Jim Rice just made it. The 2009 Hall of Fame voting was announced, and Rice got in by the skin of his teeth. He needed 75% of the votes; he got 76.4%. Guess his 382 career homers and .502 career slugging percentage looked a little better this year than it did last year. And this was his last chance; if he hadn't gotten in on the ballot this year, his candidacy would have been turned over to the mysterious Veterans' Committee. So it looks like all systems go for a #14 retirement ceremony this year. And perhaps a lot of cars headed out west on the Pike to Cooperstown this August?
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