Jim Rice Number 14 Retirement Ceremony

Good evening ladies and gentlemen boys and girls. And welcome to Fenway Park. America's most beloved ballpark. For this evening's game between the Oakland Athletics. The Boston Red Sox. Governor Deval Patrick. And Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Have proclaimed it today Jim Rice today. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And the city of Boston and this evening. We are excited to -- celebrate this special occasion at Fenway Park. In a moment we will present the starting lineups for tonight's game. Be sure to score of the game using the scorecards had Red Sox magazine it's on sale now. Red Sox Nation takes pride in the Fenway code of conduct. Here of a nine items on the lineup card. Leading off please avoid balls in play. Second that never trust -- on to the field. Third drink responsibly. In the cleanup spot help keep Fenway Park clean the fifth watch your language. Six to respect all other fans. Seventh -- cell phone conversations private without gestures to attract attention. They've similarly in your own seats and in the ninth spot do not smoke in Fenway Park. Of course violators are subject to ejection and other penalties. If someone is distracting you from your enjoyment of the game. Please call the security hotline at 6172266411. Which is printed on the back of your ticket. On behalf of the Red Sox and the fans of Red Sox Nation we thank you for observing the code of conduct. The same -- continue our Red Sox foundation 5050 raffle where fans. Can't -- just five dollar tickets for an opportunity to win 50%. Of the evening's raffle revenue. The other 50%. Will benefit the Red Sox foundation. Volunteers will be selling these tickets. At gates a BCD. And outside the main doors to the EMC club until the fourth and -- now. It's time to welcome some special guests. We begin by -- divides on our -- kids please welcome 7 year old I am show every game. And five year old all one. Thank you Iowa and no one and we hope you enjoy your time at Fenway Park. Time now to meet our blood donor of the game. Together with the red cross and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The Boston Red Sox probably host an honorary donor before each game at Fenway Park. As we recognize fans who have generously given to those in need of blood. Please welcome tonight -- owner Edward Rizzo all of self Attleboro Massachusetts and we thank him for being our daughter. Of the game.

Yeah.

We now agree tonight's leaders of the pack leaders of groups of over 100 fans here at this evening's game please welcome. David -- of med tech. Amy sure and Randolph ski club north Conway New Hampshire. Pat Menard whereas Milton high school faculty family and friends. Carol Maloney of UMass memorial health care incorporated. Sandra Goldman and -- alumni association. To him on create let Eric's old. -- one of the institute for healthcare improvement. Parker Nelson with a -- Babe Ruth baseball. -- Miranda of Boston University separate challenge and it Timothy McGrath about hotel gamma UMass Amherst. They are -- Eric -- just on the Red Sox ticket services stuff we thank you. And hope your groups enjoy their time -- Fenway Park. Ladies and gentlemen get ready to score of the game it's time with a starting nine's rob do you buy the 99 restaurants. The visitors the Oakland Athletics. Leading off playing third base number 29. Adam Kennedy. Batting second -- shortstop number eighteen Orlando Cabrera. Batting third the designated hitter number five Nomar Garciaparra. Batting fourth playing right field number 32 Jack -- Batting fifth -- number eight Kurt Suzuki. Batting sixth playing center field at number fifteen Ryan Sweeney. Batting seventh playing first base number 21 Tommy average. Batting eight playing second base number fourteen Mark Ellis. -- a night playing left field number one Eric Patterson. Pitching for Oakland. Never have before have been close RO. Then now floor of the Boston Red Sox who. Leading off playing center field and a 46 Jacoby Ellsbury. Batting second playing second base number fifteen Dustin Pedroia. Batting third playing first base number twenty Kevin Youkilis. Batting fourth and designated hitter number 34 David Ortiz. Batting fifth playing left field number 44. Jason Bay. Batting sixth playing right field number seven J. D. Drew. Batting seventh ranked third base number 25. Mike Lowell. Batting -- during the catching number sixteen George guitarists. Batting night playing shortstop number 22 when Nick Green net. Pitching for the Red Sox tonight number 61 Clay Buchholz. Umpires were tonight's game home plate Adrian Johnson. First reds feel the cold for a second base Jim wolf third base Gary cedars from. Temperature at game time 84 degrees. Ladies and gentlemen please rise and remove your house. Presented the colors this evening is the Walpole police honor guard. Performing our national anthem tonight is a talented young singer with the Boston children's chorus who hails from Milton Massachusetts. Please welcome all -- duties all have people.

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And now we are joined on the field by Red Sox play by play commentators -- or so low and Jokester Leona. For a very special.

Presentation. Thank you Carl and good evening ladies and gentleman. This past weekend. The national Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed its 2009. Class of baseball immortal to Cooperstown. Among this year's inductees. Was a veritable Fenway Park legends. I hear admired by teammates. Feared by opponents. And respected. By all.

32 players who have played for the Red Sox now resides in Cooperstown. -- only the hours spent their entire careers wearing the same Boston uniform. Tonight Red Sox principal owner John Henry chairman Tom Werner president and CEO Larry Lucchino and the entire Red Sox organization are honored to celebrate a man who has been a Red Sox player coach instructor and media personality. For nearly four decades. And during from the area that he patrolled for so many years would you please welcome one of the most feared that prolific players in Red Sox and Major League history and the newest member of Cooperstown baseball hall of fans. Number report data to damper on race.

38 years. The name's Jim Rice as epitomize the very best for the Boston Red Sox represented. On this very special evening. We present him with a crystal bat in recognition of his legendary career.

Tonight we also welcome back a few brands. Will accompany jam on his Paula mean journey. -- professional career began in 1971. When the Boston Red Sox used their first round pick is allowed -- multi sport star on the Anderson, South Carolina. He began a meteoric rise through the club's farm system. And tonight we welcome his first professional manager Red Sox player development consultant Dick. Barrett -- you know.

Jim made his Major League debut on August 19 1974. And a Red Sox lineup. That included his longtime friend catcher Bob Montgomery.

first full season. Came during that magical summer of 1975. When he played alongside fellow rookie phenom. Gold last week in wetland -- year's most valuable player.

The pair of person you're outfielders helped lead the Red Sox of 1975. World Series along with -- Hall of Fame catcher Carlton dance.

Over the next fifteen years Jim would. Would play it was some of the best Red Sox teams in history alongside players like. Hall of Fame pitcher danys actors lane.

For a decade and a half legitimately the Red Sox this thunderous bat repelling the team to the 1986 World Series along with Red Sox all of bay manager Bob Stan lane.

The corner outfield would be an area of stability for the Red Sox. With -- playing well. And right field belonging to -- Red Sox all of America right. --

The wording on Jim Hall of Fame plaque. Is a testament to his great career. It read -- Titanic strength. In an innate ability to hit all fields the attitude 98 with 382. Home runs 1451. RBI. Only player with three straight 35 home run at 100 RBI and 200 hit seasons. He hits one they are more home runs eleven times and totaled 8100. RBI seasons. The 1978. AL MVP. Let -- get home runs 46 RBI a 139. Hits 213. And an astonishing 406. Total bases. An eight time All-Star. Led the EAL in total bases four times home runs three times and twice in RBIs and slugging percentage.

Yet beyond these power in numerical achievements this story of this hall of Famer can best be expressed. By the teammates opponents. Friends and fans who saw his impact every single day. We now ask that you direct your attention to the center field video board.

The hardest working guy we've ever had her on the -- been Jimmy rice he. From those early years that they have really. -- he knew he had brought talent you know and I just always try to. Just tell them you know he's a good play -- good hitter now rely on that Jimmy was a monster and so you.

He just just started off just. -- right away.

Just an opportunity every time we get them all the bullets somewhere. I remember him as a man among boys it was intimidating presence who has a son. Dominating offensive player as we would --

On the Orioles. And it's came to the plate and hit it was the only way compared his game this time. He was like David Ortiz. The last couple of years it's just you didn't want to face him. There's a drive off eleven they -- have gone. --

I every time I'm I'm struggling. Company man he knew he wanted to do live -- I would appreciate that farm. You always watch. -- a great year they were. You can tell when things are going things are going wrong in Brandon. Very much everything thrown command thank goodness so for whatever reason the other Christ to me did did more than help himself as a kid -- had. Can you could you could recognize seven the first time.

Is going to be.

His balls were. Pulled away company and born again I'll put away -- loud ballpark you know how to pitch this ball jumped off his bat. He's just a different sound.

I song playing and he was one of the most -- Hitters in baseball it took too long for him again in the Hall of Fame that is so richly deserved and -- no word stands so long as he says Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski is. -- people who will be remembered for their great play. Mix of the green monster.

He took over one of the best -- was ever played the game and Carl Yastrzemski plus always Nugent was good. Goodell for them but one thing people talk about as Jimmy had a great arm when you -- on -- corner he had pinpoint control. When he threw across -- by his second day.

There are. I think thirty -- 32 Red Sox in the Hall of Fame but -- in this one of four players. In that group who played his entire career with the Red Sox and the names you only need mention their first name. Us and and Jim and I. There's something. Special and may be non -- component in the future. A -- that category of players. They are iconic. They represent something. Special love to Red Sox Nation and all of us who are friends who -- veterans.

know long shots that are feel way back. And good drive baseball.

In honor of your legendary career and the way who have always represented the Boston Red Sox. Tonight we retire the number of sports game that you wore through so many years. With help from the man who just last season saw his own number retired tonight we agreed to friend and mentor. Whom you called your personal hitting instructor. Unveiling gyms immortalized number on the right field beside please welcome mr. Johnny messier. Without further it dude take it no way John --

After sixteen prolific seasons and a -- career with a Red Sox organization. Yard number fourteen. Is one of only eight retired -- at Fenway Park. You're not -- hall of Famer. And you unique place will forever be etched in the 108 year history of the Boston Red Sox Jim congratulations.

Thank you know. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

I would love. The UN Red Sox. Would never change. Who you other investments that ever played.

How -- start. I think in New York you spend the majority owners of the Boston Red Sox from 1933. Remain owners before it was season. The yawkey family. Was very. Instrumental. In me signing with the Red Sox. I want to think John Hendry. The press one of the Boston Red Sox. Larry Lucchino. Red Sox president CEO. And Tom Warner. Red Sox chairman. What happened to keep me in the public guy. Persuaded me to John. -- said. Thank you to the viewing this was network. Naslund. -- willingness to take a chance on me. When I came here. Whose historic ballpark called Fenway. At the end of the said he was season. I could not have imagined. That I would be blessed. Not only has been my entire career. In the Red Sox organization. But that I would be standing here one day. In -- Red Sox Nation. The the best fans of baseball.

That in my number fourteen retired. Which that's great.

That's -- Door. Pesky. Williams. Yes. And this.

But. Also. Thanks to the great Jackie Robinson's number 42. Who help me pay the road -- black man like me you stand before you.

Today.

I have been on an emotional high. Since January. And I am thrilled. Honored. And humbled. To have all of you. Here. He shared his mum would my family to me my wife -- Was my life line. My children. John thing. Caress. My grandchildren. Kobe James. And Kendall. In Monday's series. Who has not -- to me. I like to think some of my fellow teammates. -- going to support me today. Hall of Famer I don't think he's you when he was at the hall of fame and I would appreciate. Yes tell me you got between five and eight minutes is up eight minutes he was -- Carl Yastrzemski.

All of favorite coughing fits. -- It is obviously. Tommy hopper. Bob Montgomery. Bob Stanley. And -- up IP one of the best outfielders. Trio detective hat. Like do we giving it. And you can't forget. What he says in Arizona. There's goal in knows deals with Brett Palin came here we became a gold dust twins thank you credit.

Also. How to think my first impression of coach. Dick -- you know. Made me. When I was in a minor leagues. The first. Black but Italian guy. That I have ever known we had Italians who every night they -- day.

Also. I would like say hello. And they cute. To Jerry. Rem dog. Really.

To all of you here today. And to everyone who believed in me. It supported me. From the bottom my heart up thank you.

And you thank you.

Thank you -- Now on behalf of the current players. The 2009 Boston Red Sox who like to present do. A replica Levy retired number of sports being.

As we continue our celebration. Of Jim rice's career. We now invite Jim to the pitcher's mound where he will deliver our ceremonial first pitch. To his teammate and friend of many years to whites. Evans. All right Jim. Let's see up bitch. -- Had not to conclude our number retirement ceremony for the -- Jim Rice. We welcome his grandchildren Colby James rice and candle rice Thompson. Who would deliver the two words we all loath to hear.