RICKEY A SHOT OF ADRENALINE LAID-BACK HENDERSON INFUSES DODGERS WITH SENSE OF FUN.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

It's three hours before the first pitch at Wrigley Field, and Rickey Henderson is debating the rules of the game with Adrian Beltre. Henderson made his major-league debut two months after Beltre's birth, but Beltre won't listen to his elder.

``OK, look, the 10 of diamonds is worth four points ...'' Henderson explains, and the raucous card game finally ends a half-hour later, when Henderson stands up, raises his fists in the air, smiles and emits a loud, deep growl that sounds celebratory.

``I think Rickey won the game,'' manager Jim Tracy later said from his office around the corner, clearly amused and impressed with the competitiveness and enthusiasm of Henderson, a 44-year-old certain Hall of Famer who seemingly has nothing left to play for, yet has infused an often moribund Dodgers clubhouse with a level of excitement.

The players gravitate toward Rickey - who never seems to go by his last name, and sometimes famously refers to himself in the third person - and he seems to be loving the attention, five weeks after the Dodgers rescued him from the independent-league Newark Bears.

An hour spent around Henderson, well known for his creative language skills, is bound to elicit at least a chuckle. Throughout his first week with the Dodgers, Henderson referred to teammate Dave Roberts as ``Robinson,'' and in the middle of a successful run during another card game, Henderson bragged of having a ``photogenic'' memory.

That's just, to paraphrase Henderson himself, Rickey being Rickey, and the Dodgers are enjoying the chance to spend time with a baseball legend.

``I haven't gotten any autographs yet, but I will probably need to,'' 26- year-old catcher David Ross said. ``That's the question I get most often from everybody, all of my buddies. `What's it like to play with Rickey Henderson?'

``He's a cool guy, he's laid back and he likes to have fun, and that's great. You see somebody who's been around the game that long and he's still having fun, and that really brings it back down to Earth and puts things in perspective,'' he said.

It's not all fun and games. From his first day with the Dodgers, Henderson talked about helping the team win, and 25 years in the majors have taught him that camaraderie and clubhouse chemistry are important components to a winning team.

Henderson seems to have developed a special affinity for the Dodgers' younger players, many of whom receive a pat on the back or words of greeting and encouragement as Henderson walks through the clubhouse before a game.

``That's how I've always been as a player; I try and treat everyone the same,'' Henderson said. ``Even when I was at the top of my game and the rookies would come in, I would try to treat them the same as anyone,'' Henderson said.

``We've got to play with one another. We're in a fight together, and if you treat the young guys differently, when the time comes that you need them to contribute, they're going to feel uncomfortable. Once you get to this level, we're all the same,'' he said.

Henderson, with 3,052 career hits and major-league records for stolen bases (1,404) and runs scored (2,293), is unquestionably recognized as the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history, but has accepted a limited role with the Dodgers without complaint.

Tracy uses Henderson primarily as a starter in left field against left-handed pitchers, and although Henderson is hitting .235 in 51 at-bats with the Dodgers, his true value comes from his competitive spirit and the advice he gives on the bench during games.

``You have a certain opinion of somebody when you see them from afar,'' Tracy said, ``and then all of a sudden that person comes over and the perception you have of them from the other side of the field changes completely.

``Rickey just loves playing baseball; he loves the game. He's great with the young guys, and he can still play; he still has something to offer, you better believe he does,'' Tracy said.

This is almost certainly Henderson's last go-around with a major-league team. He signed for the minimum salary last month and said he did it out of love for the game and because he believes he can still contribute at the highest level.

Naturally, Henderson's skills have diminished, as evidenced by his batting average and the fact that he has attempted one stolen base and been picked off once.

But there have been some moments. Henderson still has the ability to work a pitcher deep into the count, and in a start last Monday against the Florida Marlins, Henderson reached base in four of five at-bats, including three walks and a RBI single.

Then there's the off-field Henderson, who is closer in age to Tracy, 47, than his next-oldest teammate, 39-year-old Fred McGriff, but in a short time has managed to become a popular teammate and shown the ability to be a valuable resource.

``A lot of it is personality,'' Henderson said. ``I think most of the players playing today know who I am. I think I'm pretty easygoing and guys know they can have fun with me. I'm the type of guy who likes to meet the people he's playing with and have fun. The name of the game is just to have some fun, and the team is like a family.''

If the Dodgers are a sort of family, Henderson would have to be the cool uncle.

After Sunday's game, Henderson pushed his arm into the sleeve of a stylish, brown pin-striped suit coat when the call went out, informing players in the Dodgers' clubhouse that the first bus from Wrigley Field to the airport would be departing soon.

``I've got to get on that bus,'' Henderson said, to nobody in particular, ``or else they're aren't going to have any fun on there.''

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) After 25 years in the majors, Rickey Henderson has learned camaraderie and clubhouse chemistry are keys to a winning team.

(2) Despite limited playing time, new Dodgers veteran Rickey Henderson has impressed the team with his leadership and humor.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

- Rich Hammond