On a summer evening in 1974, I was at McCoy Stadium watching the Pawsox play some unremembered International League opponent. During that game, a hot young Red Sox prospect named Jim Rice hit a home run.

That is my first real memory of being at a professional baseball game.

Nearly 35 years later, Jim Rice was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was Rice's last time on the baseball writers ballot and he made it by seven votes. Rice will join Rickey Henderson and Joe Gordon (voted in by the Veterans Committee) in Cooperstown in July.

Congratulations to Jim Ed. It's well deserved and about time!