Jim Rice

From SoSH

James Edward "Jim" Rice (born March 8, 1953 in Anderson, SC) was one of the league's most dominating hitters for a 12 year stretch from 1975-1986. Like Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams before him, Rice was a power-hitting left fielder who played his entire career for the Red Sox.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Achievements 4 Rice's Moments in the Sun 5 Trivia 6 Transactions 7 External Links

Overall Career

Rice was promoted in the Red Sox organization to being a full time player in 1975, after he won the International League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards while winning the Triple Crown for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1974. He and fellow rookie teammate Fred Lynn were brought up to the Red Sox in 1975, and were known as the "Gold Dust Twins". Rice finished in second place for the 1975 American League's Rookie of the Year honors, and third in the Most Valuable Player voting, with Lynn winning both awards. The Red Sox qualifed for postseason play, but Rice did not play in either the 1975 League Championship Series or World Series because of a wrist injury sustained during last week of the regular season. A disappointed Rice appeared during the postseason 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 in the best future 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.

In 1978, Rice won the Most Valuable Player award in a campaign where he hit .315 (3rd in the league) and led the league in home runs (46), RBIs (139), hits (213), triples (15) and slugging percentage (.600). No other American League player has ever led the league in home runs and triples in the same season, and he is the only player ever to lead his league, and Major-league Baseball in triples, home runs, and RBIs in the same season. His 406 total bases that year was the most in the A.L. since Joe DiMaggio had 418 in 1937, and it made Rice the first major leaguer with 400 or more total bases since Hank Aaron's 400 in 1959. This feat wasn't repeated again until 1997 when Larry Walker had 409.

In 1986 Rice had 200 hits, batted .324, and had 110 RBIs. The Red Sox made it to the World Series for the second time during his career. This time, Rice played in all 14 postseason games, where he collected 14 hits, including hitting 2 home runs. He also scored 14 runs and drove in 6. The Red Sox would go on to lose the World Series to the New York Mets 4 games to 3 in memorable fashion, thus continuing their championship series difficulties.

Rice finished his 16-year career with a .298 batting average, 382 home runs (52nd best of all-time), 1451 RBIs (51st), 1249 runs scored, 2452 hits (91st), and 4129 total bases (61st). 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.

After being released by the Red Sox, Rice played in part of one season with the St. Petersburg Pelicans in the Senior Professional Baseball Association (also known as the "Senior League") in 1990.

Awards

• 1974 Minor League Player of the Year, Pawtucket Red Sox, International League
• 1974 MVP International League, Pawtucket Red Sox
• 1975 Topps All-Star Rookie
• 1978 American League MVP
• 8-time American League All-Star (1977 - 1980, 1983 - 1986)
• 2-time American Leauge Silver Slugger (1983 & 1984)

Achievements

• 2-time AL Slugging Percentage Leader (1977 & 1978)
• AL OPS Leader (1978)
• 2-time AL At Bats Leader (1978 & 1981)
• AL Hits Leader (1978)
• 4-time AL Total Bases Leader (1977, 1978, 1979 & 1983)
• AL Triples Leader (1978)
• 3-time AL Home Run Leader (1977, 1978 & 1983)
• 2-time AL RBI Leader (1978 & 1983)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 11 (1975-1980 & 1982-1986)
• 30-Home Run Seasons: 4 (1977, 1978, 1979 & 1983)
• 40-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1978)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 8 (1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1986)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1977, 1978 & 1979)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 4 (1977, 1978, 1979 & 1986)

Rice's Moments in the Sun

• July 18, 1975: In a 9–3 win over the Kansas City Royals, Boston's Jim Rice clouts a tremendous homer off Steve Busby over the CF wall at Fenway and over the flag pole. Rice becomes just the 6th player to accomplish this feat. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest shot he's ever seen at Fenway.

• August 15, 1977: In a 2–1 win over Kansas City, Boston's Jim Rice hits a 3rd inning double and becomes the first Boston player since Ted Williams in 1939 to hit 20 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a season.

• September 28, 1978: In a 1-0 Red Sox win, Boston's lone run comes on Jim Rice's 45th homer of the year, off Young. It is the most homers by a Red Sox player since Jimmie Foxx in 1938.

• November 7, 1978: Boston's Jim Rice outpoints New York's Ron Guidry, 353-291, to win the American League MVP Award. Rice led the league in hits (213), triples (15), home runs (46), RBI (139), and slugging (.600), and became the first AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.

• April 25, 1989: In the fourth inning of an 11-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox, Jim Rice hits his 382nd and final career home run off of Chicago starter Melido Perez. The solo shot landed in the netting above the left field wall at Fenway Park.

Trivia

• Since 1974, no other Red Sox player has worn Rice's uniform #14.
• Rice has recieved the second most BBWAA votes cast for any former player that is not presently in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
• Rice is the only Major League player to ever hit at least 35 home runs and have 200 or more hits in three consecutive seasons.
• Only player known to break his bat on a check swing without making contact with the ball being pitched.
• Rice's career mark of 382 homeruns is the 28th best all-time amoungst right-handed batters.

Transactions

• June 8, 1971: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (15th pick) of the 1971 Amateur Draft.
• November 13, 1989: Released by the Boston Red Sox.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis