John L. Rice
Encyclopedia
John LaClaire Rice was an American
umpire
in Major League Baseball
who worked in the American League
for nineteen seasons. He was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania
.
Rice played semi-professional baseball in Chicago
before joining the United States Marine Corps
during World War II
conflict, serving from 1942 to 1943 in Guadalcanal
and Peleliu
.
Following his military discharge, Rice began his umpiring career in the Illinois State League
in 1948. He later worked in the Middle Atlantic League
(1949), California League
(1950), Western League
(1951–1952) and American Association
(1953–1954). After that, he umpired in the American League from 1955 through 1973, appearing in three All-Star Games
and four World Series
, including the 1959 Chicago White Sox
bid. He was behind the plate in Game 3 of the 1971 World Series
when Bob Robertson
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
hit a three-run home run off of Baltimore Orioles
20-game winner Mike Cuellar
after missing a bunt sign. The home run proved to be a turning point as Pittsburgh rallied from down 2 games to 0 to win Game 3 and the Series in seven games.
During the offseason, Rice worked in the Cook County Recorders Office and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. He also served as President of the Pitch and Hit Club and the Old Timers Baseball Association of Chicago.
In recognition of his contribution to baseball, Rice was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Rice died in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 92.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who worked in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
for nineteen seasons. He was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania
Homestead, Pennsylvania
Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United...
.
Rice played semi-professional baseball in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
before joining the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
conflict, serving from 1942 to 1943 in Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
and Peleliu
Peleliu
Peleliu is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu forms, along with two small islands to its northeast, one of the sixteen states of Palau. It is located northeast of Angaur and southwest of Koror....
.
Following his military discharge, Rice began his umpiring career in the Illinois State League
Mississippi-Ohio Valley League
The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League was an American minor league baseball league. It operated from 1949 through 1955.-1949:Teams from Belleville, Illinois, Centralia, Illinois, Marion, Illinois, Mattoon, Illinois, Mount Vernon, Illinois, and West Frankfort, Illinois moved from the Illinois State...
in 1948. He later worked in the Middle Atlantic League
Middle Atlantic League
The Middle Atlantic League was a lower-level circuit in American minor league baseball that played during the second quarter of the 20th century.-History:...
(1949), California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
(1950), Western League
Western League
Western League may refer to:* Western League , the predecessor to North American baseball's modern American League* Western League , one of two professional baseball minor leagues in Japan...
(1951–1952) and American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
(1953–1954). After that, he umpired in the American League from 1955 through 1973, appearing in three All-Star Games
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and four World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, including the 1959 Chicago White Sox
1959 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was the team's 59th season in the major leagues, and its 60th season overall. They finished with a record 94-60, good enough to win the American League championship, five games ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians...
bid. He was behind the plate in Game 3 of the 1971 World Series
1971 World Series
The 1971 World Series matched the defending champion Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Pirates winning in seven games. Game 4, played in Pittsburgh, was the first-ever World Series game scheduled to be played at night....
when Bob Robertson
Bob Robertson
Robert Eugene Robertson is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. Robertson, who batted and threw right-handed, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays...
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
hit a three-run home run off of Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
20-game winner Mike Cuellar
Mike Cuellar
Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana [KWAY-ar] was a Cuban left-handed starting pitcher who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels...
after missing a bunt sign. The home run proved to be a turning point as Pittsburgh rallied from down 2 games to 0 to win Game 3 and the Series in seven games.
During the offseason, Rice worked in the Cook County Recorders Office and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. He also served as President of the Pitch and Hit Club and the Old Timers Baseball Association of Chicago.
In recognition of his contribution to baseball, Rice was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Rice died in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 92.