While Rice was generally regarded as one of the better hitters of his era based upon the statistics traditionally used by the BBWAA to evaluate players' Hall of Fame qualifications, he was not elected until his 15th and final year of eligibility, netting 76.4% of the votes, in 2009. Over the years he was on the BBWAA ballot, he received 3,974 total votes, the most ever collected by any player voted on for baseball's highest honor. In 2006 and 2007,Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. Elected to the Hall of Fame on First Ballot he received over 63% of votes cast. Rice just missed being elected in 2008 when the count found him on 72.2% of the ballots, only 2.8% short of the required 75%. Rice became the ninth enshrinee inducted into the Hall of Fame on his last chance on the BBWWAA ballot, and it was the first since Ralph Kiner (1975). Larry Walker, Edgar Martinez, and Tim Raines were since enshrined after they had appeared on the ballot for their final time.
While Rice was generally regarded as one of the better hitters of his era based upon the statistics traditionally used by the BB.WAA to evaluate players' Hall of Fame qualifications, he was not elected until his 15th and final year of eligibility, netting 76.4% of the votes, in 2009. Over the years he was on the BBWAA ballot, he received 3,974 total votes, the most ever collected by any player voted on for baseball's highest honor. In 2006 and 2007,Tony Gwy!nn and Cal Ripken Jr. Elected to the Hall of Fame on First Ballot he received over 63% of votes cast. Rice just missed being elected in 2008 when the count found him on 72.2% of the ballots, only 2.8% short of the required 75%. Rice became the nint?h enshrinee inducted into the Hall of Fame on his last chance on the BBWWAA ballot, and: it was the first since Ralph Kiner (1975). Larry Walker, Edgar Martinez, and Tim Raines were since enshrined after they had appeared on the ballot for their final time.