Rickey Henderson's Story Of Framing $1 Million Check Resurfaces After His Passing

The baseball world was forced to say goodbye to the great Rickey Henderson on Saturday after it was announced that he passed away at the age of 65.

The Hall of Fame outfielder, affectionately nicknamed the "Man of Steal" for his blazing speed and unmatched ability on the basepaths, died Friday according to his family.

"A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul," a statement from his wife and three daughters read. "Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. ... We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and heartfelt memories from family, friends, and fans."

"... In this difficult time, we kindly ask for your respect and privacy as we adjust to life without Rickey, holding on to the legacy he left for all of us."

As one of the game's all-time characters — on top of being a Hall of Fame leadoff hitter and base stealer — a story about Henderson's first signing bonus check from the A's began to resurface.

Appearing on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" back in 2009, Rickey recalled the time he got a call from Oakland's accounting department asking about the $1 million check (that he framed) instead of cashing.

"You know when you're a kid — you want to be a millionaire," Henderson explained. "And at the time I got a signing bonus for $1 million I go, 'Wow I'm a millionaire! So I'm gonna frame this here check.' And put it on my wall when I became a millionaire..."