Jim "Ed" Rice deserves to get in

Unless the eligibility rules are changed, this is Jim Rice's last opportunity to get voted into the Hall of Fame. If you were a pitcher facing Rice in his prime (and he had many smoking hot years), you will recall him as one of the the game's most intimidating hitters. He had a lightning fast bat, tremendous power and he played hard all the time. You pitched around Rice. You had nightmares about facing him. You just knew he was going to smoke anything close to a mistake. He wasn't skillfully managed from a PR point of view and he was a much better player than he was a conversationalist. He let the press chatter bother him, and consequently - the press dug at him harder. That's the way it works. If they can get a story by busting your balls, they will. That's not a shot at the press, that's just the way it works. I digress...

In another controversy-worthy decision, I don't get a vote this year. Hardly fair... I would however, offer these brief comments at to why Rice deserves his place.

JIM RICE Highlights:

• One of league's dominating hitters for 12 years, from 1975-1986


• Averaged .304, 29 HR, 106 RBIs during this period


• 4 - 200 hit seasons, 11 - 20 HR seasons, 8 - 100 RBI seasons


• Only player to get 200 hits / 35 HRs 3 consecutive years


• 6 times Top 5 in MVP voting


• 8 time all-star


• 8 time Top 10 slugging, including 5 times in Top 2


• 4 times league leader in Total Bases


• Only AL player since 1937 to have 400+ bases in one season


• Outstanding defensive left fielder


• Career Totals: 2,452 Hits, 382 HR, 1,451 RBI, 79 Triples

Remember: These achievements came in the pre-steroids era when hitting 30 HR a year was a big deal.

Read the Redsox letter to the HOF voters in support of Rice:

http://members.shaw.ca/Rice4HOF/files/Jim%20Rice%20Red%20Sox%20HOF%20Resume.pdf