Player #74I: Edgar C. "Sam" Rice Part 3. Outfielder for the Washington Senators in 1915-1933. 2,987 hits and 34 home runs in 20 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1920 AL stolen base leader. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1963. Led the Senators to three AL pennants (1924,1925, and 1933). Best known for controversial "over the fence" catch in the 1925 World Series. He had many excellent seasons, but one of his best was 1930 as he posted a .407 OBP with 121 runs scored in 669 plate appearances. He had 63 stolen bases in 1920. He last played in 1934 with the Cleveland Indians. His early life was marred by tragedy when his wife, two daughters, parents, and two sisters were all killed by a tornado in Indiana.
As early as 1918, Philadelphia manager Connie Mack, in a conversation with golfer Jim Barnes, expressed concern that golf was threatening baseball's future popularity. What was developing, it appeared, was a battle for the hearts and mind of America's youth. What particularly concerned baseball was the lure of caddying. While summer days on baseball's sandlots provided boys with hours of entertainment, exercise and some memories to bore their own children with in years to come, working as a golf course caddy put real money in their pockets. Two of the nation's top golfers, Walter Hagan and Gene Sarazen, had been introduced to the game through caddying, and now were among the nation's most successful and well-paid sportsmen. . . .
. . . A break in the thaw between the two sports came on March 3, when Cobb agreed to except his pitchers from his own no-golf rule. Cobb said he thought that golf adversely affected "the batting eye," but since most pitchers were poor hitters to begin with, he didn't see the harm. The ban remained in place for his position players, however.
By late July, Griffith, who actually did enjoy playing the game himself, apparently had relaxed his team's golf ban. Goslin and Rice were involved in a foursome at Washington Golf and Country Club, with onlookers marveling at Goslin's unorthodox left-handed swing -- more like a baseball swing -- while at the same time admiring Rice's less awe-inspiring yet more steady game. (Sam Rice by Jeff Carroll.)
Still not smiling, 35 years later.
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