PSA BatFacts™

Jim Rice bats are part of a small group of relatively affordable gamers from the Hall of Fame player list. During his career, Rice used various bat brands including Adirondack, Cooper and Worth bats, but it was H&B (which later became known as Louisville Slugger) that the slugging outfielder preferred. Rice used varying amounts of pine tar to enhance his grip. While most well-used Rice gamers do not feature a very heavy application, some of his bats are caked in the substance. In addition, Rice would occasionally tape the handles of his bats with a thin layer in criss-cross formation. Most Rice gamers do feature his uniform number on the knob (14) in black marker, the number which he wore his entire career with the Boston Red Sox.

James Edward Rice (March 8, 1953-) was the 1974 International League Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Triple Crown winner with the Pawtucket Red Sox batting .337 with 25 home runs and 93 RBI in 117 games. Needless to say, Rice was quickly added to the big club’s roster in Boston and he became the third left fielder in Boston’s long history to spend his entire career with the boys from Beantown (Ted William and Carl Yastrzemski). Rice played 16 years in Boston where he clouted 20 home runs in his first eleven seasons and earned the 1978 American League Most Valuable Player Award. In 1979, he became the second player in history after Ty Cobb to lead the league in total bases for three consecutive seasons (1977-1979), and again in 1983. His 406 total bases in 1978 remains an AL record for a season. The eight-time All-Star selection also led the league three times in home runs, and RBI and slugging percentage twice. Jim Rice retired with 2,452 hits, 1,249 runs, 1,451 RBI, and 382 home runs while posting a career .298 batting average. The Veterans Committee elected James Edward Rice to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.