Everything about Harold Baines totally explained
Harold Douglas Baines (born
March 15 1959 in
Easton, Maryland) is a former
right fielder and
designated hitter in
Major League Baseball who played for five
American League teams from 1980 to 2001. He is best known for his three stints with the
Chicago White Sox, the team which he now serves as a
coach. As one of the most durable, consistent and respected hitters of his era, he ranked 7th in AL history in
games played (2,830) and 10th in
runs batted in (1,628) upon his retirement. Noted as well for his power hitting in clutch situations, he was tied for 7th in AL history in
grand slams (13) and for 4th in
3-home run games (3), and tied for 7th in major league history in
walk-off home runs (10). A month later, the White Sox made Baines the first selection in the
amateur draft. The owner of the White Sox at the time,
Bill Veeck, had spotted Baines playing
Little League ball many years before at the age of 12.
Professional career
In, the smooth-swinging 20-year-old became a regular outfielder on the White Sox, and he began to produce in when he'd 165
hits, 25 home runs and 105 RBI. In 1984, baseball writer
Bill James called Baines his favorite opposing player to watch, saying, "He is gorgeous, absolutely complete. I've seen him drop down
bunts that would melt in your mouth, come up the next time and execute a
hit and run that comes straight off the chalkboard. I've seen him hit fastballs out of the yard on a line, and I've seen him get under a high curve and loft it just over the fence." Baines ended the longest game in major league history (eight hours and six minutes over
25 innings on successive evenings) with a home run against the
Milwaukee Brewers'
Chuck Porter on
May 9, ; the bat he used is currently kept at the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
In, a succession of knee problems began which would gradually end his fielding career, forcing him to become a regular designated hitter. Despite the knee ailments and the resulting lack of speed, however, he remained a powerful hitter, picking up 166 hits in .
Trades
Midway through the season, the
Texas Rangers acquired Baines, along with
Fred Manrique, from the White Sox in a much-derided trade which sent
Wilson Alvarez,
Scott Fletcher and
Sammy Sosa to Chicago. In Baines was traded to the
Oakland Athletics for minor league pitchers
Scott Chiamparino and
Joe Bitker, and he helped them reach the post-season only to be swept by the
Cincinnati Reds in the
World Series. In the Athletics returned to the playoffs, only to lose to the
Toronto Blue Jays in the
AL Championship Series.
Prior to the season, Baines was traded by the A's to the
Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitchers
Bobby Chouinard and
Allen Plaster. At the age of 34, Baines was still productive, batting .313, .294 and .299 over his three seasons with the O's. Baines returned to the White Sox as a
free agent in but was traded back to Baltimore midway through the season; he helped the Orioles to reach the playoffs, although they lost to the
Cleveland Indians in the League Championship Series.
His final contract with the White Sox wasn't renewed following the season, after his third stint with the team. His uniform number (#3) was retired by the White Sox following his initial departure from the city to Texas, but was "un-retired" three times following his two returns as a player and one as a coach. He finished his career with 2,866 hits, 384 home runs and 1,628 RBIs. His career RBI total is 23rd all-time; his hit total ranks 37th all-time.
Back to the Sox
True to form, Baines' fourth stint with the Chicago White Sox began when he was named bench coach in March under new manager
Ozzie Guillén, his White Sox teammate from 1985 to 1989 and in 1996-97. Baines has become such a big, yet soft-spoken, hero that people in Chicago and the nearby suburbs have even named their pets after him, according to
The Commish Online
, a baseball website.
In 2005, as a coach for the White Sox, he finally earned a
World Series ring.
He became eligible for the
Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time in
2007, and received 29 votes or 5.3%. This was enough to ensure he'll remain on the ballot in 2008. Baines has both the most career hits and most career RBI of any eligible player not in the Hall of Fame.
MLB career rankings
Games - 2,830 (17th)
At bats - 9,908 (27th)
Plate appearances - 11,092 (31st)
Hits - 2,866 (39th)
Total bases - 4,604 (30th)
Doubles - 488 (T-52nd)
Home runs - 384 (50th)
RBI - 1,628 (23rd)
Walks - 1,062 (82nd)
Singles - 1,945 (53rd)
Runs created - 1,657 (44th)
Extra-base hits - 921 (T-45th)
Times on base - 3,942 (41st)
Sacrifice flies - 99 (T-27th)
Intentional walks - 187 (18th)
Personal life
Baines' hometown of St. Michaels has designated every January 9 as Harold Baines Day. He has also created the Harold Baines Scholarship Fund to help deserving college-bound students.
Baines is married to Marla Henry and has four children: Toni, Britni, and Harold, Jr., and Courtney. All attended Baines' alma mater, St. Michaels Middle/High School.
Further Information
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