In Honor Of Ricky Henderson's Passing

[Marcskit]

In Honer of Ricky Henderson’s Passing: I thought I would expand on what the Oakland Athletic League has brought us.

Ricky Henderson: All world Everything. Did it all.

Did you know that Oakland is considered a Mediterranean Climate. 59 to 60 degrees most of the year.

Let’s talk about the many city parks, that lent Athletes room to play all manor of ball.

Coaches, like George Powles -- Bill Russell said, outside of my Father, he was the most influential person in my life.
First Black Coach in NBA. Could be the Greatest of them all.

Don Budge’s Grand Slam tennis Title, all four titles in the same year.
Remember Frank Robinson ? He won the Triple Crown, And MVP in both leagues. Became the first Black Manager in Baseball History

You haven’t forgotten Curt Flood, who challenged Major League Baseball’s Claus. And who helped open the owners strangle hold on the players.
Let’s not leave out Vada Pinson. Joe Morgan anyone? Dave Stewart, Ernie Lombardi, Cookie Lavagetto, Rudy May, Willie Stargell,

How about some hoops. Don Barksdale, first African American named to a NBA all star team. First African American Consensus all American in the NCAA.
We should remember Gary Payton? Jason Kidd anyone? Lester Conner, Greg Foster, Jared Cunningham. Damian Lillard, Leon Powe, Cliff Robinson, Brian Shaw, Paul Silas, John Brodie, Marshawn Lynch.

I have just scratched the surface of who, and what, Oakland brings to the fore.

So when thinking that the OAL is Antiquated, just look at the riches they have Produced.


Here’s wishing you great hoops

 

[Prepog]

In Honer of Ricky Henderson’s Passing: I thought I would expand on what the Oakland Athletic League has brought us.

Ricky Henderson: All world Everything. Did it all.

Did you know that Oakland is considered a Mediterranean Climate. 59 to 60 degrees most of the year.

Let’s talk about the many city parks, that lent Athletes room to play all manor of ball.

Coaches, like George Powles -- Bill Russell said, outside of my Father, he was the most influential person in my life.
First Black Coach in NBA. Could be the Greatest of them all.

Don Budge’s Grand Slam tennis Title, all four titles in the same year.
Remember Frank Robinson ? He won the Triple Crown, And MVP in both leagues. Became the first Black Manager in Baseball History

You haven’t forgotten Curt Flood, who challenged Major League Baseball’s Claus. And who helped open the owners strangle hold on the players.
Let’s not leave out Vada Pinson. Joe Morgan anyone? Dave Stewart, Ernie Lombardi, Cookie Lavagetto, Rudy May, Willie Stargell,

How about some hoops. Don Barksdale, first African American named to a NBA all star team. First African American Consensus all American in the NCAA.
We should remember Gary Payton? Jason Kidd anyone? Lester Conner, Greg Foster, Jared Cunningham. Damian Lillard, Leon Powe, Cliff Robinson, Brian Shaw, Paul Silas, John Brodie, Marshawn Lynch.

I have just scratched the surface of who, and what, Oakland brings to the fore.

So when thinking that the OAL is Antiquated, just look at the riches they have Produced.


Here’s wishing you great hoops

Let’s not forget probably best hoop prep player to come out of Oakland, Tony Jackson

 

[ArmchairGOAT]

Wasn’t Tony Jackson from San Francisco? St. Dominic’s/ Sacred Heart Grammar?

 

[Prepog]

Wasn’t Tony Jackson from San Francisco? St. Dominic’s/ Sacred Heart Grammar?

Yes, but went BOD in high school, class of 82’

 

[Marcskit]

Let’s not forget probably best hoop prep player to come out of Oakland, Tony Jackson

Remember, I did say I just scratched the service

Here's wishing you great hoops

 

[dlew66]

Are we talking OAL or Oakland? Brian Shaw grew up in Richmond and played at BOD (back then they were in the CAL).

Kevin Maas (‘83) was a great basketball and baseball player (NY Yankees) at BOD during the same time with Shaw and Jackson.

Dave Stewart was great in baseball, basketball, and very, very good in football. Football was probably his best sport in HS. He balled at my Pop’s alma mater—St. Elizabeth.

Jason Kidd played at St. Joe’s as did Calvin Byrd.

Other great hoop OAL alums: Antonio Davis (Payton’s teammate); Mack High’s Demetrius “Hook” Mitchell and Paul Silas; etc.

A few other great hoop players from Oakland: Paul Pierce; Isiah Rider; my son’s AAU/CYO foes/teammates Amen and Ausar Thompson; and many more.

Other baseball OAL alums like Oakland Tech’s Ricky Henderson: Skyline High’s Marcus Jensen and Brian Johnson; Fremont High’s Steve Hosey and Terrance Frazier; Oakland Tech’s Terrell Lowery (MLB) was great at baseball and basketball.

A few other prep greats from the OAL, but careers cut short or stalled after HS just during my era:

Durrell Rumsey (Tech baseball and football). Just couldn’t stay healthy. Would have easily been a major leaguer.

John Finn (Skyline) and Derek Horton (Long Beach State) were both some of the best guys I played against in little league and HS in the 80s along with Brian Johnson, Hosey, Frazier, and Rumsey who were all from the OAL.

You might also remember “Fast” Freddy Thomas from Oakland High during that time. He was nice in baseball and football. The Wildcats have a long list of greats too.

Hook Mitchell was a teammate of mine on an Albany summer league baseball team when we were 14-15. He was a left-handed pitcher who threw this huge looping curve ball. I assumed he was called “Hook” because of that pitch.

Not knowing he was this hoop phenom from The Town I challenged him to a game of 21 after baseball practice one day. I was the biggest guy on the squad and thought I’d just go easy on him and let him hang with me for a few minutes and then I’d put him away.

Well, that was the plan. I f’d around and found out…quickly.

 

[ankleassassin]

add in oakland saw a drop in homicides by 34% in 2024... although 3 people were killed yesterday but still....

 

[Marcskit]

Are we talking OAL or Oakland? Brian Shaw grew up in Richmond and played at BOD (back then they were in the CAL).

Kevin Maas (‘83) was a great basketball and baseball player (NY Yankees) at BOD during the same time with Shaw and Jackson.

Dave Stewart was great in baseball, basketball, and very, very good in football. Football was probably his best sport in HS. He balled at my Pop’s alma mater—St. Elizabeth.

Jason Kidd played at St. Joe’s as did Calvin Byrd.

Other great hoop OAL alums: Antonio Davis (Payton’s teammate); Mack High’s Demetrius “Hook” Mitchell and Paul Silas; etc.

A few other great hoop players from Oakland: Paul Pierce; Isiah Rider; my son’s AAU/CYO foes/teammates Amen and Ausar Thompson; and many more.

Other baseball OAL alums like Oakland Tech’s Ricky Henderson: Skyline High’s Marcus Jensen and Brian Johnson; Fremont High’s Steve Hosey and Terrance Frazier; Oakland Tech’s Terrell Lowery (MLB) was great at baseball and basketball.

A few other prep greats from the OAL, but careers cut short or stalled after HS just during my era:

Durrell Rumsey (Tech baseball and football). Just couldn’t stay healthy. Would have easily been a major leaguer.

John Finn (Skyline) and Derek Horton (Long Beach State) were both some of the best guys I played against in little league and HS in the 80s along with Brian Johnson, Hosey, Frazier, and Rumsey who were all from the OAL.

You might also remember “Fast” Freddy Thomas from Oakland High during that time. He was nice in baseball and football. The Wildcats have a long list of greats too.

Hook Mitchell was a teammate of mine on an Albany summer league baseball team when we were 14-15. He was a left-handed pitcher who threw this huge looping curve ball. I assumed he was called “Hook” because of that pitch.

Not knowing he was this hoop phenom from The Town I challenged him to a game of 21 after baseball practice one day. I was the biggest guy on the squad and thought I’d just go easy on him and let him hang with me for a few minutes and then I’d put him away.

Well, that was the plan. I f’d around and found out…quickly.

All those folks you mentioned were from Oakland

Are we talking OAL or Oakland? Brian Shaw grew up in Richmond and played at BOD (back then they were in the CAL).

Kevin Maas (‘83) was a great basketball and baseball player (NY Yankees) at BOD during the same time with Shaw and Jackson.

Dave Stewart was great in baseball, basketball, and very, very good in football. Football was probably his best sport in HS. He balled at my Pop’s alma mater—St. Elizabeth.

Jason Kidd played at St. Joe’s as did Calvin Byrd.

Other great hoop OAL alums: Antonio Davis (Payton’s teammate); Mack High’s Demetrius “Hook” Mitchell and Paul Silas; etc.

A few other great hoop players from Oakland: Paul Pierce; Isiah Rider; my son’s AAU/CYO foes/teammates Amen and Ausar Thompson; and many more.

Other baseball OAL alums like Oakland Tech’s Ricky Henderson: Skyline High’s Marcus Jensen and Brian Johnson; Fremont High’s Steve Hosey and Terrance Frazier; Oakland Tech’s Terrell Lowery (MLB) was great at baseball and basketball.

A few other prep greats from the OAL, but careers cut short or stalled after HS just during my era:

Durrell Rumsey (Tech baseball and football). Just couldn’t stay healthy. Would have easily been a major leaguer.

John Finn (Skyline) and Derek Horton (Long Beach State) were both some of the best guys I played against in little league and HS in the 80s along with Brian Johnson, Hosey, Frazier, and Rumsey who were all from the OAL.

You might also remember “Fast” Freddy Thomas from Oakland High during that time. He was nice in baseball and football. The Wildcats have a long list of greats too.

Hook Mitchell was a teammate of mine on an Albany summer league baseball team when we were 14-15. He was a left-handed pitcher who threw this huge looping curve ball. I assumed he was called “Hook” because of that pitch.

Not knowing he was this hoop phenom from The Town I challenged him to a game of 21 after baseball practice one day. I was the biggest guy on the squad and thought I’d just go easy on him and let him hang with me for a few minutes and then I’d put him away.

Well, that was the plan. I f’d around and found out…quickly.

Brian Shaw was considered from Oakland , Played at Bishop Odowd. Stewart was from Oakland. Hook was from Oakland.
Glad to take you back to some old time folks.

Here's wishing you great hoops