.

During a four-year stretch with the A’s from 1988-91 the A’s went to the World Series three times.

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

The A’s released a statement saying “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 and his smile will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Henderson started his career in Seattle as the first draft pick in the history of the Mariners franchise in 1977 making his debut in 1981 playing parts of six seasons with them.

Henderson was eventually traded to Boston during the 1986 season and later on he played for San Francisco and Kansas City.

Dave Henderson (centre) with Rickey Henderson (left) and Reggie Jackson (right) at a reception in his honor at the Fenimore Museum on Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Cooperstown, New York

His special ability was to connect with people, both inside the game and in the communities in which he lived and always had a smile.

Following his retirement he spent time as a broadcaster with the Mariners and ran fantasy camps for A’s and Mariners fans.

His Son Chase had a genetic disorder and in light of this he helped to raise funds to support research of Angelman Syndrome.

He is survived by sons Chase and Trent, wife Nancy and his first wife, Lori.

Thoughts to the Family. He will be missed!!