Teammates cheer Jim Rice's Hall of Fame selection

YOUR COMMENTS

Sorry Scotty! Meant the comment for Paul in Milford. You know, the guy who got stood up at the prom. Go Sox!
- sk, ft laud, fl

Yo scotty, desperate times call for desperate measures. Almost half a billion for 3 players, desperate or what? I'm sure you've ponied up the $800 grand for season tickets too right? Maybe the yanks can do better than third this year, but c'mon you can't buy a championship anymore. Look at the '03 Marlins with one of the lowest payrolls, beating your stinkees to a pulp.
- sk, ft laud, fl

Sorry so tardy in my reply, Paulie. I was tied up all day watching Championship videos of the Sox and Pats. I'll get back to you later and we can discuss Hankie Steinbrenner and the internal destruction of the Yankmees. Or the Jets. Or the Giants. Or the Mets. Or the Knicks. You pick.
- Mike, Concord

Scott Pembroke, Man,Your crying towel has got to be soaking wet today.

After 15 years the sports writers were feeling too embarassed for Rice not to vote him in. Did he deserve it. No Way.

As far as Munson, Martin and Liddle, If you got to go, Oh well man, can you think of a better way. Drink a beer in thier honor, you bet. Sit down and cry like a 16 year old girl who just got stood up at the Prom, that's for Red Sox fans
- Paul, Milford

Jim Rice getting into the Hall is a great achievement and some people here posted great memories and yet the UL prints smack talk from Yankee fans.

It's comments like that, that make it difficult for me to sympathize when Thurman Munson spills a beer and crashes his plane, Billy Martin gets killed in one of his drunken adventures, Corey Liddle flies right into an apartment building.

The UL very rarely publishes anything that resembles smack talk from me and yet you allow these same two or three Red Sox haters to post and mock other people. I don't mind, as long that the return smack is published.

I doubt this gets printed, but who cares. I'll stop reading the UL and it's syndicated AP stories(this one was actually written by a UL staff member) and stick to real sports web sites and their original writings.

Again, I doubt this gets published, but someone posting that hanging a black man is OK and I wish the UL would use more discretion in what is appropriate for posting.

Anyone who ever followed baseball with a passion has probably shed a tear or two over the years.

Maybe the New York Fighting Irish can finally win a World Series with their $200 million payroll and stop living in the past.
- Scott, Pembroke

Jim Sacknow, How's it going sad Sack. Been a long time. I remember playing against you in little league. You were the kid in right field doing the pee pee dance. YOU Jim Rice, give me a break. Condoleezza Rice maybe. LOL good to hear from you JJ
- John Johnson, Concord

Mike P,
Getting a little emotional aren't you? Let's try and keep this happy okay? Not sad. It's a great day for Red Sox nation. Let's not get everyone all bummed out huh? Cheer up.
- Jim Sacknow, Concord

Scott Pembroke, I little over the top with the drama queen stuff don't ya think?

Brian Concord, The only way I would Applaud Rice's jersey being hung up in fenway along with the other retired jersey's is If he was still in it. LOL (how you like that one Mikey Concord?)
- Paul, Milford

I was on a Flight back from Orlando to Boston, and the Red Sox had played in New York. The flight had the pleasure of bringing the team back to Boston. I can still remember seeing Jim Rice going down the aisle and couldn't believe how big his arms were. Also picking up my luggage,standing next to Carton Fisk, I felt like an Ant.
- D Cornelison, Quincy Ma.

Congrats Jim Ed! It's about time.

Scott, it must have been a great day to be at the Shrine on Yawkey Way. I was watching that game with a group of guys and there wasn't a dry eye among us. It was one of only two times that I saw my dad cry. The other was at the funeral of his mother.
- Mike P., Manchester

I vaguely remember Rice from the 1986 season and his subsequent downfall thereafter. Honestly, I think the '87-'89 Jim Rice kept him from getting in earlier. I wish I'd have seen him dominate in the 70's and early 80's... I guess people who saw him in his prime compare him to Manny without the drama.

Congratulations to Mr. Rice--- does this mean that we see #14 go up alongside 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 27? He now meets the requirements for retired numbers at Fenway and was a life long Red Sox.
- Brian, Concord

In 1978, I played my first year of Little League ball. I played for the Don's Sports Center Red Sox(South Little League). I wore #14 after Rice. He was my hero and my God.

1978 was the year he tore the ball apart, it was also the year that the Sox blew a 14 1/2 game lead on the Yankees.

Fast forward to 1989. I'm at Fenway and the Sox are playing Canseco, McGwire and the A's. Dave Stewart and the A's are winning 4-2 and the Sox have runners on first and third. Rice comes off of the bench to pinch it and strikes out. A chorus of boos rang out. I felt extremely bad for Rice.

When he retired, he quickly packed and left. He refused to have a day in honor of himself at Fenway.

Then one of my favorite Fenway moments happened. It was April 26, 1995. MLB was just coming off of a strike that cancelled the World Series.

The Sox were slated to open at home against Minnesota. Jose Canseco was to take over the DH duties from Andre Dawson. There was suppose to be a buzz over Fenway but there wasn't. Fans were there to boo the players for the strike that cost the league a World Series.

The players get announced and of course they all get booed, especially Canseco(who would never warm up to the Fenway Faithful).

Now it's time to announce the coaching staff. Rice was hired over the winter as hitting instructor and was making his first Fenway appearance since he retired. I was nervous for him thinking that he was going to get booed. Instead, just as soon as it came over the PA system. "the hitting instructor, #14" the fans exploded. They were already on their feet in anticipation. The crowd exploded for over 5 minutes for Rice. He was reduced to tears. I was reduced to tears. It was a great moment for the both of us.

Yoday, I am happy as all hell that #14 will be enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Scott, Pembroke

Jim Ed Rice. Probably the most feared hitter in the 70's. Can remember growing up and playing little league, he was the guy that everyone in the neighborhood emulated. Him and Carlton Fisk. Quick compact DEADLY swing. Bang. It's back, back, back, GONE! Can still hear Ned Martin now. And Bob Montgomery. They were like the first two announcers on NESN. Remeber Jim Ed and Fred Lynn? What a tandem. Good old days. Never won a WS though. Too bad. Hey, pitchers and catchers report less than a month. Dig it.
- Jim Sacknow, Concord