ABOVE AND BEYOND BASEBALL

The child’s life was in danger; critical lightning action

Was obviously needed. It was the eighth of August, 1982

And the four-year-old had been hit in the head by a

Sizzling foul line drive at Fenway – – – and every second

Was a count-down to tragedy. The EMT’s fighting through

The crowd might be too late. Jim Rice saw this and ran to

Pick the boy up and carry him to the Bosox dugout, where

The team’s medical staff did their immediate expert best.

At the hospital half an hour later, the docs credited Rice

With saving the boy’s life. After the end of the game, Rice

Went to the hospital to check up on the boy – – – and

After meeting with the family and observing the

Modest appearance of the dress of the boy’s parents, he

Proceeded to the business office and requested that

All the bills be sent to him.

He was a different kind of baseball hero on that day!