Sam Rice

Sam Rice (born February 20, 1890 in Morocco, Indiana – died October 13, 1974) was a remarkably consistent contact hitter and smart baserunner in Major League Baseball. Debuting in 1915, he spent most of his 20‑year career with the Washington Senators before closing in Cleveland in 1934. Rice amassed 2,987 hits and posted a .322 batting average over 2,404 games. Known for rarely striking out—just 275 times in over 9,200 at‑bats—and for his keen eye at the plate, he walked 708 times for a .374 on‑base percentage.

With speed and skill, he stole 351 bases—including a league‑leading 63 in 1920—and scored 1,514 runs. Rice topped the AL in hits, at‑bats, singles and triples in multiple seasons, and was a key contributor to the Senators’ 1924 World Series title. He also made a legendary catch in the 1925 World Series that remains part of baseball lore. Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 by the Veterans Committee, Rice is remembered for his durability, consistency, and professionalism.

Rice's Awards and Records

• World Series champion (1924)
• AL stolen base leader (1920)
• Washington Nationals Ring of Honor
• AL hits leader in 1924 and 1926
• AL at‑bats leader in 1922, 1924, 1926
• AL singles leader in 1919, 1925, 1926, 1930
• AL triples leader in 1923

MLB Records

• One of only 9 players in MLB history with 2,000+ singles
• Top 10 all-time in triples: 184 career triples
• Batted over .300 in 13 different seasons
• Led the American League in stolen bases in 1920 (63 SB)
• Shares AL record for 11 consecutive multi-hit games
• Never struck out more than 25 times in a season

MLB Teams:

Washington Senators (1915–1933)
Cleveland Indians (1934)