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A lot of seamheads are trotting out statistics today to argue that Jim Rice’s performance was not Hall of Fame caliber–contrasting him with other worthies left out and arguing that playing in Fenway gave him an unfair advantage (yeah, all those home runs hit themselves!)
Two points:
1) The Hall of Fame is supposed to honor those ballplayers whose careers are worthy–but doesn’t ever set down the statistical requirements. I would argue that subjective qualities are also legitimate guideposts for considering selection. Players likeJim Rice and the Cubs Ryne Sandberg are in; sabermetrician-faves like Al Oliver are out. No surprise. If you aren’t a seamhead, have you even heard of Al Oliver? Sandberg and Rice were stars in towns that worship baseball.
2) Jim Rice is in and that’s it. Hence my rather juvenile comment on the Bud Poliquin blog post about Jim Rice:
To JohnGalt2112 re: “can we please veto Jim Rice?”
Ha ha ha ha ha–no you can’t!
To Major Orange re: “he’s just not a HOFer.”
Ha ha ha ha ha–yes he is!
See ya in Cooperstown on Sunday July 26th!! It’s a Red Sox Nation, baby!
Retired Boston outfielder Jim Rice was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame today, in his fifteenth and final year on the ballot. Rice played all sixteen years of his major league career for the Red Sox and put up some monster numbers, even though those 1974-1989 Red Sox teams were not as dominant in the standings as Jim Rice was at the plate. Rice hit 382 homers, 2,452 hits, 1,451 runs batted in, had a career batting average of .298 and won one American League M.V.P. award.
While the power numbers don’t look as dominant as some posted recently, it is no secret that Rice’s career is being looked at more favorably because he was a power hitter who did his damage without the benefit of steroids.
All I know is that he was a rock for my Red Sox and never seemed to get the recognition he deserved. That all changed today. One last ceremony, his selection to the Hall of Fame gets his number 14 retired by the Red Sox.
