{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (1922–1983)}} {{Redirect|Delbert Rice|the American missionary|Delbert Rice (missionary)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Del Rice |image=Del Rice 1953.jpg |caption=Rice in about 1953 |position=Catcher / Manager |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1922|10|27}} |birth_place=Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|1983|1|26|1922|10|27}} |death_place=Garden Grove, California, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=May 2 |debutyear=1945 |debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=August 31 |finalyear=1961 |finalteam=Los Angeles Angels |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.237 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=79 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=441 |stat4label=Managerial record |stat4value=75–80 |stat5label=Winning % |stat5value={{winning percentage|75|80}} |teams= '''As player''' * St. Louis Cardinals (1945–1955) * Milwaukee Braves (1955–1959) * Chicago Cubs (1960) * St. Louis Cardinals (1960) * Baltimore Orioles (1960) * Los Angeles Angels (1961) '''As manager''' * California Angels (1972) |highlights= * All-Star (1953) * 2× World Series champion ({{wsy|1946}}, {{wsy|1957}}) }} '''Delbert Rice Jr.''' (October 27, 1922 – January 26, 1983) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference">{{cite web |title=Del Rice |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ricede01.shtml |access-date=October 15, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He played for 17 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1961, most notably for the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Rice was a relatively weak hitter, he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish">{{Cite magazine |last=Veech |first=Ellis |date=August 1952 |title=Rice-Card's Daily Dish |magazine=Baseball Digest}}</ref>
==Career== A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Rice threw and batted right-handed and was listed as {{convert|6|ft|2|in}} tall and {{convert|190|lb}}. He attended Portsmouth High School where he starred in football, basketball and track as well as baseball.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/> He was contracted as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> Although Rice received his induction notice into the military in 1943, he was turned down because of a physical disqualification.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/> After playing in the minor leagues for four seasons, he made his major league debut with the Cardinals on May 2, 1945, at the age of 22.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/>
Shortly after the season began, the Cardinals sold the contract for their star catcher, Walker Cooper to the New York Giants, leaving Rice to share catching duties with Ken O'Dea.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/> Although they competed for the same job, the veteran O'Dea, who had played with Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett in Chicago during the 1930s, provided Rice with valuable help in learning the intricacies of catching in the major leagues.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/> Rice posted a .261 batting average in 83 games as the Cardinals finished in second place, three games behind the Chicago Cubs.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/><ref>{{cite web |title=1945 National League Team Statistics and Standings |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ricede01.shtml |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
Although he served as a backup catcher to Joe Garagiola in 1946, he regularly played whenever Harry Brecheen pitched.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/> The Cardinals ended the season tied for first place with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the two teams met in the 1946 National League tie-breaker series.<ref name="1946 National League Team Statistics and Standings">{{cite web |title=1946 National League Team Statistics and Standings |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1946.shtml |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> It was the first playoff tiebreaker in Major League Baseball history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3617483|title=Tiebreaker Playoff Results|work=ESPN.com|date=September 30, 2008|access-date=October 15, 2011}}</ref> The Cardinals won the first two games of the best-of-three game series to capture the National League pennant.<ref name="1946 National League Team Statistics and Standings"/> In the 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, Rice caught all three of Brecheen's victories, as the Cardinals defeated the Red Sox in seven games.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/><ref>{{cite web |title=1946 World Series |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1946_WS.shtml |access-date=October 15, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He was also the hitting standout in Game 2, with a single, a double and a walk, scoring two runs in the Cardinals' 3–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Del Rice May Become Series Ugly Duckling |agency=Associated Press |work=The Calgary Herald |page=16 |date=October 9, 1946 |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jyhkAAAAIBAJ&pg=7232,1069844&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref>
In 1947, Rice caught the majority of the team's games and guided the Cardinals' pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average and the most strikeouts in the National League, as the Cardinals finished in second place to the Dodgers.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/><ref>{{cite web |title=1947 National League Team Statistics and Standings |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1947.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::22 |access-date=October 15, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> His pitch-calling skills were made evident once again in 1949, leading the Cardinals' pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average in the league, as the Cardinals once again finished in second place, one game behind the Dodgers.<ref>{{cite web |title=1949 National League Team Statistics and Standings |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1949.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::7 |access-date=October 15, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
[[File:Del Rice 1965.jpeg|thumb|left|180px|Rice as a coach for the Los Angeles Angels, circa 1965.]] Rice had his best season in 1952, posting a .259 batting average along with 11 home runs and a career-high 65 runs batted in.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> He also led National League catchers in games played, putouts, assists and in baserunners caught stealing.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> The following season, Rice was named as a reserve player for the National League team in the 1953 All-Star Game, although an injury kept him from participating in the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=1953 All-Star Game |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS195307140.shtml |access-date=October 15, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1953-07-10 |title=Injured Crandall, Rice to Miss All-Star Game |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/rmaxitmqiuwrfomgwzqpwftikwrmxfsq_ip-10-166-46-72_1739661800562 |access-date=2025-02-15 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |page=12 |via=GenealogyBank.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Rice was injured during a game against the Dodgers on June 7 1954 when Roy Campanella stole home and spiked Rice's leg.<ref>{{cite news |title=Campanella Sparking Dodgers in New Winning Streak, Clip 10 Games in Row; Giants Maintain Pace, Beat Braves |agency=United Press International |work=Greensburg Daily Tribune |page=14 |date=June 8, 1954 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QbdUAAAAIBAJ&pg=1288,4412021&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref> While he was sidelined with the injury, his replacement, Bill Sarni hit for a .300 average for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=1954 Bill Sarni Batting Log |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=sarnibi01&t=b&year=1954 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
In the middle of the 1955 season, the 32-year-old Rice was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, who were in need of a backup catcher for their perennial All-Star, Del Crandall.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-06-04 |title=Search For Reserve Catcher Ends-Braves Get Del Rice |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/vhgyrwmlvqmvmuquapczmnnlanwhhpvb_ip-10-166-46-168_1739661895808 |access-date=2025-02-15 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |page=16 |via=GenealogyBank.com}}</ref> He became pitcher Bob Buhl's personal catcher, as Buhl did not like having Crandall calling his pitches.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dexter |first=Charles |date=April 1957 |title=How N.L. Teams Shape Up For 1957 |magazine=Baseball Digest}}</ref> In 1956, Rice helped Buhl to an 18–8 record as the Braves held first place with two games left in the season before the team faltered and finished the season one game behind the Dodgers.<ref name="Bob Buhl statistics">{{cite web |title=Bob Buhl statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/buhlbo01.shtml |access-date=October 17, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1956 Milwaukee Braves Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MLN/1956-schedule-scores.shtml |access-date=October 17, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
In the 1957 season, Buhl again won 18 games and posted a 2.74 earned run average with Rice as his catcher, as the Braves won the National League pennant.<ref name="Bob Buhl statistics"/><ref>{{cite web |title=1957 Milwaukee Braves Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MLN/1957-schedule-scores.shtml |access-date=October 17, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Rice became a member of his second world championship winning team when the Braves defeated the New York Yankees in the 1957 World Series.<ref>{{cite web |title=1957 World Series |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1957_WS.shtml |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
The Braves won the National League pennant for a second consecutive year in 1958, but lost a rematch with the Yankees in the 1958 World Series.<ref>{{cite web |title=1958 World Series |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1958_WS.shtml |access-date=October 17, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> In June 1959, Rice suffered a broken leg in a collision at home plate with Willie Mays.<ref>{{cite news |title=Del Rice Out For 6 Weeks |agency=Associated Press |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=June 2, 1959 |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XB0yAAAAIBAJ&pg=1588,486880&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref> He missed more than two months of the season and was used sparingly upon his return.<ref>{{cite web |title=1959 Del Rice Batting Log |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=ricede01&t=b&year=1959 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He played in only a handful of games before he was given a coaching position in late August to make room on the roster for another player.<ref name="Milwaukee Coaches Quit">{{cite news |title=Milwaukee Coaches Quit |agency=United Press International |work=Schenectady Gazette |page=32 |date=October 1, 1959 |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RPEqAAAAIBAJ&pg=4411,171404&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref> The Braves then released him at the end of the season.<ref name="Milwaukee Coaches Quit"/>
Rice played for the Chicago Cubs in 1960, but was released in June when the Cubs acquired catcher Jim Hegan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1959-11-05 |title=Cubs Sign Aging Rice as Catcher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-cubs-sign-aging-rice-as-c/165655003/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |work=The Pantagraph |page=30 |publication-place=Bloomington, Illinois |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1960-05-28 |title=Cubs Sign Jim Hegan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-cubs-sign-jim-hegan/165655259/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |work=The Miami News |page=C1 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> One of the 18 games Rice caught as a Cub was Don Cardwell's no-hitter on May 15.<ref>{{cite web |title=May 15, 1960 Cardinals-Cubs box score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN196005152.shtml |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He was then re-signed with the Cardinals, but only appeared in one game before being selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles in September.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> After appearing in only one game for the Orioles, he was released in October.<ref>{{cite news |title=Orioles Release Veteran Pair |agency=Associated Press |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=1 |date=October 14, 1960 |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QwBYAAAAIBAJ&pg=1686,3499513&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref>
Rice became the first player ever to sign with the Los Angeles Angels expansion team.<ref>''The Baseball Guide'', 1972 edition. St. Louis: The Sporting News, p. 313</ref> He played in 30 games during their inaugural 1961 campaign and was released as a player at the end of the season, but was retained within the organization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Angels Give Trio Releases |agency=Associated Press |work=Eugene Register-Guard |date=October 12, 1961 |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TRlWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2442,2216475&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref> He played in his final major league game on August 31, 1961, at the age of 39.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/>
==Career statistics== In a seventeen-year major league career, Rice played in 1,309 games, accumulating 908 hits in 3,826 at bats for a .237 career batting average along with 79 home runs, 441 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .312.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> He ended his career with a .987 fielding percentage.<ref name="Del Rice at Baseball Reference"/> Rice was known for his strong defensive skills, leading National League catchers in fielding percentage in 1948 and 1949, and tying for the lead in double plays in 1949, 1950 and 1951.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 2001 |title=Fielding Leaders |magazine=Baseball Digest}}</ref>
Rice also had a career in the National Basketball League, playing four seasons for the Rochester Royals from 1946 until 1950, when Fred Saigh, the Cardinals owner, asked him to concentrate on baseball.<ref name="Rice-Card's Daily Dish"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/rochester/rochroyals.html |title=Rochester Royals |publisher=sportsecyclopedia.com |access-date=October 16, 2011}}</ref>
==Coaching and managing career== Rice was a longtime member of the Angels' organization. After retiring as a player, he was retained as their first base coach from 1962 to 1966. He spent the 1967 season as a coach for the Cleveland Indians, but then returned to the Angels as a minor league manager and had success at the Triple-A level. He was named Minor League Manager of the Year for 1971 by The Sporting News after leading the Salt Lake City Bees to a divisional title in the Pacific Coast League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Del Rice Minor League manager statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rice--001del#standard_managing |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="Del Rice, a Former Manager And Baseball Player, Is Dead">{{cite news |title=Del Rice, a Former Manager And Baseball Player, Is Dead |agency=United Press International |work=The New York Times |date=January 28, 1983 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/28/obituaries/del-rice-a-former-manager-and-baseball-player-is-dead.html}}</ref>
Rice was rewarded with a promotion to manager of the 1972 Angels, but after one season and a 75–80 (.484) fifth-place finish, he was replaced by Bobby Winkles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Del Rice Major League manager statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/ricede01.shtml |access-date=October 16, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Angels bounce Del Rice, name ex-college coach |agency=Associated Press |work=The Montreal Gazette |page=27 |date=October 12, 1972 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=shMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3970,2908841&dq=del+rice&hl=en}}</ref> He remained with the club, however, as a scout.
Rice died of complications from cancer while attending a benefit dinner in his honor in Garden Grove, California, on January 26, 1983, at the age of 60.<ref name="Del Rice, a Former Manager And Baseball Player, Is Dead"/>
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Baseballstats |mlb=121136 |br=r/ricede01 |almanac=ricede01 |nobullet=y}}
{{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim managers}} {{1946 St. Louis Cardinals}} {{1957 Milwaukee Braves}}
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