Jim Rice
Jim Rice was the best offensive player in baseball from 1977-1979, producing great power numbers while also batting among league leaders. He helped the Boston Red Sox to two World Series, the first as a rookie, the second at the age of 33 when he hit .324. He scored 14 runs and plated seven in 18 post-season contests. In 1978 he won the American League's Most Valuable Player award.
Played For
Boston Red Sox (1974-1989)
Minor League Experience
With Pawtucket in 1974, Rice won the triple crown.
All-Time Rankings
Jim Rice ranks #19 among the Top 50 all-time at LF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1978
Rice's 1977, 1978, and 1979 seasons were virtually identical as far as his raw numbers go. His batting averages -- .320/.315/.325; slugging -- .593/.600/.596; and homers -- 39/46/39 for that three-year stretch are remarkably consistent. Rice reached 200 hits each year, and also collected 100 runs scored, 100 RBI, and averaged more than 50 walks and 30 doubles. In both 1977 and 1978 he hit 15 triples, not an easy feat for a guy that played half his games in cramped Fenway.
Factoids
In 1978, Jim Rice became the first player to reach 400 total bases in 19 years (Henry Aaron, 1959).
Description
Some current analysts argue that his career was too short -- but he played more than 2,000 games and made more than 2,400 hits. Some say he peaked too early, yet he won an MVP at the age of 25, and led the majors in total bases and his league in home runs five years later when he was 30. When he was 33 he ranked fifth in the AL in batting (.324), fourth in RBI (110), tied for third in doubles (39), and tied for fifth in hits (200). Much of the ill-feeling toward Rice exists because of his boorish attitude. Some actually fault him for inexplicably losing his skills at an early age (he hit 31 homers in his last three years, and his slugging percentage crashed to the sub-.400 range.) True, by the time he was 36 he was out of baseball, but for a decade (1977-1986) he was one of the most feared offensive players in the game.
Born
James Edward Rice was born on March 8, 1953, in Anderson, SC.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: BOS
Major League Debut
August 19, 1974
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1974
Robin Yount
Gary Carter
Jim Rice
Keith Hernandez
Fred Lynn
Jim Sundberg
Kent Tekulve
Dennis Leonard
John Montefusco
Similar Players
Orlando Cepeda, Manny Ramirez
Related Players
Fred Lynn, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Mike Greenwell
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1995 |
BBWAA |
137 |
29.8% |
1996 |
BBWAA |
166 |
35.3% |
1997 |
BBWAA |
178 |
37.6% |
1998 |
BBWAA |
203 |
42.9% |
1999 |
BBWAA |
146 |
29.4% |
2000 |
BBWAA |
257 |
51.5% |
2001 |
BBWAA |
298 |
57.9% |
2002 |
BBWAA |
260 |
55.1% |
2003 |
BBWAA |
259 |
52.2% |
2004 |
BBWAA |
276 |
54.5% |
2005 |
BBWAA |
307 |
59.5% |
2006 |
BBWAA |
337 |
64.8% |
2007 |
BBWAA |
346 |
63.5% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1986 American League Championship Series
1986 World Series
1988 American League Championship Series
Awards and Honors
1978 AL MVP
Batting Feats
- August 29, 1977: 3 HR...
- August 29, 1983: 3 HR...
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Rice missed the entire post-season in 1975 due to broken hand suffered from a Vern Ruhle fastball.
Hitting Streaks
21 games (1980)
18 games (1976)
15 games (1980)
All-Star Selections
1977 AL
1978 AL
1979 AL
1980 AL
1983 AL
1984 AL
1985 AL
1986 AL
Learn More about Jim Rice
Search Amazon.com for Books about Jim Rice ⇒
Search for Jim Rice at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
