Jim Rice Gets The Call To The Hall by Jared Carrabis
Former Red Sox slugger receives 76.4 percent of the vote


Beginning in 1974, Jim Rice began his amazing 16-season career with the Boston Red Sox. After 16 seasons of tearing the cover off the baseball here in Boston, Rice then spent fifteen years waiting for this day to come. On his fifteenth and final year on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot, Jim Rice was elected into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame by seven votes. The left fielder who spent all of his days in a Red Sox uniform received 76.4 percent of the vote to merit his enshrinement. Out of 539 votes, Rice was voted to the Hall 412 times.

Rice may not have the career numbers that lift the velvet rope for a player in their first year of eligibility, but the former Boston outfielder is highly regarded as being one of the most, if not the most, feared right-handed hitters of his era. It was a time before the word "steroid" was associated with the game of baseball and yet Rice was launching fastballs further than the juice heads could muster in the late 90's.

When it was all said and done, Rice compiled 382 HR, 1,451 RBI, and a .298 career batting average. In 1975, Rice burst onto the scene in Boston becoming a key part to the success of the eventual American League Champion Boston Red Sox. Rice finished second in the voting for Rookie of the Year only to his teammate and fellow Boston outfielder, Fred Lynn. That same season, Rice made his presence felt in the MVP voting by securing a third place spot (an award in which Lynn also won). As the Red Sox went on to the World Series, Rice was sidelined after being beaned in the wrist by a fastball in the last week of the regular season. Had the Red Sox been equipped with a healthy Jim Rice, there may not have been a discussion about a "curse" entering the 2004 season.

For those of you that are impressed with Dustin Pedroia's 200 hit season in 2008, Jim Rice sprayed 200 hits in three consecutive seasons all while hitting 39, 46 and 39 home runs respectively in the '77-'79 seasons. Speaking of the 1978 season, Rice put together a season to remember here in Boston as he led the league with 213 hits, 46 home runs, 15 triples and a .600 slugging percentage go along with a .315 batting average which was third best in the AL. His efforts resulted in winning the 1978 American League MVP award as his team fell into the win column 99 times falling just one game short of the postseason. Of course, these were the days before the Wild Card so surely if there had been such a thing, the Red Sox could very well have contended for a World Series title yet again.

The 8-time All Star now joins an illustrious list of names in Cooperstown of legendary players that have been enshrined as members of the Boston Red Sox. Rice can now hang his hat among the likes of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Carlton Fisk, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove and Rick Ferrell. You may notice that the first six names on that list are all players whose numbers hang proudly on the right field facade. Since his last day in a Red Sox uniform, no man has ever donned the number 14 on their back. This could be a clear and evident indication that Jim Rice could be joining the likes of Ted, Yaz, Pudge and the rest of the gang out in right field among the rest of the Red Sox immortals.

Congratulations Jim Ed, this recognition is long overdue. Rice will be formally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with with base-stealing king, Rickey Henderson, on July 26, 2009.

-Jared Carrabis


Red Sox Hall of Famer, Jerry Remy, was the first to be by Rice's side following the very first call informing the slugger that he would be elected into the Hall of Fame. To hear Jerry's reaction, click here.



Published on January 12, 2009

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