Last season (2000), while with the Seattle Mariners, Henderson asked teammate John Olerud why he wore a batting helmet while playing first base. Olerud explained he had an aneurysm years ago and wore the helmet for protection. Henderson said that was interesting, because a former teammate of his with the Mets had done the same thing. That former teammate was Olerud.

The second story is one told by Gwynn and Dave Stewart, whose friendship with Henderson dates back to playing on youth teams in Oakland. Henderson was in his first go-round with San Diego, in 1996. He got on the team bus and asked whether the players had assigned seats. Outfielder Steve Finley yelled to Henderson, "Rickey, you can sit anywhere you want. You've got tenure." Responded Henderson: "Ten years? What are you talking about? Rickey got 16, 17 years." "He was as serious as a heart attack," Gwynn says. "The bus erupted. We laughed for 10 minutes."