Sam Rice

Edgar Charles "Sam" Rice (February 20, 1890 – October 13, 1974) was an American outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball. Rice made his debut as a relief pitcher but is best known as an outfielder. He played for the Washington Senators from 1915 until 1933, regularly ranking among the American League leaders in runs scored, hits, stolen bases, and batting average. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Rice led the Senators to three postseason appearances and a World Series championship in 1924. He played his final season, 1934, with the Cleveland Indians.

Rice was involved in a controversial play during the 1925 World Series, making a catch that carried him over the fence and into the stands. The play was ruled an out. While he was alive, Rice maintained a sense of mystery around the catch, declining to settle the question. He wrote a letter that was opened only after his death in 1974, in which he claimed he had kept possession of the ball the entire time.

Rice collected nearly 3,000 hits over his career. His 2,889 hits as a Senator remain the most in franchise history. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963.