Rain Delay is an essay by Bill James

Bill James

George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...

 included in his 1988 Baseball Abstract. In the essay, two baseball fans discuss the best players in baseball during a Rain Delay. The fans go position by position and first determine the best player at each position, and then figure out where that player belongs in the overall discussion.

The top three players, as stated at the end of the essay:

1. Wade Boggs

Wade Boggs

Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

, Red Sox

2. Tim Raines

Tim Raines

Timothy Raines , nicknamed "Rock", is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos...

, Expos

3. Ozzie Smith

Ozzie Smith

Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is an American former baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996...

, Cardinals

James also makes a case for Phil Bradley

Phil Bradley

Philip Poole Bradley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder/designated hitter with an 8 year career from to . He played for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox of the American League and Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. He was elected to the American...

, comparing him to Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...

, stating that Bradley would be a bigger star if he played for a team other than the Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...

.