Del Rice
Born: 10/27/1922 in Portsmouth, OH, USA
Died: 1/26/1983 in Buena Park, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1945-05-02 | Final Game: 1961-08-31
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Delbert W. Rice
Biography
Del Rice, born in 1922, was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1945 to 1961. Known for his versatility as a position player, Rice played in a total of 1,309 games, where he accumulated 908 hits, 79 home runs, and 441 runs batted in, finishing his career with a batting average of .237. He was recognized for his contributions to the game with one All-Star selection, highlighting his impact during a period that saw the transition from the wartime limitations of the 1940s to the more offensive-minded approach of the late 1950s.
Rice's playing style was characterized by solid defense and a reliable bat, making him a valuable player for several teams throughout his career. He was known for his ability to handle pressure situations, contributing significantly to his teams' offensive efforts, particularly in crucial games. His presence in the lineup during a transformative era in baseball, which included the integration of African American players and evolving strategies, made him a noteworthy figure in the sport's history. Del Rice remains a respected member of the baseball community, remembered for his dedication and performance on the field.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1309 | 3826 | 342 | 908 | 177 | 20 | 79 | 441 | 2 | 382 | 522 | 0.237 | 0.312 | 0.356 | 0.668 | -5062.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | STL | NL | 83 | 253 | 27 | 66 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 33 | 0.261 | -116.2 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 55 | 139 | 10 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 0.273 | -65.6 |
| 1947 | STL | NL | 97 | 261 | 28 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 44 | 1 | 36 | 40 | 0.218 | 37.0 |
| 1948 | STL | NL | 100 | 290 | 24 | 57 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 34 | 1 | 37 | 46 | 0.197 | -1070.0 |
| 1949 | STL | NL | 92 | 284 | 25 | 67 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 30 | 40 | 0.236 | -491.6 |
| 1950 | STL | NL | 130 | 414 | 39 | 101 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 54 | 0 | 43 | 65 | 0.244 | -636.9 |
| 1951 | STL | NL | 122 | 374 | 34 | 94 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 47 | 0 | 34 | 26 | 0.251 | -412.7 |
| 1952 | STL | NL | 147 | 495 | 43 | 128 | 27 | 2 | 11 | 65 | 0 | 33 | 38 | 0.259 | -51.7 |
| 1953 | STL | NL | 135 | 419 | 32 | 99 | 22 | 1 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 48 | 49 | 0.236 | -778.2 |
| 1954 | STL | NL | 56 | 147 | 13 | 37 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 21 | 0.252 | -119.2 |
| 1955 | ATL | NL | 27 | 71 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0.197 | -264.5 |
| 1955 | STL | NL | 20 | 59 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0.203 | -264.5 |
| 1956 | ATL | NL | 71 | 188 | 15 | 40 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 34 | 0.213 | -611.5 |
| 1957 | ATL | NL | 54 | 144 | 15 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 37 | 0.229 | 99.6 |
| 1958 | ATL | NL | 43 | 121 | 10 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 30 | 0.223 | -415.4 |
| 1959 | ATL | NL | 13 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.207 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | BAL | AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | CHC | NL | 18 | 52 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | STL | NL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | LAA | AL | 44 | 83 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 20 | 19 | 0.241 | 242.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.333 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | WS | ML1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.167 |
| 1946 | WS | SLN | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.500 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1249 | 270 | 5353 | 537 | 75 | 72 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | SLN | C | 77 | 0 | 284 | 39 | 2 | 6 |
| 1946 | SLN | C | 53 | 0 | 196 | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| 1947 | SLN | C | 94 | 0 | 380 | 33 | 8 | 7 |
| 1948 | SLN | C | 99 | 0 | 447 | 46 | 2 | 5 |
| 1949 | SLN | C | 92 | 0 | 355 | 29 | 3 | 4 |
| 1950 | SLN | C | 130 | 0 | 572 | 63 | 10 | 12 |
| 1951 | SLN | C | 120 | 0 | 447 | 66 | 8 | 12 |
| 1952 | SLN | C | 147 | 0 | 677 | 81 | 6 | 8 |
| 1953 | SLN | C | 135 | 0 | 627 | 60 | 8 | 6 |
| 1954 | SLN | C | 52 | 45 | 248 | 20 | 4 | 2 |
| 1955 | ML1 | C | 22 | 19 | 90 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| 1955 | SLN | C | 18 | 18 | 74 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 1956 | ML1 | C | 65 | 59 | 271 | 21 | 5 | 2 |
| 1957 | ML1 | C | 48 | 44 | 235 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| 1958 | ML1 | C | 38 | 33 | 174 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | ML1 | C | 9 | 8 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1960 | BAL | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | CHN | C | 18 | 16 | 85 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | SLN | C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | LAA | C | 30 | 27 | 144 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1249 |