The date was August 7, 1982.
The Red Sox were playing an
afternoon game at Boston's Fenway Park.
Suddenly a screaming foul ball whizzed
past the first base dugout and Red Sox left fielder Jim Rice heard the
unmistakable sound of ball striking flesh. Looking around the corner of the
dugout into the stands Rice saw 4 year old Jonathan Keane bleeding profusely
from his head.
Realizing in a split second that it would take several minutes
for park EMT's to get to the scene, the future Hall of Famer sprang into
action.
Rice leaped over the railing into the stands, cradled the
young fan into his arms and carried the boy into the dugout where he received
immediate attention from the team's medical staff.
Within just a few minutes
Jonathan was rushed to the hospital where doctors credited Rice with saving the
boys life. Jim Rice played the rest of the game in a blood stained uniform, a
true badge of courage.
(Written by D.J. McCoy)
(*** Postscript: Jonathan is 41 years old now and has no memory of the incident. His only reminder is a small scar above his right eye).
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