Hall of Fame Class of 2009

[Tavish]

...and the HOF continues to lose credibility.

At least now whenever the next guy comes up for discussion we can say, "Well if Jim Rice is in, this guys deserves to be in as well!".

[BronXBombers51]

...and the HOF continues to lose credibility.

At least now whenever the next guy comes up for discussion we can say, "Well if Jim Rice is in, this guys deserves to be in as well!".

Bernie Williams FTW.

[Neato Torpedo]

Well, if Jim Rice can get in, then so should Trenidad Hubbard!

[Tavish]

...and the HOF continues to lose credibility.

At least now whenever the next guy comes up for discussion we can say, "Well if Jim Rice is in, this guys deserves to be in as well!".

Bernie Williams FTW.

Dave Parker, Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy, and Matt Williams say hello as well.

[KCollins1304]

At least now whenever the next guy comes up for discussion we can say, "Well if Jim Rice is in, this guys deserves to be in as well!".

Bernie Williams FTW.

Dave Parker, Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy, and Matt Williams say hello as well.

Just don't let that cheat McGwire in!

[BritSox]

Over his first 11 seasons, Rice averaged 30 homers, 110 RBIs and hit .305. He hit 46 homers in 1978, was AL MVP, and became the first AL player since Joe DiMaggio to reach 400 total bases. He had five other top-five finishes in MVP voting.

From 1975 to 1986, Rice led the American League in runs, hits, home runs, extra-base hits, RBIs, slugging and outfield assists.

Pretty good, but not dominant enough to get in as a dominator, and not long enough to get in as a compiler.

How many years did Rice lead just his own team in OPS? 2 times.
How many times during Rice's career did Lynn lead the Red Sox in OPS? 3 times.
How many times during Rice's career did Evans lead the Red Sox in OPS? 4 times.
How many threads turn into "Lynn or Evans for the Hall"? Zero.

Rice - Lynn - Evans
Career Win Shares - 282 -280 - 346
Career WARP3 - 80.2 - 81.7 - 116.5
Career OPS+ - 128 - 127 - 129

Dewey > Rice. End of.

...and the HOF continues to lose credibility.

At least now whenever the next guy comes up for discussion we can say, "Well if Jim Rice is in, this guys deserves to be in as well!".

Well, Kirby Puckett was already in. But still... the 'Elect Rice' campaign for me is the Boston equivalent of 'Mattingly for Hall.' IE, a complete embarrassment that makes the fanbase in question look like a bunch of one-eyed idiots.

[Big Pimpin]

Yes! Rickey! First Mariner in the Hall!

[BritSox]

Btw, just for the point of reference...

The combined OPS+ for Rice's 12 best seasons? 132.

Bobby Abreu's career to date? 133.

Anyone think Bobby is an HoFer?

[AussieDodger]

Yes! Rickey! First Mariner in the Hall!

[nsulham]

Let me be the first to actually congratulate Jim Rice. You may disagree with the choice and not think he deserves to be in but he made it so the guy deserves props for at least that.