Your 1981 Red Sox Pt. 23: Jim Rice

In this series, I will look at each player who played in 1981, the year I was born. Because, why not? 

I have covered Jim Rice at length in several other posts, so I do not really feel the need to go over his entire career again in this post.  I think it is enough to say that he was an incredible player, a terrific power hitter, and of course, a Hall of Famer.  

Rice was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 1971 draft, 15th overall.  He made it to the Majors in 1974 and had his official rookie season in 1975.  That year he teamed up with Fred Lynn to form a fantastic rookie tandem for the Red Sox to help make it to the World Series.  Rice finished second to Lynn in the Rookie of the Year vote and third in the MVP voting.  Unfortunately he missed the postseason due to an injury.  

After an adjustment in 1976, Rice became the feared slugger he was reputed to be starting in 1977.  That year, he led the league in home runs and total bases for the first time.  He won the A.L. MVP in 1978 when he led the league in a number of offensive categories, including home runs, hits, RBIs and slugging percentage.  His numbers declined a bit the next two seasons.

By the time the 1981 season came around, Rice was deep into his prime offensive seasons.  He was in the middle of the period in which he was the most feared slugger in the game.  He had a bit of a down year, but still managed to hit .284/.333/.441 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs.  He led the league in at-bats with 451 and accumulated 128 hits, 51 runs scored and 18 doubles.  He was second on the team in home runs and RBIs to Dwight Evans.  Rice spent most of the season as the left-fielder.

Rice continued to put up big numbers through the 1986 season, leading the league in home runs and RBIs in 1983 once more.  After the 1986 season, he declined dramatically, eventually retiring after the 1989 season.  Rice spent his entire Major League career with the Red Sox and later became a hitting coach and then a broadcaster with the team.  He is a deserving Hall of Famer.