Red Sox great Jim Rice’s powerful swing produced 382 home runs, 1,451 RBI, a .298 batting average and 2,452 hits during a 16-year career with Boston.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

Jim Rice spent 16 seasons playing major-league baseball for the Boston Red Sox. Ever since his last game in 1989, his career has become one of the most talked about in the game.

Does he or doesn’t he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

For years, he came up short in voting. In recent years, however, he has come very close. The Hall of Fame will announce its Class of 2009 on Jan. 12 and this is Rice’s last shot to be enshrined by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

A year ago, Rice was on 72.2 percent of the ballots for enshrinement. He needed to be on 75 percent. This is Rice’s last chance before he would have to wait for a Veterans’ Committee vote to get in. He has publicly said — many times — he believes he deserves a plaque in Cooperstown.

He’s not alone.

Bob Montgomery will be the first you to tell you that he’s prejudiced. Prejudiced to the point that he strongly and wholeheartedly believes his good friend, golf partner and former teammate deserves induction.

“I really think the guy deserves to be in there,” Montgomery said. “I saw how he was treated by opposing pitchers for a great many years in the American League. I don’t know of another hitter during that time who was feared the way he was. There were some guys who maybe had a couple of better years during that stretch than he did, but over that time period he would be hard to top.”

Rice clubbed 382 home runs during his career, which was spent entirely in Boston. He drove in 1,451 runs, recorded a .298 average and collected 2,452 hits. He had power and showcased that prowess at Fenway Park.

“I wouldn’t say it’s well overdue,” Montgomery explained. “But I would say overdue. The one thing that sticks out in a lot of voters’ mind is the fact that he doesn’t have 400 home runs. I really believe if he had the 400 homers he would have been in there four or five years ago. That’s just a guess on my part, but he definitely deserves it.”

Former teammate Fred Lynn played with Rice in Boston from 1974 to 1980 before he was traded to the California Angels. During their time in the Sox’ organization, the two outfielders enjoyed their successes. Lynn won the MVP and the Rookie of the Year Award in 1975, while Rice finished third and second, respectively, in the votings.

Lynn played 17 seasons in the majors and was a nine-time All-Star and he’s hoping to hear Rice’s name called to the Hall next week.

“If I had a vote he would be in already,” Lynn said.

But Lynn says he’s encouraged this will be Rice’s year.

“I hope it is,” he said. “He doesn’t have the 3,000 hits or 400 homers –– nobody really knows what it takes to get in there by the way –– but all you can do is do your best during the time you played. Jimmy was as powerful a hitter as we had in the American League at the time he played. He was one of the most feared hitters who nobody wanted to face. Whether it all adds up enough at the end, who can say? I would think this year is his year. … I’ll be one of the first to call if he gets in.”

Even though Montgomery, who served as the Sox’ backup catcher from 1970 to 1979, is close with Rice, talk of the Hall of Fame usually isn’t a point of their conversations.

“We don’t talk about it,” Montgomery said. “It never comes up in a conversation. If he brings it up and says something about it, which is just about never or extremely rare, and out of respect for him I don’t bring it up.”

When the two spend time together, the discussion usually revolves around golf and baseball in general.

“We don’t talk about him getting in or being left out,” said Montgomery.

The two spoke on the phone last week and Montgomery did wish Rice well and good luck with the upcoming vote. Rice thanked him and that was the end of it.

The one thing Montgomery doesn’t want to see is the Veterans’ Committee having the final say, because based on that, he believes Rice would have a tough time winning that vote.

“I don’t want to let it rest on him having a chance to get it in based on what they have done [in the recent past],” he said. “If he doesn’t get in through the writers’ vote, here’s where the lack of the 400 home runs would really hurt him. His numbers are as attractive, or as impressive, or as strong as a lot of guys who are in there that don’t match up to his.”

A year ago when Rice came extremely close to enshrinement, he released a statement through the Red Sox, saying: “The results are obviously a disappointment. I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves, and a majority of the voters seem to agree. It is tough to come this close, but I remain hopeful for the 2009 results.”

That same day, Rich “Goose” Gossage was the only inductee in 2008. And Gossage was quick to say he believes Rice belongs in the Hall.

Most everyone — if not all — in the Red Sox family firmly believe Rice deserves to be in. In fact, the day the organization honored Johnny Pesky and retired his No. 6 last September, the legendary figure wanted to talk about Rice’s accomplishments more than his own.

“This man should be in the Hall of Fame,” Pesky said. “No one worked harder in every phase of the game. You should have been in the Hall of Fame 10 years ago.”

True, Rice has waited. He has waited a very long time. He might only have to wait another week.

“It would be great for him and great for New England baseball fans,” said Montgomery.

jmcdonal@projo.com