Morocco in Newton County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice

1890-1974

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

1. Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice Marker, Side One

Inscription. Baseball Hall of Famer Sam Rice was born near Morocco, Indiana. In 1912, while away at a tryout, most of his family died when a tornado tore through the area. The following year he enlisted in the Navy, and in 1915 made his professional baseball debut with the Washington Senators. A great hitter and quick on the bases, Rice converted from pitcher to outfielder in 1916.

Drafted into the Army in WWI, Rice missed most of the 1918 season. He helped Washington win American League pennants in 1924, 1925, and 1933, and a World Series title in 1924. Over 20 seasons, he was often among league leaders in hits and steals. He played his last year in 1934 with the Cleveland Indians, finishing with a career .322 batting average and 2,987 hits.

Erected 2019 by Indiana Historical Bureau • Town of Morocco • Newton County Economic Development Commission • Newton County Historical Society. (Marker Number 56.2019.1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Baseball Hall of Famers, and the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 40° 56.452′ N, 87° 27.313′ W. Marker is in Morocco

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, Indiana, in Newton County. Marker is at the intersection of West Michigan Avenue (County Road 400 S) and South Main Street, on the right when traveling west on West Michigan Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 514 S Main St, Morocco IN 47963, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Church in Newton County (approx. 7.7 miles away); Site of Original "Pun'kin Vine Fair" (approx. 7.9 miles away); Newton County Home (approx. 7.9 miles away); George Ade (approx. 8.7 miles away); Taft Rally at Ade Estate (approx. 8.7 miles away); Gurdon S. Hubbard Trading Post (approx. 9.6 miles away in Illinois); The Village of Iroquois Calaboose (approx. 10.2 miles away in Illinois); Concord Township (approx. 10.2 miles away in Illinois).

Also see . . .
1. World Series Returns to the Capital!: A Look Back at the 1924 Fall Classic through Hoosier Hall of F. Washington’s ball club featured several future Hall of Famers during its championship runs in the 1920s and early 1930s. Most notable among them was pitching great Walter Johnson, but the roster also included lesser-known Hoosier outfielder Sam Rice, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. (Casey Pfeiffer, "Indiana History Blog," Oct. 25, 2019) (Submitted on August 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Rice, Sam. He started in the big leagues

Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

2. Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice Marker, Side Two

as a pitcher and developed into a great hitter. (Baseball Hall of Fame) (Submitted on August 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

3. Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice Marker

Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice (1890-1974) image. Click for full size.

Bain News Service via Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), 1916

4. Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice (1890-1974)

A singles hitter (just 716 of his 2,987 hits went for extra bases), his .322 lifetime batting average ranks 41st all-time. After retiring from baseball in 1934, he and his wife operated a chicken farm in Ashton, Maryland.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on August 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.