It's a disgrace that the most feared hitter of his time would be left out of Hall. Yes, Jim Rice, again missed election. This time by 53 votes. According to ESPN, only Bruce Sutter made the cut.

This may have been Rice's last legitimate chance to enter the Hall. He has two more eligible years, but next year, Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire and Tony Gwynn, will compete on the ballot.

Ripken and Gwynn will make the first cut. Both have great credentials and were most friendly with the media during and after their careers. McGwire will make things interesting. Well-liked for sure, but rumors of steroid use, may effect the voting tally.

With such a strong class in 2007, Rice undoubtedly will not get the needed 390 or so votes.

When playing Rice may have rubbed some shoulders the wrong way, especially the writers. He is obviously still paying the price.

But remember if you add his numbers from 1975 to 1986 (the last year he was a full-time player), you'll see that NO ONE during that same span of time scored more runs, knocked in more rbis, hit more home runs.

Add that Rice's numbers compare favorably to Hall of Famers Willie Stargell, Orlando Cepeda and Duke Snyder and others; I don't see how he can once again be the odd man out.

Player...........R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG.
Rice...........1249 2452 382 1451 58 .298 .352 .520
Cepeda.. ...1131 2351 379 1365 192 .297 .350 .498
Synder.......1259 2116 407 1333 99 .295 .380 .540
Stargell......1195 2232 475 1540 17 .282 .360 .529

(Stats found at Baseball-Reference.com)

The opportunity was there this year.

In fact, Bruce Sutter would have been third on my list behind Rice and Bert Blyleven.

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