Dave Henderson

Dave Henderson
Name	Dave Henderson
Birth date	1958-08-11
Birth place	Merced, California, U.S.
Death date	2015-12-27
Death place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Professional baseball outfielder, coach, broadcaster
Years active	1981–1995
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Teams	Seattle Mariners; Boston Red Sox; San Francisco Giants; Oakland Athletics; Kansas City Royals; New York Mets

Dave Henderson was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1995. He was best known for his postseason heroics with the Boston Red Sox and for his tenure with the Oakland Athletics during their late-1980s dynasty. Over a 15-year career he played for multiple franchises and later worked as a coach and broadcaster.

Early life and education

Henderson was born in Merced, California, and grew up in the Central Valley near Fresno, California and Stockton, California. He attended Washington Union High School, where he played baseball and was scouted by MLB organizations including the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants. After high school he enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College and later transferred to the University of the Pacific, connecting with collegiate programs linked to scouts from the Major League Baseball Draft system and regional California Community College Athletic Association competition.

Professional baseball career

Signed as an amateur free agent before the 1978 season, Henderson began his professional career in the Minor League Baseball system with affiliates of the San Francisco Giants and later the Seattle Mariners. He made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 1981 and subsequently played for the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and New York Mets. Henderson was a member of the Athletics teams that won multiple American League West division titles and an American League Championship Series appearance, contributing to postseason rosters during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His career spanned notable MLB eras, overlapping with players from the Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn generations and managers such as Tony La Russa and Joe Torre.

Playing style and notable achievements

Primarily a right-handed batter and thrower, Henderson was known for his power-hitting, run-producing ability, and defensive range in center and right field. He posted several seasons with 15–25 home runs and contributed key extra-base hits during regular seasons and postseason play, often facing pitchers from the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. Henderson's most famous moment came in the 1986 postseason against the New York Mets and in the 1986 World Series, where a pivotal outfield play and clutch hitting influenced the outcome of games. Over his career he compiled statistics that included runs batted in, home runs, batting average, and on-base metrics tracked by MLB record-keeping and analytics groups such as Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs.

Coaching and broadcasting career

Following retirement, Henderson transitioned to coaching and served on staff in both minor league and major league organizations, working within farm systems associated with clubs like the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. He also worked as a broadcaster and color commentator for regional sports networks covering teams including the Seattle Mariners and collegiate programs tied to the University of Washington and Pacific-area baseball coverage, partnering with play-by-play announcers and former players for radio and television broadcasts.

Personal life

Henderson lived in the Pacific Northwest, maintaining ties to communities in Seattle, Washington and Modesto, California, and participated in charitable events and youth baseball clinics connected to organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and local Little League affiliates. He was part of a baseball family network that included former teammates, coaches, and front-office personnel from franchises like the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics.

Legacy and honors

Henderson is remembered for his postseason heroics and contributions to championship-caliber teams; his name is frequently cited in retrospectives about the 1986 World Series and the late-1980s Athletics dynasty. Posthumous tributes came from former teammates, managers, and MLB organizations, including uniform-number remembrances and alumni association acknowledgments by teams such as the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. His legacy continues in discussions within baseball history forums, Hall of Fame voter circles, and statistical archives maintained by institutions like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and major sports-reference databases.

Category:1958 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Oakland Athletics players Category:Boston Red Sox players Category:Seattle Mariners players