Inductees

He rose from a small town in mid-Missouri and went on to pitch 14 seasons in the big leagues, winning a World Series in 1992 and later pitching for his boyhood team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

In fact, you could talk baseball all day with Tom Henke. About his minor league days. About his three World Series appearances. About so many memories.

And ask him about the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and he can’t say enough good things.

“I’ve always appreciated the work done by Jerald (Andrews), Byron (Shive) and the Hall of Fame,” Henke said, referring to the musuem’s past and current CEO & Executive Directors. “They do more for sports in Missouri than anyone I know.”

Truth is, Henke has helped in the success of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for nearly 30 years, and it’s why the Hall of Fame is proud to bestow him with the President’s Award in October 2024.

The award is given to individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in general in the Show-Me State.

A resident of nearby Taos, he has been a fixture at most of the Hall of Fame’s Golf Classics going back to the 1990s, including at the Stan Musial Hall of Fame Championship presented by Landau Pontoons, the Springfield Hall of Fame Golf Classic, the Sporting Clays Classic and the Shoeless Joe’s Classic in Hannibal.

He supports the Hall of Fame as well in auctions and other private donations. Additionally, he holds an annual golf tournament in Jefferson City to raise money for the Special Learning Center, as well as diabetes research.

Over the years, Henke has been a guest speaker at the Hall of Fame’s annual baseball luncheon.

All of which is vitally important, considering the Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.

This from a former pitcher for the Texas Rangers (1982-1984, 1993-1994), the Toronto Blue Jays (1987-1992) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1995).

Henke recorded 311 career saves, including an American League-best 34 in 1987 and 40 in 1993. He helped the Blue Jays win the 1992 World Series and, in his final season with the Cardinals, earned an All-Star nod and the Rolaids Relief Award as the National League’s top reliever.

He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, 11 years before being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

“I remember after the 1995 season with the Cardinals, Jerald called me up said, ‘You want to play in a golf tournament?’” Henke said. “I had never played golf in my life. I was really, really bad when I first started.”

Maybe so, but Henke has given of his time to Hall of Fame events, becoming one of those magnetic celebrities. After all, he’s entertaining as part of a golf group, telling stories from his playing days.

“I try to help in any way I can,” Henke said. “The Hall of Fame is something that’s been needed. There are so many great athletes, coaches and teams that need to be recognized. … The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame shines a bright light on all of that.”

His career soared after the Blue Jays signed him as a free agent before the 1985 season.

“(Manager) Bobby Cox gave me the ball and said, ‘Show us what you can do,’” said Henke, who worked with then-pitching coach Al Widmar and adopted a split-fingered fastball.

The Blue Jays won four American League East Division championships over the next eight seasons (1985, 1989, 1991, 1992), reaching Game 7 of the 1985 A.L. Championship Series and winning it all in 1992.

Henke emerged as one of the game’s most feared closers. Someone nicknamed him “The Terminator,” and it was appropriate. Imagine a 100 mph fastball coming from a downward plane from a 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-hander only 60 feet, 6 inches away.

Henke made three appearances in the 1992 World Series, earning saves in the first two games.

Three years later, he got to call himself a Cardinal, and not long after gave back to so many causes, including the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

He also has long had the support of his wife, Kathy. They are parents to Ryan, Kim and Amanda, and have 12 grandchildren.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to receive this award,” Henke said. “To be part of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame since 2000 as an inductee, to be honored with the people who have gone before me and won this award, it is pretty special.”