"Rickey wants to thank all of those who supported Rickey and made it possible for Rickey to be standing up here alongside all of Rickey's heros."

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Can't wait to see Rickey at the podium. Should be the best induction speech ever...

 

There are no "I's" in Hall of Fame Speech :lol:

I am very happy to see Rice get in and his numbers are HOF numbers. He was a force to be reckoned with for about 10-12 years.

 

I personally think McGwire should be in the HOF. I think that Clemens and Bonds should be in when they are eligible, as well.

Rice was a good player, but I don't know that he's a Hall of Famer ... and I don't think his failures to make it before have anything to do with his relationship with the media. He's simply a borderline candidate.

 

Rickey, of course, was a no-brainer.

Rice was a good player, but I don't know that he's a Hall of Famer ... and I don't think his failures to make it before have anything to do with his relationship with the media. He's simply a borderline candidate.

 

Rickey, of course, was a no-brainer.

Agree on Rickey and his type of production, in many aspects is missing in MLB.

 

Rice is one, I always enjoyed watching play. Much more notable for his power and runs, than defense or other aspects. His swing was mechanical but consistent. I'm like many who thought he was a HOF worthy and glad he got it. I agree 100% with you, on the reason taking so long, that his stats didn't make him a lock with the voters but worthy of discussion.

"Rickey wants to thank all of those who supported Rickey and made it possible for Rickey to be standing up here alongside all of Rickey's heros."

 

I don't know - that would be pretty modest by Rickey's standards.

Rice was a good player, but I don't know that he's a Hall of Famer ... and I don't think his failures to make it before have anything to do with his relationship with the media. He's simply a borderline candidate.

 

Rickey, of course, was a no-brainer.

 

Nice choice of words!:lol:

Saw on the ESPN trailer that for a 12-year period, Rice led either the AL or MLB in total bases, homers and hits. At least, that's what I think I saw. How soon we forget how dominant he was; and not just for a handful of years.

 

When Rice went for over 400 total bases in 1978, his 406 were the most for any major leaguer in 30 years.

 

TOTAL BASES YEAR TB

1 Babe Ruth 1921 457

2 Rogers Hornsby 1922 450

3 Lou Gehrig 1927 447

4 Chuck Klein 1930 445

5 Jimmie Foxx 1932 438

6 Stan Musial 1948 429

7 Sammy Sosa 2001 425

8 Hack Wilson 1930 423

9 Chuck Klein 1932 420

T10 Lou Gehrig 1930 419

T10 Luis Gonzalez 2001 419

12 Joe DiMaggio 1937 418

13 Babe Ruth 1927 417

T14 Babe Herman 1930 416

T14 Sammy Sosa 1998 416

16 Barry Bonds 2001 411

17 Lou Gehrig 1931 410

T18 Lou Gehrig 1934 409

T18 Larry Walker 1997 409

T18 Rogers Hornsby 1929 409

T21 Jim Rice 1978 406

T21 Joe Medwick 1937 406

 

Way too long a wait for Rice, but he's finally there.

Here is the comparative stat lines of Rice and another player of his same era. Neither were considered exceptional fielders. If Rice belongs, does this "other person" belong in the HOF?

 

RICE: 8225 AB ... 1249 R ... 2452 H ... 373 DBL ... 373 HR ... 1451 RBI ... .298 AVG ... .352 OBP

 

????: 9358 AB ... 1272 R ... 2712 H ... 526 DBL ... 339 HR ... 1573 RBI ... .290 AVG ... .339 OBP

Here is the comparative stat lines of Rice and another player of his same era. Neither were considered exceptional fielders. If Rice belongs, does this "other person" belong in the HOF?

 

RICE: 8225 AB ... 1249 R ... 2452 H ... 373 DBL ... 373 HR ... 1451 RBI ... .298 AVG ... .352 OBP

 

????: 9358 AB ... 1272 R ... 2712 H ... 526 DBL ... 339 HR ... 1573 RBI ... .290 AVG ... .339 OBP

I think very comparable, to not only stats but players. The mystery name, was not only a solid hitter but was a force patrolling the OF. Had numerous assists and kept many runners, from advancing with his strong throwing arm.

 

Valid comparison here CT and I liked him a lot.

Here is the comparative stat lines of Rice and another player of his same era. Neither were considered exceptional fielders. If Rice belongs, does this "other person" belong in the HOF?

 

RICE: 8225 AB ... 1249 R ... 2452 H ... 373 DBL ... 373 HR ... 1451 RBI ... .298 AVG ... .352 OBP

 

????: 9358 AB ... 1272 R ... 2712 H ... 526 DBL ... 339 HR ... 1573 RBI ... .290 AVG ... .339 OBP

 

Is it possibly "the intangibles"; notably the admission of drug use; that are keeping ???? out of the HOF?

Is it possibly "the intangibles"; notably the admission of drug use; that are keeping ???? out of the HOF?

Very good point and most certainly, can be a reason from the HOF voters.

I think very comparable, to not only stats but players. The mystery name, was not only a solid hitter but was a force patrolling the OF. Had numerous assists and kept many runners, from advancing with his strong throwing arm.

 

Valid comparison here CT and I liked him a lot.

 

As did I (got to meet him several times - nice guy).

 

But my point - without saying his name just quite yet - is that he has no chance of getting in. None. And you are right, he actually offered more defensively than Rice.

As did I (got to meet him several times - nice guy).

 

But my point - without saying his name just quite yet - is that he has no chance of getting in. None. And you are right, he actually offered more defensively than Rice.

At one time, one of the most feared players in the game, both offensively and defensively. Even won MVP.

 

I'm like 'papa, perhaps his past transgressions are the reason.

# Rickey the diplomat: When Rickey broke Lou Brock's all-time Stolen Base record, Brock had given up his own time to come to the game and stand next to Rickey for the presentation. Rickey addressed the crowd: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all-time.”

 

# Rickey, friend to the little people: With the Mets in 1999, Rickey asked a teammate why there were so many reporters around and he was told the team had fired Tom Robson. "Who's he?" Rickey replied Robson was the Mets hitting coach.

 

# Rickey the Wizard of Wall St. The A's accounting department was in a panic because their books were off by a million bucks. The source of the discrepancy was Rickey, who had taken a $1 million bonus check and instead of cashing it, framed it.

 

# Rickey the Wizard of Wall St. Part II: He once held onto a bonus check rather than cash it because he was "waiting for the rates to go up."

 

# Rickey the geographer: He once asked a teammate how long it would take to drive to the Dominican Republic.

 

# Rickey the geography, Part II: His apartment had a "view of the Entire State Building."

 

# Third person Rickey: He once left Padres GM Kevin Towers this voicemail: “This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball.”

 

# Rickey the linguist: When he was looking for a seat on the Padres bus, Steve Finley said "You can sit anywhere you want. You've got tenure." To which Rickey replied “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”

 

# Classy Rickey: When he broke Ty Cobb's All Time Runs Scored record on a home run, he took full minute to round the bases then slid home.

 

# Rickey the mathematician: When Ken Caminiti said that 50% of ballplayers were juicing, Rickey said “Well, Rickey’s not one of them, so that’s 49 percent right there.”

 

# Gracious Rickey: At the end of his days with the Sox, Tom Werner offered him a car as a going away present and Rickey said he wanted John Henry's Mercedes. Not the same make and model. He wanted John Henry's car. So the team presented him with a red Thunderbird and when he saw it Rickey said "Who's ugly car is on the field?"