Rickey Henderson, major league baseball's all-time stolen base leader, and Ozzie Virgil, Sr., who coached or played in the majors for 27 years, have joined the Mets organization as special instructors.

Henderson and Virgil will be with the team in spring training and will be available to the club throughout the year.

Henderson returns for his second season working for the Mets. In 2006, he served the club working with major and minor league players in spring training and then spent two weeks with the Mets during the regular season. Virgil, who began his playing career with the New York Giants in 1956, will be available to the major league club, minor league teams and will work with the club's Latin American baseball academies.

Rickey, 48, amassed 1,406 stolen bases during his major league career from 1979-2003. He is also baseball's all-time runs scored leader (2,295) and ranks second (2,190) behind Barry Bonds on the all-time walks list.

He was a 10-time All-Star and captured the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1990. Rickey was part of eight different teams that made the post-season. Henderson hit .279 (3,055-10,961) with 510 doubles, 66 triples, 297 home runs and 1,115 RBI in 3,081 games with the Athletics, Yankees, Blue Jays, Padres, Angels, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox and Dodgers.

Rickey was a member of the Mets in 1999-2000. Henderson played alongside Mets Manager Willie Randolph with the Yankees from 1985-1988 and in 1990 with the A's.

Virgil, 73, coached with the San Francisco Giants from 1969-1972 and from 1974-1975, the Montreal Expos from 1976-1981, the San Diego Padres from 1982-1985 and the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and 1988.

From 1987-1997, he was an instructor with the Giants and Angels academies in Santo Domingo, DR.

Virgil has been a part of five teams that have qualified for the post-season (1971 Giants, 1981 Expos, 1984 Padres, 1987 Giants and the 1989 Giants).

Ozzie played in the majors for eight years with the New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. The former catcher compiled a .231 batting average in 324 games.

Virgil graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. His son, Ozzie Virgil, Jr., played 11 years (1980-1990) in the majors.