AP
The bases are loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the World Series, the Red Sox are down by a run and Jim Rice is at the plate. I've chosen that scenario to analogize Rice's 15th and final year on the Hall of Fame ballot.
Will he hit one over the Green Monster or pop out? We will find out tomorrow.
Last year, Rice (the 1978 AL MVP) fell 16 votes shy of getting the required 75 percent that is needed to be enshrined in Cooperstown. He has gained more support each year from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. So, the general feeling is that Rice will finally be elected this year after being oh-so-close a year ago. The announcement will be made at 2 p.m. Monday.
BBWAA Secretary-Treasurer Jack O'Connell, who counts the votes and makes the phone call to notify individuals who have been elected, said several players have been elected in their final year on the ballot. He cited two examples just off the top of his head -- Red Ruffing was elected in 1968 and Ralph Kiner made it in '75.
"Kiner was in his last year of eligibility, and he got in by two votes. I don't know if you can get closer than that," O'Connell said.
Either way, it's going to be a close call for Rice. Call me naïve, but I don't believe a writer would keep him off the ballot because Rice (8 100-RBI seasons, 4 200-hit seasons, .298 lifetime average) known to be surly as a player.
Writers who have been a BBWAA member for 10 years are eligible to vote. O'Connell said approximately 575 ballots were mailed, a total that includes between 12-15 new voters this year. But he added there are probably just as many individuals which voted last year who will not be turning in ballots this year, due to age or death.
In recent years, the Red Sox have stepped up their efforts to get Rice in Cooperstown. Dick Bresciani, a former Red Sox media relations official, started an email campaign with statistics to support Rice's candidacy.
Conversely, another individual who is employed by the Red Sox has hurt Rice's cause. Baseball historian and statistical maven Bill James, a senior adviser in the Red Sox baseball operations department, has written in his much-read New Historical Baseball Abstract that Rice was the most overrated player over the last three decades.
Rice's numbers are similar to those of Orlando Cepeda, a Hall of Famer after 17 MLB seasons. But there are other players with better numbers than Rice who aren't in Cooperstown and probably will never get in.
Should Rice be in?
Jarah Mariano
Alison Preston
Did You See That?
Back in Time: July 3
Comments (46) Add A Comment
Yeah. I always liked Rice. Get him in there
sabreguy29
Alexandria , VA
Total Comments (60)
Growing up Jim Rice was my favorite ball player. I'll never forget all those times with a whiffle ball bat that I pretended to be him. I hope that he makes it in the Hall but even if he doesn't, I will have great memories of those nights when I could barely see the pitch as the sun set and the elementary school roof was the top of the green monster.
Sulkaman
Total Comments (33)
Jim Rice was one of the most feared hitters of his era and had a rocket for an arm in the outfield. IMO, he was the best player during his time in baseball. Overrated? I would say that opinion has a very hidden, perhaps a very 'dark', agenda...
Giants42
Total Comments (1)
Go Rice!! Wish we could take this out or the hands of writers who never played the game!
GoHabs
Beverly Hills , CA
Total Comments (121)
Jim Ed Rice for HOF '09! Get it done, voters!
eightyeight
Annapolis , MD
Total Comments (134)
Jim Rice has always been my favorite player. I remember I was heading back to college one weekend from my parents, and along the way was a baseball card show in Augusta, ME (near where I lived). The sign outside flashed "Jim Rice appearing from 12-4" (or something like that). So, I pulled in, went into the Civic Center, went down the corridor, and there was Jim Rice sitting right there. While I was at my parents, I had picked up some old baseball stuff, including a ticket stub from my first Sox game (back in '88, Sox beat the Tigers 16-4, Dewey with 7 RBI). So, I handed it to him to sign. I was absolutely starstruck, and had no idea what to say, until he started talking to me. I can remember shaking his hand-it was huge and almost crushed mine.
He deserves to be voted into the HOF.
jobasux
South China , ME
Total Comments (56)
Jim Rice was the most feared batter in a time before steroids ruined the reputation of baseball. Before Brady Anderson was hitting 50 HRs in a season, Rice could force a walk with the bases loaded. How he is not in Cooperstown at this point is a farce. He should be in the Hall and if he does not get the call tomorrow then the whole system needs to be re-examined.
Doug Green
Brooklyn , NY
Total Comments (1)
I remember going to a Syracuse Chiefs game (AAA) with my father in 73 or 74, the year before Rice went to the majors. Before the game, there was this player warming up for Pawtucket tossing the ball with a teammate. My dad said keep an eye on that guy, he's going to be good - he could tell during the warmup. We had no idea who this guy was (Rice) In the game he hit a line drive to the opposite field that never got more than 10 feet off the ground and hit the fence - I swear it dented it, and got a triple. The man was a great player, more feared than his teamate Fred Lynn. He should be in!
davepiratesfan
Mount Pleasant , MI
Total Comments (1)
Bill Mazeroski (Yeah, Vets Cimmittee...but he's still in) is in the Hall, but not Rice. How weird is that?
jerrylovestrojans
Total Comments (45)
Jim Rice was not my favorite player. I grew up in So. Cal. and rooted for the Dodgers and Angels. I was fortunate that I was able to see him play in person. Rice was a pre-steroid stud. To not vote him into the HOF would be a shame.
francisquito
Fort Smith , AR
Total Comments (2)
No, he's not a Hall-of-Famer. I hold the Hall-of-Fame in high regard, and I only think the true legends of the game should be in there. Jim Rice was a fine player, and had some good years, but he just wasn't good enough to get my vote.
FaustoCarmonaFan is…
Akron, OH
Total Comments (2135)
When you have to point out that you are using an analogy, you know you suck
Gu3: NOO! R.I.P Air…
Parkville, MD
Total Comments (36505)
He had the third highest batting average of all the players on the list to be up for nominantion for the Hall of Fame. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Dyhard loves Casey…
Germantown, WI
Total Comments (64949)
I never quite understand the Hall of Fame balloting in any sport. If a player is not elected on the first five ballots, isn't it an indictment of the system if he gets elected on the 15th? The Hall of Fame is supposed to be for players who are superstars and rise above their peers. Not saying Rice doesn't deserve to be in the Hall, but has he hit any more homeruns or triples since 1989 that I am not aware of? How does he increase his chance on the 15th ballot (15TH!) without ever playing a game in 20 years?
Eric42
Manhattan , KS
Total Comments (45)
I agreed in building person's viewpoint, thought your viewpoint is very novel, also said that your idea <a href="http://www.tbcgold.com" title="wow gold">wow gold</a>has the value very much,thanks!
julia5236
Total Comments (3)
I agreed in building person's viewpoint, thought your viewpoint is very novel, also said that your idea <a href="http://www.tbcgold.com" title="wow gold">wow gold</a> has the value very much,thanks!
julia5236
Total Comments (3)
You guys must admit. Rice does get a lot of credit for the Red Sox uniform he wore during his career. Plus I personally think Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy, Steve Garvey, Tim Raines, and Harold Baines have strong cases to be in the hall of fame also and should be in before Rice. As for pitchers, I think Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris are being overlooked and should be in also.
I will not even get started on the football hall of fame!
donjo
Oliver Springs , TN
Total Comments (48)
You guys must admit. Rice does get more recognition than other former players because he was a Red Sox.
Seriously was Rice that much better than guys like Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy, Tim Raines, Harold Baines, or Steve Garvey. No. Actually I would say those guys were just as good as Rice and some were even better. Numbers do not lie.
As for pitchers, I think Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris should be in. Sure they do not have that magical 300 win. Blyleven does have over 3,000 strikeouts and I think he is the only retired player with 3,000 strikeouts that is not in the hall of fame. Morris was a great postseason pitcher. And if Lynn Swann can get in the football hall of fame solely based on his postseason performances then Jack Morris should get in the baseball hall of fame for the same reason.
donjo
Oliver Springs , TN
Total Comments (48)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.