Jim Rice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Rice |
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Rice with the Boston Red Sox in 1976
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| Left fielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: March 8, 1953 Anderson, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 19, 1974, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 3, 1989, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .298 | ||
| Hits | 2,452 | ||
| Home runs | 382 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,451 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2009 | ||
| Vote | 76.4% (15th ballot) | ||
James Edward Rice (born March 8, 1953) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jim Rice played his entire 16-year MLB career for the Boston Red Sox. In 2009, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rice was an eight-time All-Star in the American League (AL). He was named the AL's Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in 19 years to get 400 total bases in a season. He also led the major leagues in total bases for two years in a row. Rice batted over .300 seven times in his career. He also had 100 or more runs batted in (RBI) eight times. He hit 20 or more home runs 11 times. Jim Rice was a powerful hitter who played his whole career for the Red Sox. He continued the tradition of great players like Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.
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Jim Rice's Amazing Seasons
In the minor leagues, Jim Rice was a star. In 1973, his three-run home run helped the Pawtucket Red Sox win the Junior World Series. In 1974, he won the Triple Crown in the International League. This means he led the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. He and his teammate Fred Lynn were called the "Gold Dust Twins" when they joined the Red Sox.
Rookie Year and World Series
In 1975, Rice became a full-time player for the Red Sox. He finished second for the American League's Rookie of the Year award. He was also third in the Most Valuable Player voting. That season, he had 174 hits, 102 RBIs, a .309 batting average, and 22 home runs. The Red Sox won their division. However, Rice could not play in the World Series due to a wrist injury. The Red Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.
Leading the League in 1977
By the end of the 1977 season, Rice led the AL in three important hitting areas. He hit 39 home runs, which was the most in the league. He also led the league with a .593 slugging percentage. And he had 392 total bases, the most by an AL player in 39 years.
MVP Season in 1978
In 1978, Jim Rice had the best season of his career. He won the American League's Most Valuable Player award. He batted .315 and led the league in many categories. These included home runs (46), RBIs (139), hits (213), and total bases (406). He also led the league in triples (15) and slugging percentage (.600).
Rice is one of only two AL players ever to lead his league in triples and home runs in the same season. He is also the only player to lead the major leagues in triples, home runs, and RBIs in the same season. His 406 total bases in 1978 is still a Red Sox record. It was the most in the AL since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.
Another Great Year in 1979
Rice had another excellent season in 1979. He had over 200 hits for the third time. He finished in the top three in eight different AL batting categories. He led the league in total bases for the third year in a row. Jim Rice is the only player in MLB history to have at least 200 hits and 39 home runs for three years in a row. He also batted at least .315 in each of those years.
1983 and 1986 Seasons
In 1983, Rice led the AL in home runs, RBIs, and total bases. He also led the league in grounding into double plays. He was only the second player to lead the AL in all these categories in the same season.
In 1986, Rice had 200 hits, batted .324, and had 110 RBIs. The Red Sox made it to the World Series again. Rice played in all 14 postseason games. He had 14 hits, including two home runs. He also scored 14 runs and drove in six. His 14 runs scored is the fifth most by a player in a single postseason. The Red Sox lost the World Series to the New York Mets.
Career Highlights
Jim Rice led the AL in home runs three times (1977, 1978, 1983). He led in RBIs twice (1978, 1983). He also led in slugging percentage twice (1977, 1978) and total bases four times (1977–1979, 1983). He won Silver Slugger Awards in 1983 and 1984. Rice hit at least 39 home runs four times. He had eight seasons with 100 or more RBIs. He also had four seasons with over 200 hits and batted over .300 seven times.
He finished his MLB career with a .298 batting average. He had 382 home runs, 1,451 RBIs, and 2,452 hits. He was an American League All-Star eight times. Besides winning the AL MVP award in 1978, he finished in the top five for MVP voting five other times.
Rice is the only player in history to lead the league in home runs, RBIs, and triples in the same year. He is also the only player in major league history to have over 200 hits and 39 or more home runs for three years in a row.
Fielding and Retired Number
Rice was a skilled left fielder. He finished his career with a fielding percentage of .980. He also had 137 outfield assists. He had a strong throwing arm. He was very good at playing balls that bounced off the Green Monster in Fenway Park. His 21 assists in 1983 is the most by a Red Sox outfielder since 1944. Rice played 1,543 games as an outfielder. He also played 530 games as a designated hitter.
Rice's number 14 was retired by the Red Sox on July 28, 2009. This means no other Red Sox player will wear that number.
Community Involvement
Rice was involved with many charities, especially those helping children. He was an honorary chairman for The Jimmy Fund starting in 1979. This organization raises money for cancer research. In 1992, he received the "Jimmy Award" for his dedication to cancer research. Rice also supports the Neurofibromatosis Foundation of New England.
A youth baseball field in Roxbury, Massachusetts, was named after him in 1999. A youth recreation center in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina, is also named in his honor.
A Heroic Act
During a game on August 7, 1982, Jim Rice showed great courage. A young boy was hit in the head by a baseball. Rice quickly ran into the stands to help the four-year-old boy, Jonathan Keane. Rice carried the bleeding boy through the dugout and into the clubhouse. There, the team's medical staff treated him. Rice's quick actions likely saved the boy's life. He also paid the hospital bill, and Jonathan made a full recovery.
After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Rice became a coach. He was a roving batting coach from 1992 to 1994. Then he was a hitting instructor for the Red Sox from 1995 to 2000. He still works as an instructional batting coach for the team. When he was the hitting coach, the Red Sox led the league in hitting in 1997.
Since 2003, he has also been a commentator for the New England Sports Network (NESN). He appears on the Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows. He also had small roles in the movies Wait 'til This Year and Fever Pitch. Rice often shares his wisdom with current Red Sox players.
He was elected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. He is also a member of Ted Williams' Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Journey
Jim Rice was considered one of the best hitters of his time. However, it took him a long time to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He was finally inducted in 2009, in his 15th and final year of eligibility. He received 76.4% of the votes, just over the 75% needed. He received the most total votes of any player who was voted on for baseball's highest honor.
Some people think his election was delayed because of how statistics are looked at now. Others believe it was because of his difficult relationship with the media during his playing days. Many of these writers still vote for the Hall of Fame.
In 2007, the Pawtucket Red Sox started a campaign to help get Rice inducted. This included having fans sign "the World's Largest Jim Rice Jersey."
See also
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
