Hal Rice
Born: 2/11/1924 in Morganette, WV, USA
Died: 12/22/1997 in Bloomington, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1948-09-25 | Final Game: 1954-09-19
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Harold Housten Rice
Biography
Hal Rice, born in 1924, was a professional baseball player who had a career spanning from 1948 to 1954. Primarily recognized as a position player, Rice made his mark in Major League Baseball during a period characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively oriented game. Over the course of his career, he played in 424 games, where he compiled a solid batting average of .260. Rice recorded a total of 307 hits, including 19 home runs, and drove in 162 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute significantly to his team's offense.
Rice's playing style was indicative of the era, where a blend of power and contact hitting was increasingly becoming desirable. Despite the competitive landscape of the post-war years, he carved out a respectable niche for himself in the league. Although he only stole one base throughout his career, Rice's offensive contributions were marked by his ability to drive in runs and maintain a consistent presence at the plate. His career, while not as widely celebrated as some of his contemporaries, reflects the hard-fought nature of baseball during a time when the sport was evolving and expanding in popularity.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 424 | 1183 | 129 | 307 | 52 | 12 | 19 | 162 | 1 | 94 | 133 | 0.260 | 0.314 | 0.372 | 0.686 | -1034.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | STL | NL | 8 | 31 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.323 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | STL | NL | 40 | 46 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0.196 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | STL | NL | 44 | 128 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0.211 | -580.2 |
| 1951 | STL | NL | 69 | 236 | 20 | 60 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 24 | 22 | 0.254 | -216.6 |
| 1952 | STL | NL | 98 | 295 | 37 | 85 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 45 | 1 | 16 | 26 | 0.288 | 398.5 |
| 1953 | PIT | NL | 78 | 286 | 39 | 89 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 42 | 0 | 17 | 22 | 0.311 | 200.6 |
| 1953 | STL | NL | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.250 | 200.6 |
| 1954 | CHC | NL | 51 | 72 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 0.153 | -579.2 |
| 1954 | PIT | NL | 28 | 81 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 24 | 0.173 | -579.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 317 | 34 | 585 | 34 | 20 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | SLN | OF | 8 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | SLN | OF | 10 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | SLN | OF | 37 | 0 | 67 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1951 | SLN | OF | 63 | 0 | 116 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1952 | SLN | OF | 81 | 0 | 132 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 1953 | PIT | OF | 70 | 0 | 167 | 14 | 5 | 2 |
| 1954 | CHN | OF | 24 | 12 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1954 | PIT | OF | 24 | 22 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 269 |
| Center Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 52 |