ON THIS DATE (July 28, 2009) ... Two days after Red Sox legend Jim Rice was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame, he had another honor coming his way. Rice’s No. 14 became the seventh number to be retired by the franchise, joining the numbers of Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams and Carlton Fisk on the right-field facade at Fenway Park.

During 16 seasons with the Red Sox, Rice cemented himself in the team’s history, amassing 382 home runs, 1,451 RBIs and 2,452 hits. He was named the American League MVP in 1978, when he hit .315 with 46 homers and 139 RBIs. The current NESN analyst was honored during a pregame ceremony before Boston took on Oakland.

Members of the Red Sox front office — including Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and John Henry — presented Rice with a crystal bat, recapped his historic career and welcomed his family to the field as they recognized his achievements. After his number was unveiled, Rice thanked the Red Sox, the fans and NESN for their unwavering support over the years.