Jim Rice

James Edward "Jim" Rice was born on March 8, 1953 in Anderson, South Carolina. Rice was a player with the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989. Like Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams before him, Rice was a power-hitting left fielder who played his entire career in Boston.

Related Topics:
March 8 - 1953 - Anderson, South Carolina - Boston Red Sox - 1974 - 1989 - Carl Yastrzemski - Ted Williams - Left fielder

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Rice was promoted in the Red Sox organization to being a full time player in 1975. He and fellow rookie outfielder Fred Lynn were known as the ?Gold Dust Twins?. Following his first full season, Rice finished in second place for the American League's Rookie of the Year honors, and 3rd for that league's Most Valuable Player. During that year, the Red Sox qualifed to play in the postseason. Rice did not play in either the 1975 Play-offs or World Series because of an wrist injury that occurred during last week of the regular season. A disappointed Rice had appeared during the postseason's Player Introductions, in uniform and without the cast on his wrist. He removed the cast the night before, and announced that he was fit to play. The Red Sox management acting with a level head had persuaded him that healing would be the best interest of both Rice and the Red Sox. The Red Sox would go on to lose the World Series, 4 games to 3, to the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. Many feel if Rice was able to join his teammates and play in that World Series the outcome would have been different, and perhaps ending the Red Sox's then 57-year Championship drought.

Related Topics:
Red Sox - Fred Lynn - World Series - Cincinnati Reds - National League

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In 1978, Rice won the MLB Most Valuable Player award for a campaign where he hit .315 (3rd in the league) and led the league in home runs, RBI, hits, triples and slugging percentage. His 406 total bases were the most since Joe DiMaggio had 418 in 1937 (it was also the first time since Stan Musial in 1948 that anyone achieved 400+ total bases in a season. It has been done only one time since Rice's feat, and that occurred in 1997 by Larry Walker.

Related Topics:
1978 - MLB Most Valuable Player award - Home run - RBI - Hits - Triples - Slugging percentage - Total bases - Joe DiMaggio - 1937 - Stan Musial - 1948 - Larry Walker

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Rice was adept at playing left field in Fenway Park. He was able to master the various caroms that balls took off of the Green Monster. His deceptive above average speed also helped his fielding. He also holds the Red Sox's team record for most assits in a season by an outfeilder when he recorded 21 in 1983. His biggest flaw as a hitter was his knack for hitting into double plays. Rice's ability to hit the ball hard coupled with having many slow footed teammates on base in front of him (ie - Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, Bill Buckner, etc) resulted in many double plays. In 1984 he hit into a record 36 double plays. He is not in bad company when it comes to grounding into double plays, because many of the career leaders in this catagory are Hall of Famers (ie - Cal Ripken, Carl Yastremski, Willie Mays, etc). Rice led the league in this category four seasons in a row (1982-1985) all the while he had driven-in over 100 baserunners (RBI) each of those seasons.

Related Topics:
Fenway Park - Green Monster - Wade Boggs - Dwight Evans - Bill Buckner - Cal Ripken - Willie Mays - RBI

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Rice finished his 16-year career with a .298 batting average, 382 home runs, 1451 RBI's, 1249 runs scored and 2452 hits. He was an American League All-Star eight times (1977-1980, 1983-1986). In addition to winning the AL MVP in 1978, he finished in the top 5 in MVP voting five other times (1975, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1986). Rice led the AL in home runs three times (1977, 1978, 1983), in RBI twice (1978, 1983), in slugging percentage twice (1977, 1978), and in total bases four times (1977-79, 1983). He also picked up Silver Slugger awards in 1983 and 1984 (the award was created in 1980). Rice hit at least 39 HR in a season four times, had eight 100 RBI seasons, four seasons with 200+ hits and batted over .300 seven times. He was the only American League player ever to lead the league in homeruns (46) and triples (15) in the same season, and he is the only player ever to get 200 hits / 35 HRs in 3 consecutive years.

Related Topics:
Batting average - Home runs - Hits - American League All-Star - MVP - RBI - Slugging percentage - Silver Slugger

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Currently,there are 19 Leftfielders in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and when Rice's career totals are compared to those members it is apparent that sooner or later he will be inducted into HOF. His Home Runs total is the 6th most in the midst of these players, and his RBI's places him in 9th. He has the 14th best Batting Average, and amount of career hits. Clearly, Jim has distinguished himself as a ballplayer that deserves Baseball?s greatest award. While Rice has been universally acknowledged as one of the best hitters of his era, he has not recieved enough votes to admit him into the Cooperstown as a member. Many fans now believe that because of current steroid scandal, the more recent players,may have inflated career statistics,and with this knowledge it may bring about a re-evaluation of Rice's career.

Related Topics:
Baseball Hall of Fame - HOF - Steroid

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Rice, having served as the hitting instructor for the Red Sox (1995-2000), is currently working as a commentator for the New England Sports Network where he contributes to the Red Sox pre- and post-game shows. The former slugger has been known to pass his wisdom on to the current Sox players and stars from time to time. Jim Rice was elected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995, and he is a member of Ted Williams' Hitters Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
New England Sports Network - Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame - Ted Williams' Hitters Hall of Fame

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