For the 14th time, America's baseball writers have struck out by failing to elect Jim Rice to the Hall of Fame.

Rice, the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989, was among the pre-eminent sluggers of his era. Rice was a fearsome hitter in days before steroids tainted the game.

Yet in voting Tuesday, members of the Baseball Writers Association of America failed to support Rice in sufficient numbers to put him in the Hall.

Hard-throwing New York Yankees reliever Goose Gossage was the only player elected this year. Gossage, who played at the same time as Rice, received 466 of 543 votes or 85.8 percent of those cast. Players must receive 75 percent or more of the writers' votes to be elected.

Rice finished second with 392 votes - 72.2 percent - just 16 votes short of 75 percent. This was the 14th year Rice was eligible for election to Cooperstown. He will appear one more time next year on the writers' ballots. After that, the only way into the Hall is through selection by a committee of baseball veterans.

Rice's statistics support a place for him in the Hall of Fame. In 1975, his first full season with the Red Sox, Rice and center fielder Fred Lynn were known as the Gold Dust Twins, a pair of rookies who led the team to the pennant and the epic World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Rice hit 22 home runs, drove in 102 runs and batted .309. He finished second in American League Rookie of the Year balloting to Lynn.

That was just the beginning of a sensational career. Rice was named to the American League All-Star team eight times. Six times, he finished in the top five in Most Valuable Player votes, winning the honor in 1978. Rice topped 200 hits and 35 home runs in three consecutive seasons, the only player ever to have done so.

For 12 years, from 1975 to 1986, Rice was among the most feared hitters in the American League, averaging 29 home runs, 106 RBIs and a .304 batting average. In his best season, 1978, Rice hit 46 home runs, had 139 RBIs and hit for a .315 average. He hit 39 home runs in 1977, 1979 and 1983.

Remember that this was before the drug-bloated behemoths of today's game began belting 50, 60 and 70 home runs a season. Rice's eligibility for the Hall of Fame began during the steroids era, and his numbers may have looked weak by comparison.

Rice had what used to be a normal athlete's career: a young phenom who showed amazing performance during his 20s. But he suffered a precipitous decline in his 30s as age took its toll. Also working against Rice was his often testy relationships with baseball writers.

It's a shame Rice has yet to be enshrined in Cooperstown. His career was one we should honor and hold up as a model for young athletes. It's proof of what can be achieved without drugs, just natural ability combined with hard work and dedication to the game.