Jim Rice! Jim Rice! Jim Rice!

[MaineDolFan]

Jim Rice has finally, and rightfully, been elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame!

And Ricky Henderson.  Yay.

Rice!  Rice!  Rice!

This is awesome.

[SportsChick]

I just did a happy dance and called bio-dad. I'm so excited for Jim Rice!

[StL FinFan]

Rice so deserved this.  Also, I have his rookie card so the price of that just went up. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I remember being at a Yankees-Sox game in 1986 in the Bronx, and Rice went up and grabbed the ball, robbing Dan Pasqua of a home run...... and then a fan grabbed his cap. 

[Phishfan]

I was always a Rice fan. Good for him.

[Denver_Bronco]

I was sure Rickey Henderson wasn't officially retired yet......

[Tenshot13]

I don't mean to poop on your parade, but I don't really think Rice has the stats to be in the Hall of fame (life-time .298 BA, 382 HR over 16 seasons)...I mean it's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of pretty good...I think this opens up a can of worms to guys that haven't quite had the numbers before.

[EDGECRUSHER]

There are many different eras in baseball. .300/35/100 in 1985 meant you were Top 3 in MVP voting. Now, it just means you are probably the 2nd or 3rd best hitter on your own team.

Rice had a tremendous 11 year peak, but his career just died after that, ending in 1989 at the age of 36. I don't think I would've voted him in, but I can understand the case for him. During his time, he was definitely one of the most feared hitters. If he doesn't get in, it's kind of hard to argue for any other slugger from the 80's.

[SportsChick]

I think the way Tenshot is looking at Rice's stats is part of the problem with the way voting is. It was a totally different era when he played as Edge said. It's like comparing the game that Bill Russell played with Shaq. Different eras, different styles, totally different.

[Phishfan]

I agree and this has been the argument against Rice, but living during the era he played in I know what was thought of him during his career and he is definitely a Hall of Famer.

[MaineDolFan]

I think the way Tenshot is looking at Rice's stats is part of the problem with the way voting is.

Tenshot is also looking at him in a way that a lot of 21 year old kids look at a stat line only.  No offense, Tenshot, but I doubt you are old enough to ever watch Rice play, and how his play changed the game, back "in the day."

Jim Rice changed the way his position was played, for starters.  He was THE most feared hitter in the game for a long time - and had power numbers when hitters simply didn't have power numbers.

*All Star - 8 times (left and right field)
*1978 MLB MVP.
*Finished in top three of MVP voting seven other times.
*Six seasons was in the top three in batting average.
*Two Silver Slugger awards
*Eight seasons in top ten of slugging percentage, career % was .502 (staggering)
*Eight seasons was in the top ten in hits.
*Seven seasons was in the top ten in home runs.  Lead the league three times, was second another. 
*Nine seasons was in the top ten in RBI. 

The only player in history to have over 2,000 hits and 1,000 walks.  Almost 400 home runs.  All this without three random 55 home runs seasons, Rice was the model of consistency. 

Jim Rice wasn't a good player, he was a GREAT player.  He was a game changer and he should have been in years ago.

There is one more guy that also should be in - Andre Dawson.  Hands down.

[SportsChick]

Word to that, a guy in my bowling league (age 21) is a "sox fan" so couple weeks ago I asked him if he thought Rice would get in this year. He thought I was talking about Jerry Rice. I said, no, Jim Rice and he said "who"

I felt old and sad all at the same time. I was raised with the mindset that you don't root for a team without know their history.

[Tenshot13]

Guys I'm not that young...I'm 26 and although I was just a lad, I do remember Jim Rice before his numbers started to slide...It's just my opinion that he shouldn't be in the HOF, but Maine makes a pretty good argument on why he should...he is right on the boarder line of getting in or not, and I guess enough people think he's good enough to get in now.

[StL FinFan]

Word to that, a guy in my bowling league (age 21) is a "sox fan" so couple weeks ago I asked him if he thought Rice would get in this year. He thought I was talking about Jerry Rice. I said, no, Jim Rice and he said "who"

I felt old and sad all at the same time. I was raised with the mindset that you don't root for a team without know their history.

That is sad.  I drag my kids over to the tv when a great former Cardinal is on.  They know who Stan Musial is, even though none of us were alive when he played.

[StL FinFan]

Guys I'm not that young...I'm 26 and although I was just a lad, I do remember Jim Rice before his numbers started to slide...It's just my opinion that he shouldn't be in the HOF, but Maine makes a pretty good argument on why he should...he is right on the boarder line of getting in or not, and I guess enough people think he's good enough to get in now.

Sorry buddy, but 26 is young.