Posted on 01/04/2005 11:45:59 AM PST by Gucho
"Truly an awesome talent"
Forgot what his eyesight was, but he once said the ball looks like a grapefruit coming in.
"Jim Rice Was Robbed Again"
Rice was great player and I like to see him doing Red Sox post-game on NESN. If he was not on crutches, the Red Sox would have beat the Reds in '75. But, I think what is keeping him out of the Hall is two things: (1) he was hostile to the media (and now it is payback time); and (2) he had a very rapid decline from the All Star level to being out of baseball. I think he came in 3d for MVP in 1986 and was out of baseball by 1989 (50 games +/-). I don't agree with it - but I think that is what is going on. Go Sox!
"If he could have kept it up another three, he would be a lock."
No Balco back then :)
"Actually I am pretty sure I could strike out my mother with a golfball, but you get my idea. And God help her if she tried to bunt on me...."
:)
Good point. I just read yesterday that in his first 14 seasons, Barry Bonds never, not once, hit a home run of 450 feet. In his last five seasons--starting at about age 35--BALCO Barry has hit 21 dingers of 450 feet or more. Hmmmm. . . .
"I saw freakin' Jim Rice break a bat simply by checking his swing."
But his feats of strength spoke for themselves. He once broke a bat on a checked swing without hitting the ball, and he has reportedly had golf clubs bend in his hands on the downswing.
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/R/Rice_Jim.stm <---Check it out :)
Trammell and Witacker were better infielders and players than Sandburg - Happy Rhyno got in but not happy that Tram won't have a chance.
When is my hero, Ron Cey aka the Penguin, eligble?
More on Jim Rice:
http://members.shaw.ca/Rice4HOF/Main_other.html
"Trammell and Witacker were better infielders and players than Sandburg - Happy Rhyno got in but not happy that Tram won't have a chance."
I'm from MI and a Tigers fan - They were both a great double play combo for many years and good steady hitters.
But Sandberg was better than any of those guys. He truly was a five-tool player--hit for average, hit for power, run, field, and throw--he could do it all. The best all-around second baseman of his era, he redefined the position.
All time at 2b, I rate Sandberg behind Hornsby, Collins, Morgan, maybe Lajoie and Gehringer, but ahead of everyone else.
I remember the saying in Boston back then: "Don't blame Wade for gettin' laid." ;-).
"He truly was a five-tool player"
Yep, that is gold for votes.
This is why I would rate Dawson ahead of Rice. Much better defensive outfielder and baserunner.
Good
Now all they have to do is let Donnie Baseball(Mattingly, for those of you who don't know the nickname) in, and all will be fine.
He deserves it.
Lifetime BA- .307
If his back hadn't gone out it would have been a lot higher.
1984- .343
1985- .324
1986- .352
1987- .327
1988- .311
1989- .303
Also one of the finest first basemen of all time.
Lifetime fielding percentage = .996
9 gold gloves in 10 years.
In the only postseason action he ever saw, in 1995, against Seattle, he batted .417.
Also a 6-time All-Star.
Mattingly deserves Hall induction, just as much as Gossage and Sutter do.
I can't believe he only got 11% of votes this year.
His fielding was almost as good as Sandberg's and his career batting was better. He was also an MVP like Sandberg.
I'll say one stat again.
Lifetime fielding percentage = .996. Probably 2nd best 1B in Yankees history behind Gehrig imo.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.