Henderson Stays Home in Oakland; Steinbrenner Threatens to Fine Him

Outfielder Rickey Henderson, who was still at home in Oakland, Calif., when the New York Yankees resumed the strike-interrupted season Thursday, “will be fined heavily,” according to team owner George Steinbrenner.

“There is a discipline on this club that Rickey is going to find out about in a hurry,” Steinbrenner said.

“He’s been giving us 110% but he also has got to understand there is a discipline on this team and we will fine him heavily. If he had gone somewhere and not been told by our own player rep to hang tough--if he went to the West Coast and couldn’t get a flight back--but he left at 1:40 yesterday, and the announcement (of a strike settlement) was made around noon.”

Dave Winfield, the Yankee player representative, talked with Henderson by phone but was reluctant to discuss the matter because “it is a potentially volatile situation.”

Winfield said he didn’t know why Henderson had failed to rejoin the team after the two-day players’ strike and added: “It’s not for me to judge.”

Henderson, who is batting .349, leads the American League in stolen bases with 50.

Yankee Manager Billy Martin said he had not spoken with Henderson, but the outfielder had talked with Joe Safety, the team’s media relations director.