Evening star., 1955-01-18

20year average OF 322 and 1887 htor 125l more an
DiNaggio.
Count 9S7 hits Only players history made
the 5000 clubLaioie Eddie Collins Anson Cobb Wagner
Speaker and Paul Wane Lacking only is Sam besed Babe
Ruth Rogers Hornsby George Ssler and Lou Gehg among
others. And they are all In the Hall of Fame.
RICE WAS 42 YEARS OLD when he retired after 10
with Washington and took final fling in 1884 with
Cleveland st he managed to bat 2ss in nearly 100 games
for the Indians and because he such young 42st
fast still able to throw could have remained caught
with another club in order to make the 5000 club
1t just wasn't Sans nature to level for any honor
He'd had enough; he was ready to raise chickens
DiMaggo. who will receive perhaps ITO lso votes
than Rice when the ballots counted hit longer ball
than Sam and OF course had the BENEFITS more prolific
press He 10 World Series too whereas played In
only three Notice however that Rice played practically his
pennants.
untl his last years DiAaggo had i superb throwing
arm Don't forget though that Rice had wing too. DiMag
was study in grace aneld Rice, II not laconicaly
graceful. was hrst-rate outfelder too
$3.50
BUCKY HARRIS AFTER he had managed the Yankees
and DiAdaggio for year, said:
II realized what good base-runner DAdag was
until now. don't stealing bases Just moving at
the right times. He's as good as I've seen."
This is to take issue with Bucky this At times
1t helps to steal base too DiMag never stole than
six in in his life OF there have been
better base-runners than Sam Rice-beginning with Billy
Hamilton and going to Ty Cobb Max Carey and Clyde
Mian-but it is not long list and DiMaggios name is
not on 1t.
When Rice stole So 1926 nobody to give
his feat much Of tumble lie also bated 1888 that
His So didn't lead the league Until he 81 old
Sam stole upward Of 20 bases and he to
the Senators at %.
batted above 800 for IA seasons with Washington
IA out of 49, His worst that 1893 when he called it quits
with Cleveland There lot Of ball players now-too
many-who will settle for 293 peak performance.
DAY IN AND DAY OUT tthere were no lights in these
mes) Rice the most consistent Of the Washington httes
In the happy Of 1924 and 1926 Pauds
Gosn and Bucky Harris and Walter Johnson Judge
but Sam quietly lining his base hits; stealing when
it appropriate and during his and the Senators heyday
scoring 100 runs year.
And from the stands Clark Grfith was counting his
blessings Edgar Charles Rice an accident Well
quite but close
With financial problems of his own in 1915, Grifth's
generosity him title to Rice Hard pressed cash.
himself Grf loaned the Of the Petersburg Va club
Of the Virginia League 5000 to meet payroll In July the
Virginian the telephone.
"Were folding he said "and pay back that $780,
But I've got pretty good pitcher down here you ought
take payment"
Rice, of course, the pitcher Grif to whom loss of
5000 at that time important did bother learn
his full handle IT think It's Rice" told reporters
dsneresedy and not knowing the treat that store
And so 1t became Sam" Rice.
Sam came up pitcher but by 1917 he was an out
Observation-Disclosures time best in rght-and he on
to do things But only nine votes for the Hall Of
Fame is almost outrageous Surely people better
than that.