Sam Rice: A Biography of the Washington Senators Hall of Famer

by Jeff Carroll

In the history of sports, few comeback stories compare to that of Edgar Charles Rice better known as "Sam." Away from home, trying out for a low-level minor league team, Sam Rice received a telegram on an April morning that would turn his world upside his wife, mother, both of his children and two younger siblings had been killed by a tornado. A few days later, his father died from injuries suffered in the tornado, as well. By the time he reached the major leagues three years later with the Washington Senators, Rice apparently had buried his past deep inside. He never spoke of the tragedy publicly while embarking on a career in which he would amass 2,987 base hits, 13 hits short of one of baseball's most hallowed milestones. In this moving biography, Jeff Carroll explores the great achievement and tragedy of a Hall of Fame outfielder and Washington Senators favorite.

252 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2007

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice biography of Baseball Hall of Famer "Sam" Rice who was a mainstay of the Washington Senators and was a major part of their 1924 World Series Championship team. Rice's career is interesting from a baseball perspective - he's a Hall of Famer; he was a key figure on the Washington Senators of the 20s and 30s; teammate and good friend to Walter Johnson - but there is much more to his life that Carroll covers in this biography.
While starting his career with a local team in Indiana, Rice's first wife and 2 young children were killed by a tornado while he was away at a baseball game. Rice also spent time in the US Navy and participated in the 1914 occupation of Veracruz, Mexico. Rice was called up during WW1. During WW2, he participated in a program started by his neighbor, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, to employ interned Japanese-Americans on his chicken farm.
Carroll examines some of the interesting baseball aspects Rice was involved in - a remarkable catch in the 1925 World Series where Rice robbed a homerun, but then fell into the stands sparking questions on whether he held onto the catch or not; and the controversy about whether Rice belonged in the baseball Hall of Fame, with Rice at 2,987 hits, 13 shy of the 3000 hit benchmark.
A nice, readable bio that brings a quiet Midwestern outfielder from the 20s and 30s to life.