Del Rice was a professional baseball player who played as a catcher for several teams during his career. He was born on October 27, 1922, in Portsmouth, Ohio, and began his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1940. He played for several minor league teams before being called up to the major leagues in 1945.
Rice played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1945 to 1955, where he was known for his strong arm and defensive skills. He was a part of the Cardinals' World Series championship team in 1946 and was selected to the All-Star team in 1953. In 1956, he was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1958.
Rice played for the Indians for two seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1960. He played for the Orioles for three seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963. He played for the Dodgers for one season before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1964. He played for the Twins for one season before being traded to the Houston Astros in 1965.
Rice played for the Astros for two seasons before retiring from baseball in 1967. He then became a coach for the Astros and later for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was known for his ability to work with young catchers and was instrumental in the development of several players who went on to have successful careers.
Throughout his career, Rice was known for his strong defensive skills and his ability to handle pitchers. He was also known for his leadership and was often called upon to mentor younger players. He finished his career with a .256 batting average, 48 home runs, and 369 RBIs.
Rice passed away on October 13, 1983, at the age of 60. He was remembered as a dedicated and hardworking player who was respected by his teammates and opponents alike. His contributions to the game of baseball were recognized in 2014 when he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
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