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               Jim Rice 
 
Jim Rice was the slugger that pitchers feared the most from 1975 to 1986. He was incredibly strong, with a swing that was quick and compact, and powerful wrists. He once broke his bat on a check swing without the bat touching the ball. Rice was very protective of his teammates, often avoiding interviews where he felt a writer was looking for a story about another player, This led to the media calling him surly.  Nothing could be further from the truth.
The minor leagues were child's play for the blossoming star. Rice won the batting crown in his first year in AA, and the triple crown in his first year in AAA. He was brought to the major leagues at the end of the 1974 season.
In his rookie year, Rice replaced the legendary Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski in Fenway Park's left field. Fred Lynn, his rookie counterpart in Boston in center field, prevented Rice from winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1975. He did finished second in the rookie race, and third in the Most Valuable Player Award voting, with a 309 average, 22 homers, and 102 RBI. Dubbed 'The Gold Dust Twins" by Peter Gammons, Rice and Lynn propelled Boston to the World Series. Sadly, Tiger's pitcher Vern Ruhle broke Rice's wrist with a pitch the last week of the regular season, preventing him from playing in the post-season.
From 1977 to 1979, Rice put together a three year span for the ages. He was the only player in Major League history to have three consecutive seasons with a .300 avg, 200 hits, 35 home runs, and 100 RBI. Rice was American League Most Valuable Player in 1978, leading the league in hits (213), triples (15), home runs (46), RBI (139), slugging pct (.600), and total bases (406). He was the first player since 1959 to have 400 total bases, and the only player to ever lead the league in triples, home runs and RBI in the same season.
Injuries and a players' strike slowed the meteoric rise of Rice's career. He came back strong in 1983, leading the league with 39 home runs and 126 RBI. After off-season knee surgery in 1985, and a new contact lens to correct the astigmatim in his left eye, Rice started hitting to the opposite field more. 1986 was his last great season, finishing third in the Most Valuable Player Award with a .324 average, 200 hits, 20 home runs, and 110 RBI. In the post-season, Rice was terrific. He had 14 hits, 14 runs, 2 home runs, and 6 RBI in his only post-season appearance.
The end of Jim Rice's career came at the age of 36, after knee surgery and a disappointing final three years. He finished his career with a .298 average, 2452 hits, 382 home runs, 1451 RBI, and a .502 slugging percentage in 16 full seasons, all with the Boston Red Sox.
Statistics:
.300 average 7 times
200 hits 4 times, 1 time leader
20 home runs 11 times, 3 time leader
100 RBI 8 times, 2 time leader
300 total bases 6 times, 2 time leader
.500 slugging 5 times, 2 time leader
Triples leader 1 time
Achievements:
8 time All-Star
2 time Silver Slugger
1978 American League MVP
1995 Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
2001 Hitters Hall of Fame
2008 International League Hall of Fame
2008 Emil Fuchs Award from BBWAA
2009 Baseball Hall of Fame
Post-career:
-Boston Red Sox hitting coach
-Honorary chairman of the Jimmy Fund
-1992 Jimmy Award winner
-Member of Neurofibromatosis Foundation of New England
-Member of MLB RBI Program
-NESN commentator
-Cameo appearances in the movies "Fever Pitch" and "Wait Til This Year"
Favorite Story:
On August 7, 1982, a line drive off the bat of Dave Stapleton hit a four year old fan, Jonathan Keane. Jim Rice left the Red Sox dugout and entered the stands to help the boy who was bleeding badly. Rice carried the boy to the Red Sox clubhouse where he was treated by the medical staff. Team doctor Arthur Pappas said Rice's actions may have saved the boy's life.

            Joe Gordon

 

Joe Gordon was an acrobatic second baseman nicknamed " Jumpin' Joe" and "Flash", who set many fielding records. He was also a power hitter as a second baseman, setting hitting records as well with the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Gordon was often  considered one of the best all-around athletes of his generation.

In his rookie year, Gordon hit 25 home runs, setting the record for American League second baseman, and the first to top 20 in a season. He hit 20 or more home runs in each of his first four seasons.

In 1942, Gordon beat out Ted Williams for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, even though Williams won the triple crown. Gordon finished with a .322 average, 18 home runs, and 103 RBI.

World War II took two full years from Gordon, as well as affecting his first season back, 1946. The Yankees let him go to the Indians the next year, and he quickly returned to form. 

In 1948, he led the Indians to the World Series Championship, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 124 runs. The 32 home runs were a record for an American League second baseman until 2001 when it was broken by Bret Boone.

The end of Gordon's career came just two years later at the age of 35. He finished his career with the American League record for home runs by a second baseman with 246, despite only playing 11 full seasons. Gordon also had a .268 average, 975 RBI and a .970 fielding percentage.

Along the way, he set many World Series fielding records for a five game series, including 5 double plays, 20 put-outs, 23 assists, 43 total chances, and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Gordon also holds the records for double plays in a six game series, and assists in one game, and assists in one inning.  

As a manager, Gordon led the Indians from 1958-1960, when he was 'traded' for Tiger's manager Jimmy Dykes. He then managed the Kansas City A's in 1961, and the expansion Kansas City Royals in 1969.

Statistics:

.300 average 1 time

20 home runs 7 times

100 RBI 4 times

300 total bases 1 time

.500 slugging 4 times

2B assists leader 4 times

2B doule play leader 3 times

2B career AL home runs (246)

Achievements:

9 time All-Star

5 time World Series winner

1942 American League MVP

2008 Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame

2009 Baseball Hall of Fame

 

            Tony Kubek

 

Tony Kubek was a player for the New York Yankees from 1957 to 1965. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1957, was a 4 time All-Star, and was a part of 3 World Series winners. After a back injury forced him into retirement in 1965, Kubek worked for NBC during that year's post-season. 24 years later, he ended his NBC career as the lead color commentator on the network's "Game of the Week". Kubek also was the Toronto Blue Jays first broadcaster from their inception in 1977 through 1989. He then moved to the MSG Network where he was a Yankees broadcaster from 1990 until his retirement in 1994.

Tony Kubek will be presented with the Ford C. Frick Award, bestowed annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broad-caster for major contributions to baseball

 

             Nick Peters

 

Nick Peters covered the San Francisco Giants for 47 years working for both the Oakland Tribune and the Sacramento Bee. He also wrote five books about the Giants, including co-writing "The Giants Encyclopedia".

Nick Peters will be presented with the J.G. Taylor Spinks Award, given annually by the BBWAA to one of its members for meritous contributions to baseball writing

        Rickey Henderson

 

Rickey Henderson was the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time. Just ask him. Henderson was a flashy player known to refer to himself in the third person, talk to himself, and talk to his bats. Whatever he did, it worked. Known for his snatch catch, home run prance, and head-first slide, Henderson was the "Style Dog". He was also called "The Man of Steal" on his way to shattering the stolen base record set by Lou Brock. At Oakland Tech High School he was a star in many sports, but chose to sign with hometown team, the Athletics. Henderson would have four stints with the A's, as well as playing for eight other teams in his 25 year career.

The minor leagues were simply a showcase for Henderson. With Modesto in 1977, he set the record for stolen bases in a season with 95, and became the fourth professional player to steal seven bases in one game.

In his rookie year, Henderson stole 33 bases in 89 games for the Athletics, establishing himself as the best young base stealer in baseball.

His early Oakland years were filled with record-setting performances. In 1980, he became the first American League player to steal 100 bases, passing Ty Cobb's record of 96. Henderson stole 130 bases in 1982, topping Lou Brock's old Major League record by 12. His 108 steals in 1983 made him the only American League player with three seasons of 100 or more stolen bases. He also tied an American League record with seven steals over two games. By the time Henderson left Oakland, he had set new franchise records for stolen bases in a season and a career.

The Yankee years included more record -setting performances for Henderson. He became the first player in Major League history to reach 20 home runs and 80 stolen bases in the same season in 1985. His 146 runs scored that year were the most in baseball since Ted Williams had 150 in 1949. In 1986, Henderson hit an American League record nine lead-off home runs. That year he also finished with his American League record seventh consecutive 50 steal season. By the time Henderson left New York, he had established new franchise records for stolen bases in a season and a career.

Back to Oakland in the middle of 1989, Henderson would enjoy his most satisfying years. Henderson was the ALCS Most Valuable Player in 1989, on his way to stealing a post-season record eight bases. The Athletics won the World Series in 1989 ( He would win a second in 1993 with the Blue Jays, scoring on Joe Carter's series-winning home run). In 1990 Henderson won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. That year, he lost the batting title at the end of the year to George Brett, finishing the year at .325. He added a career-high 28 home rus, and league-leading totals of 119 runs and 65 stolen bases.

"The Greatest of All Time" was the name Henderson gave himself after breaking Lou Brock's Major League record of 938 career stolen bases in 1991. He would go on to steal an amazing 468 more bases in his career.

Lead-off home runs were something else Henderson was famous for. In 1993, he became the second player in baseball history to hit lead-off home runs in both games of a double header. By 1994, Henderson had set the Major League record with 66 career lead-off home runs. He would end his career with an astounding 81.

The oldest player to lead the league in stolen bases, Henderson had 66 for the New York Mets in 1998 at the age of 39. In 2002, he became the oldest player to play center field at the age of 43 for the Boston Red Sox.

Record-setting years were common for Henderson, but career records were on the horizon heading into the 2001 season. He broke three Major League records that year, passing Babe Ruth on the career walks list, topping Ty Cobb's record for career runs scored, and he set a record for most games played in left field surpassing Zack Wheat's record.

Milestones would come next for Henderson. He finished the 2001 season with exactly 3000 hits. He also surpassed 3000 games that year.

The end of Henderson's Major League career was in 2003, but he continued to play semi-pro baseball for a few more years in San Diego. He ended his career as the Major League record holder for career stolen bases (1406), runs scored (2295), and walks (2190). Henderson also had 3055 hits, 510 doubles, 297 home runs, and an on-base percentage of .401.

Statistics:

.300 average 7 times

.400 on-base pct 15 times, 1 time leader

100 runs 13 times, 5 time leader

100 walks 7 times, 4 time leader

20 home runs 4 times

50 stolen bases 13 times, 12 time leader

Hits leader 1 time

Achievements:

10 time All-Star

3 time Silver Slugger

2 time World Series winner

1981 Gold Glove

1990 American League MVP

1989 ALCS MVP

1999 National League Comeback Player of the Year

2009 Baseball Hall of Fame