His big year was actually 1978, and Rice was far btter than just that one season. In 75 he had similar stats to Lynn .309/22/102 vs .331/21/105 but got hurt late in the year and missed the postseason.
During a good part of his career he was an impressive hitter, a couple homers he hit that I saw in person left the park quicker than any I've seen. And he's one of the very few to get one out of fenway to the right of the flagpole.
One thing that gets missed is that his last 3 years or so he had vision problems, but was too stubborn to wear glasses. After finally getting a pair after taking a eating in the press about how he needed them, they made fun of how they looked (yeah, the ones he picked were a poor choice) So he stopped wearing them.
He suffered in HOF balloting because he wasn't all that media friendly. And like it or not, if a guy is borderline in any way it comes down to a popularity with the press contest. He took a lot of knocks for being a bad fielder - Who isn't a bad fielder in Fenways LF?- and for grounding into far too many doubleplays. But by the middle part of his career, he was an ok if not great fielder, and while he's 6th all time in GIDP he's in some excellent company there.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/le...P_career.shtml
He was also one of at least 3 players that were treated horribly by the owners in 89-90 and his reaction to being disinvited to spring training- basically being cut before the season ended - didn't win any friends witht he press either.
A quote from wikipedia sums it up nicely "Rice could hit for both power and average, and currently only nine other retired players rank ahead of him in both career home runs and batting average: Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams"
Steve B
Quote:
Originally Posted by Theoldprofessor
Out: Elmer Flick What kind of name is that for a HOFer?
Jim Rice Erase one outstanding season (1976) and here's an ordinary player/DH who worked his way up the voting ladder. If one season gets you in, make way for Norm Cash. In mainly because the Boston crowd got what it wanted. Again.
In: Bill Madlock -- Lifetime .305 hitter, four batting championships
Al Oliver -- A batting championship, lifetime .303 hitter and 2700 hits.
Dale Murphy -- Dominant NL player in the '80s. Two MVPs, back to back. 398 homers Low overall average due to hanging on too long.
All three played for some bad (though not terrible) teams, out of the NY _ Boston corridor. And one who didn't ...
Gil Hodges On a team that featured some exceptional ballplayers (e.g. Reese, Robinson, Campy, Newk, Snider), Hodges was the one that nobody playing the Bums wanted to see in a clutch at bat. Managed the sorry Mets to a World Championship. And a guy who played the game the way it ought to be played, and lived his life the same way. The Hall ought to join him!
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