Boston Red Sox: 30 Greatest Players in Team History
10: Jim Rice, OF/DH (1974-1989)
An eight-time All Star, Jim Rice played all 16 of his MLB seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Along with Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans, Rice helped to form one of the great outfield trios of the ’70s. Rice was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2009, finally getting voted in on his 16th try.
Rice, a left-fielder and DH throughout his career, was also played a huge part in taking the Red Sox to the 1986 World Series. He hit .324 during the regular season and drove in 110 runs. He hit just as well during the series, batting .333 and achieving an OBP of .455. While he scored six runs (and 14 in the entire postseason), Rice failed to drive in a run during the seven game World Series.
Rice is quite the humanitarian and many older Red Sox fans remember when, in 1982, he once carried a four-year old fan that had been struck by a line drive into the clubhouse for medical attention. Rice left the dugout and went into the stands to lend his helping hand.
His finest season on the field was in 1978. He was the winner of his first and only A.L. MVP award. Rice hit 46 home runs, drove in 139, had 15 triples, had over 400 total bases, and had a slugging percentage of .600. He finished his career with a final line of .298/.352/.502 and had 382 home runs.
Bio on Rice was given by Jason Haskins. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @jasonrh_78.
Next: Number Nine