Topps 1975 All-Star Rookie Team: Jim Rice

Jim Rice 1976 001Everyone loves a trophy. In 1960, Topps created an All-Rookie Team and the baseball cards of outstanding young players had trophies added to their pictures.

There were a pair of National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees on the squad 40 years ago along with several all-stars and most valuable players.

The 10th and final member of the 1975 team to be profiled in the this series is Jim Rice.

Drafted in the first round by Boston in 1971, Jim Rice played 16 seasons with the Red Sox from 1974-1989. Along with Gary Carter, Rice was the other member of the all-rookie squad inducted into the Hall of Fame when he was enshrined in 2009.

In 1975, Rice had 22 homers and 102 RBI with a .309 batting average as he finished second to teammate Fred Lynn in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting.

An eight-time all-star, Rice was named the AL Most Valuable Player in 1978 when he led the league with 46 homers and 139 RBI. He also led the league with 213 hits and 15 triples.

Rice led the AL in 1983 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI as he won the first of his two Silver Sluggers.

After missing the post-season in 1975, Rice hit a pair of homers in the 1986 American League Championship Series as the Red Sox beat the California Angels. Rice also participated in the World Series in 1986 and the ALCS in 1988.

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