Extremely Weak Hall Of Fame Class (1 Viewer)

[Pat Patriot]

Isn't it about time for YankeeFan23 to start beating the drums for Don Mattingly and the Atlanta homers (posty) to do the same for Dale Murphy?

There really should be a wing for players that just absolutely dominated for a stretch, but were otherwise ordinary. There was a 5 year span where Mattingly was just lights out.

Add Jim Rice to that wing too. Doesn't deserve the big hall, but he was as feared a hitter as anybody from 1977-1983.

Crazy talk here....and I thought you were a Red Sox fan1975 Rice came in 3rd in MVP voting (as a rookie) - came in 6th in total bases and missed 20 games or so1984 Rice came in 13th in MVP voting - and won Silver Slugger award - 7th in total bases1986 Rice came in 3rd in MVP voting again - 7th in total basesRice was a top ML outfielder in the game from 75-86 - a pretty decent 11 year stretch. Sure he had some mediocre years in there, by his standards, but if you take those years in aggregate, he had to be about the best player in the game.

I'm a HUGE Sox fan, but there are certain things that work against Rice:(1) The same problem with LF that I have with Raines - Rice was a below average defensive player at the least premium defensive position on the field. (2) While Rice had buckets of production during his prime, he was also an out machine - When you look at Double Plays per PA over his career, Rice was a machine, and not in a good way. He's SIXTH overall in career GIDP. That's pretty staggering since he's not even in the top 100 in career plate appearances.(3) We can debate back and forth on whether or not Rice should be "penalized" for racking up big stats at Fenway but it's pretty hard not to notice that AWAY from Fenway, Jim Ed was a really average ballplayer (.277/.330/.459).I LOVED Rice as a kid. Probably one of my favorite players of all time. But viewing his career objectively, he shouldn't be in the Hall.

Sorry but I think you are nuts. I grew up watching Jim Rice and he was the Best player in the game for a 5-6 year stretch and was solid another 5 years. He was top 5 in MVP 6 times. I never once watched him from 76 to 83 and didnt think he was a HOFer. He had average speed and still led the league in triples a couple of times. The biggest reason I see that Rice isnt already in the HOF is because his eyes went and he didnt spend that extra 4-5 years at the end of his career adding to his stats.He had 6-7 HOF quality years and 3 other "good" years. He was top ten in Total Bases 9 times.JIM RICE should be a Hall of Famer. I hope he makes it and I'll be going to Cooperstown to see his induction when he does. My favorite player growing up.