"On August 8th 1982 a line drive foul ball hits a four year old boy, Jonathan Keane..

[irv]

...in the head at Fenway Park. Jim Rice, realizing in a flash that it would take EMTs too long to arrive and cut through the crowd, sprang from the dugout and scooped up the boy.
"He laid the boy gently on the dugout floor, where the Red Sox medical team began to treat him. When the boy arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later, doctors
said Jim's prompt actions were instrumental in saving the boy's life. Jim returned to the game in a blood-stained uniform. A real badge of courage.
"After visiting the boy in the hospital, and realizing the family was of modest means, he stopped by the business office and instructed that the medical bill be
sent to him.
"The spring following the incident, Jonathan was asked to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Red Sox's home game opener. He gladly accepted and had the opportunity to reconnect with Rice."
https://nesn.com/video/jim-rice-reun...t-fenway-park/

[Bigdaddy]

Great story. The fact that Jim reacted the way he did in that situation while everyone else around him was idle says all you need to know about HOFer Jim Rice.

[Casey2296]

Awesome story, this should be a natural reaction for human beings, unfortunately it's reserved for people of high moral character.

[scooter729]

This story needs a bump and let everyone who isn't familiar with the story to learn about it. Rice had quite a reputation of being tough and surly with fans as a player, but stories like this show the true character of the man.

In more recent days, I've been very fortunate to have gotten to know Rice a little bit, through a mutual friend. He has been amazingly kind to my son, and has talked baseball at length with him, asked him details about his games, etc.

I am thrilled for Rice to be in such a good place in his life right now, and wish him continued success as a Red Sox pre/postgame analyst.

This is a favorite picture of mine, as Jim was lecturing my son about why he should play left field instead of shortstop. Some of Jim's language was unsuitable for my son's 10 year old ears, but it was worth it!

[Bigdaddy]

My 22 YO son and I made our first visit to Fenway on June 13th this year on a stopover on our trip from Maine to VA. As we were waiting outside the stadium that evening, I saw Rice get out of his car and told my son, 'There's Jim Rice, HOFer for the Red Sox." Later that evening, we saw him being introduced on the Jumbotron.