Jim Rice’s jersey will be retired by Red Sox, who will honor him after Hall of Fame induction
By APThursday, July 23, 2009
Red Sox will retire Rice’s No. 14 jersey
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Boston Red Sox will retire Jim Rice’s No. 14 jersey.
The team said Wednesday it will honor Rice in a ceremony at Fenway Park on Tuesday, two days after Rice is inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
It will be the seventh number retired by the Red Sox.
“The retirement of his number will be a fitting way to honor one of the most dominant hitters to ever wear a Red Sox uniform,” Boston owner John Henry said.
Rice, an eight-time All-Star, batted .298 with 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs in 2,089 games for the Red Sox from 1974 to 1989.
He was the American League MVP in 1978, when the Red Sox captain hit .315 with 46 homers and 139 RBIs. He had 406 total bases, still the only time an AL player had 400 total bases since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.
“This is a moment of celebration for all of Red Sox Nation — young and old. Our fans have known for a long time that Jim Rice, one of the greatest offensive baseball players in recent history, belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said.
Rice will join Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski as the only Hall of Fame players who spent their entire careers with the Red Sox.
Along with Doerr (No. 1), Yastrzemski (No. and Williams (No. 9), the other numbers retired by the Red Sox were Joe Cronin (No. 4), Johnny Pesky (No. 6), and Carlton Fisk (No. 27).
Rice still ranks third among the Red Sox career leaders in at-bats, hits, home runs and RBIs. He is a special assignment instructor for the Red Sox.
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