COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Jim Rice's icy glare melted into a wide smile. Brash, flamboyant Rickey Henderson was humbled by it all.

The former left fielders were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday along with late second baseman Joe Gordon.

"My journey as a player is complete," Henderson said. "I am now in the class of the greatest players of all time, and at this moment I am very humbled."

The 50-year-old Henderson played for nine teams in a 25-year career and led the American League in steals 12 times. He holds the career record for steals with 1,406, runs scored with 2,295, unintentional walks with 2,129 and homers leading off a game with 81.

While Henderson was just the 44th player elected to the Hall in his first year of eligibility, the 56-year-old Rice had to wait until his final year of eligibility to be selected.

"It doesn't matter that the call came 15 years later. What matters is that I got it. I cannot think of anywhere I'd rather be than to be right here, right now, with you and you," Rice said, pointing at the 50 Hall of Famers on stage behind him and then at the fans. "Thank you."

Rice batted .298 with 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs from 1974-89 with the Boston Red Sox. He's the only player in major league history with at least 35 homers and 200 hits in three consecutive seasons (1977-79).

Gordon won the 1942 AL MVP, beating out Triple Crown winner Ted Williams, and was an All-Star nine times in 11 seasons.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PHILLIES 9, CARDINALS 2:

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez all hit two-run home runs as host Philadelphia won two of three from St. Louis in a matchup of division leaders.

Joe Blanton (7-4) allowed two runs and struck out six over eight innings, and Maui's Shane Victorino went 2 for 4 and scored twice for Philadelphia.

CUBS 5, REDS 2:

Rich Harden (7-6) allowed one run in six innings with eight strikeouts, and host Chicago moved into first place by sweeping a three-game series against Cincinnati.

The Cubs moved a half-game ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central, their first appearance in the top spot since April 21.

Cincinnati starter Micah Owings (6-11) was pulled with what the team called a "tight right shoulder."

METS 8, ASTROS 3:

Livan Hernandez (7-5) struck out a season-high seven in seven innings, and New York won two of three at Houston.

Luis Castillo, Jeff Francoeur and David Wright drove in two runs apiece for the Mets, who had at least 12 hits for the third straight game.

BRAVES 10, BREWERS 2:

Casey Kotchman hit a three-run homer and Nate McLouth made a pair of great catches in center when starter Derek Lowe (10-7) began to tire, as the Braves won two of three at Milwaukee.

Kotchman's deep drive to right field off Braden Looper (9-5) in the sixth was the difference.

NATIONALS 3, PADRES 2, 10 INNINGS:

Austin Kearns drove in the winning run with a two-out, 10th-inning single off Greg Burke (2-3), and host Washington won two of three from San Diego.

Josh Willingham also homered for Washington, which finished its first homestand under interim manager Jim Riggleman with a 4-7 record.

ROCKIES 4, GIANTS 2:

Aaron Cook (10-3) allowed two runs in seven innings to win his seventh straight decision and Seth Smith scored two runs as host Colorado won two of three from San Francisco.

The Rockies increased their NL wild-card lead to two games over the Giants.

DIAMONDBACKS 9, PIRATES 0:

Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra each hit two-run homers and host Arizona won three of four from Pittsburgh.

Max Scherzer (6-6) gave up five singles in seven shutout innings for his first victory since June 23 against Texas.

MARLINS 8, DODGERS 6:

Dan Uggla homered and NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez drove in three runs, leading Florida to a victory over host Los Angeles and helping the Marlins win two of three in the series.

Chris Volstad (8-9) allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings for Florida. Ramirez was 2 for 4 to raise his batting average to .348.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TWINS 10, ANGELS 1:

Justin Morneau hit two homers, rookie Anthony Swarzak (3-3) allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings, and Minnesota ended host Los Angeles' eight-game winning streak and avoided a three-game sweep.

Denard Span homered and drove in a season-high four runs, and Nick Punto added a season-best three RBIs.

RANGERS 7, ROYALS 2:

Dustin Nippert allowed one hit in a stellar job of relief pitching, and visiting Texas scored seven times off the Kansas City bullpen to win two of three.

Nippert was forced into action when Rangers starter Kevin Millwood left after two innings with tightness in his left gluteus. Nippert (3-0) allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings.

ORIOLES 6, RED SOX 2:

Nick Markakis homered and drove in three runs off John Smoltz (1-4), and Baltimore snapped an 11-game losing streak at Boston's Fenway Park.

David Hernandez (3-2) allowed one run in seven innings, helping Baltimore to its first win in Boston since July 11, 2008.

YANKEES 7, ATHLETICS 5:

Derek Jeter hit a go-ahead single in the sixth, Mariano Rivera earned a four-out save and host New York won three of four from Oakland.

The Yankees wrapped up a 9-1 start to the second half. Maui's Kurt Suzuki went 2 for 4 with an RBI for Oakland.

BLUE JAYS 5, RAYS 1:

Scott Rolen hit a three-run homer and host Toronto handed Tampa Bay rookie Jeff Niemann (9-5) his first loss in his last six decisions to avoid a three-game sweep.

Blue Jays rookie Brett Cecil (4-1) got the win, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings.

INDIANS 12, MARINERS 3:

Grady Sizemore hit the 20th leadoff homer of his career, Jhonny Peralta hit his second career grand slam and Cleveland hit home runs to finish a three-game sweep at Seattle.

Cliff Lee (7-9) allowed two runs in seven innings for Cleveland.

WHITE SOX 5, TIGERS 1:

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer in Chicago's four-run first, Gordon Beckham added a solo home run the next inning and the White Sox avoided a four-game sweep at Detroit.

Clayton Richard (4-3) allowed only a run on five hits over eight innings.