Harold Baines
Baines with the Chicago White Sox in 2011
Designated hitter / Right fielder
Born: (1959-03-15) March 15, 1959
Easton, Maryland, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 10, 1980, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 2001, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.289
Hits2,866
Home runs384
Runs batted in1,628
Teams
As player
As coach
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2019
Vote75%
Election methodToday's Game Era Committee

Harold Douglas Baines (born March 15, 1959) is an American former designated hitter and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for five American League (AL) teams from 1980 to 2001, and is best known for his three stints with the Chicago White Sox. A Maryland native, he also played seven years with his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles, over three separate periods.[1] The first overall selection in the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft and a six-time All-Star, Baines led the AL in slugging percentage in 1984. He held the White Sox team record for career home runs from 1987 until Carlton Fisk passed him in 1990; his total of 221 remains the club record for left-handed hitters, as do his 981 runs batted in (RBI) and 585 extra base hits with the team. His 1,688 hits and 1,643 games as a DH stood as major-league records until David Ortiz broke them in 2013 and 2014.[2] He also held the mark for career home runs as a DH (236) until Edgar Martínez passed him in 2004.

One of the most durable, consistent, and respected hitters of his era, Baines batted over .300 eight times and hit .324 in 31 career postseason games, topping .350 in five separate series. Upon his retirement, he ranked seventh in AL history in games played (2,830) and 10th in RBI (1,628). Noted as well for his power hitting in clutch situations, he was tied for seventh in AL history in grand slams (13),[3] fourth in three-home-run games (three),[4] and tied for seventh in major league history in walk-off home runs (10).[3] He served as a coach with the White Sox from 2004 to 2015 before moving into a role of team ambassador and spring training instructor.[5] Baines was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Today's Game Era Committee as part of the Class of 2019.[1]

Early years

Baines was raised in St. Michaels, Maryland, by his father, Linwood, a stonemason, with his three brothers and a sister.[6] He described his father as his "idol, more than anybody else." His father was separated from his mother, Gloria.[7] White Sox owner Bill Veeck began scouting Baines when he was just 12 years old while Veeck was living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.[6]

He graduated in 1977 from St. Michaels High School on Maryland's Eastern Shore where, as a senior, he batted .532 and was named a high school All-American.[8] The White Sox made Baines the first overall selection in the 1977 amateur draft.[9] He received a signing bonus of $32,000 – a record low for a first overall pick.[10] The owner of the White Sox at the time, Bill Veeck, had spotted Baines playing Little League ball years before at the age of 12.

Professional career

Baines took a high step with his right leg, a la Mel Ott, as part of his stride into a pitch.

On April 10, 1980, Baines made his major league debut on Opening Day, starting in right field and going 0-for-4 in a 5–3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.[11] In 1982, he batted .271 with 25 home runs and 105 RBI in 161 games.[1]

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."[12] Baines ended the longest game in major league history (eight hours and six minutes over 25 innings on successive evenings) with a walk-off home run against the Milwaukee Brewers' Chuck Porter on May 8, 1984;[13] the bat he used is currently kept at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 1986, a succession of knee problems began which gradually ended his fielding career, forcing him to become a regular designated hitter. Despite the knee ailments and the resulting lack of speed, he remained a powerful hitter, picking up 166 hits in 1988.[1]

Baines holds the record for the most seasons by a player between 100-RBI seasons, with 14 seasons between 113 RBIs for Chicago in 1985 and 103 for Baltimore and Cleveland in 1999.[14]

Baines before a 2001 game
Baines's number 3 was retired by the Chicago White Sox in 1989.

Midway through the 1989 season, the Texas Rangers acquired Baines, along with Fred Manrique, from the White Sox in a much-derided trade which sent Wilson Álvarez, Scott Fletcher and Sammy Sosa to Chicago.[15] After the trade, the White Sox retired Baines's #3 on August 20, 1989, a rare occurrence for a player who was still active in the major leagues (the number would be "un-retired" each time Baines returned to the White Sox, and he wore it as a coach).[16]

On August 29, 1990, Baines was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor league pitchers Scott Chiamparino and Joe Bitker,[17][18][19] and he helped them reach the postseason only to be swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. In 1992, the Athletics returned to the playoffs, but lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS.[20]

On January 14, 1993, Baines was traded by the A's to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitchers Bobby Chouinard and Allen Plaster.[21] Baines batted .313, .294 and .299 over his first three seasons with Baltimore.[1] On December 11, 1995, Baines returned to the White Sox as a free agent.[22] On July 29, 1997, Baines was traded back to the Orioles for a player to be named later.[23] He helped the Orioles reach the playoffs, where they lost to the Cleveland Indians in the League Championship Series.[24]

Baines represented the Orioles in the 1999 All Star Game.[25] On August 27, 1999, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitcher Juan Aracena and a player to be named later.[26] On December 9, 1999, Baines returned for a third stint with the Orioles, signing a one-year, $2 million contract.[27] He was traded back to the White Sox with catcher Charles Johnson in exchange for Miguel Felix, Juan Figueroa, Brook Fordyce and Jason Lakman on July 29, 2000.[28]

His final contract with the White Sox was not renewed following the 2001 season, after his third stint with the team. He finished his career with 2,866 hits, 384 home runs and 1,628 RBI.[1] His career RBI total is 34th all-time (through 2022);[29] prior to his induction, he had the ninth-highest RBI count among retired players not elected in the Hall of Fame; his hit total ranks 46th all-time (through 2019).

Coaching career

Baines's fourth stint with the Chicago White Sox began when he was named bench coach in March 2004 under new manager Ozzie Guillén, his White Sox teammate, from 1985 to 1989 and in 1996–97.[30] Baines served as the team’s interim manager for four games, from August 17–20, 2004, while Guillén was serving two consecutive two-game suspensions.[31][32]

In 2005, as a coach for the White Sox, he earned a World Series ring when the White Sox won the 2005 World Series.

Honors

On July 20, 2008, the White Sox unveiled a bronze statue of Baines at U.S. Cellular Field prior to their game against the Kansas City Royals; it is the seventh statue featured on the park's outfield concourse.[33][34]

In August 2009, the Orioles announced that Baines would be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame as the 46th member. In his seven seasons with the Orioles, he batted .301 with 107 home runs and 378 RBI as their designated hitter.[35]

Hall of Fame candidacy

Baines giving a speech at his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2019

Baines first became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the 2007 election. While 75% of the vote is needed for induction, he never received greater than 6.1% (which he received in 2010).[1] On January 5, 2011, Baines received just 28 votes (4.8%) in the 2011 Hall of Fame election, dropping him off all future writers' Hall of Fame ballots by receiving less than 5% of the vote.[36]

On December 9, 2018, Baines was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 via the Today's Game Era ballot, a voting panel of 16 consisting of six players, one manager, six executives, and three journalists.[37] His election drew intense criticism from baseball writers and fans due to his low Wins Above Replacement numbers, poor performance in MVP voting, and lack of defensive playing time. Baines was voted into the Hall of Fame by his peers: he played against five of the six players on the committee, while a sixth served as manager against him. Four executives on the panel were in management while Baines was a player and his former manager and team owner also were on the committee.[38][39] Specific criticism was leveled at Tony LaRussa,[40] Jerry Reinsdorf,[41] and Pat Gillick[42] for their close personal relationships with Baines, (La Russa managed him for seven seasons in Chicago and three more with the Oakland A's, Reinsdorf owned the White Sox when Baines played, and Gillick acquired him for the Orioles during his time as the team's General Manager).

He and five other players were inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21 before a crowd of 55,000, including 53 previous inductees.[43][44]

Personal life

Baines in 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field

Baines's hometown of St. Michaels has designated January 9 as Harold Baines Day. He has also created the Harold Baines Scholarship Fund to help deserving college-bound students.[45]

Baines is married to Marla Henry and has four children: Toni, Britni, Harold, Jr., and Courtney. All attended Baines's alma mater, St. Michaels Middle/High School.[31]

In May 2021, Baines had to undergo emergency surgery for both heart and kidney transplants on successive days. Both organs had been damaged by amyloidosis, the condition that his father had. Baines (the son) had learned of this disease a couple of years earlier. The surgeries were successful.[46]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Harold Baines Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ Randhawa, Manny (February 28, 2018). "Baines left mark with sustained success". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Spatz, Lyle, ed. (2007). The SABR Baseball List & Record Book. New York: Scribner. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-4165-3245-3.
  4. ↑ Spatz, op. cit., p. 53.
  5. ↑ Kane, Colleen (October 2, 2015). "White Sox will keep manager Robin Ventura for 2016 season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Tanton, Bill (October 4, 1983). "Eastern Shore is proud of Baines". The Evening Sun. p. 8. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Bierig, Joel (June 5, 1983). "Chisox' Baines follows his father's work ethic". Chicago Sun-Times. p. D6. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Vaughn, Rick, ed. (April 5, 1993). "There's No Place Like Home: Maryland's native son joins the Orioles". Orioles Program, Opening Day. p. 18.
  9. ↑ "1st Round of the 1977 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ Simpson, Allan (May 9, 2011). "Signing Bonuses: No. 1 Overall Picks Year-by-Year". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: April 10, 1980". Baseball-Reference.com. April 10, 1980. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ↑ James, Bill (1984). "Player Ratings". The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1984. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 220. ISBN 0-345-31155-8.
  13. ↑ "HOMER IN 25TH ENDS FIRST 8-HOUR GAME". The New York Times. UPI. May 10, 1984. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ Spatz, Lyle (2007). TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. United States: Simon & Schuster. p. 496. ISBN 9781416532453.
  15. ↑ "Baines leaves White Sox for Rangers in five-player trade". UPI. July 29, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ↑ Solomon, Alan (August 21, 1989). "WITH NO FANFARE, SOX RETIRE NO. 3". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ↑ "A'S ACQUIRE WILLIE MCGEE, HAROLD BAINES". Deseret News. August 30, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  18. ↑ "SCOTT CHIAMPARINO". Orlando Sentinel. March 15, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ Elliott, Helene (October 13, 1990). "He Shows Why Trade Was Big Deal : Athletics: Baines had something to prove when the Rangers gave up on him. La Russa had faith and it's paying off". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Harold Baines". Baseball Biography.
  21. ↑ "Athletics Trade Harold Baines to Orioles". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 1993. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ "SIGNINGS: NO PLACE LIKE HOME". Deseret News. December 12, 1995. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Baines Is Back With the Orioles". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 1997. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ "1997 ALCS - Cleveland Indians over Baltimore Orioles (4-2)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ "1999 MLB All-Star Game Roster". ESPN. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Orioles send DH Baines to Indians for two players". ESPN. August 27, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  27. ↑ "DH Baines signs one-year deal to return to Orioles". ESPN. December 9, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  28. ↑ "White Sox acquire C Johnson, DH Baines from Orioles". ESPN. July 30, 2000. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Career Leaders & Records for Runs Batted In". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  30. ↑ "White Sox pick Harold Baines as bench coach". ESPN. March 20, 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  31. 1 2 "White Sox Bio (Manager and Coaches): Harold Baines". Chicago White Sox. MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Harold Baines Managing Record". Retrosheet. 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  33. ↑ Ginnetti, Toni (July 21, 2008). "Teary Baines gets statue". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  34. ↑ van Dyck, Dave (July 20, 2008). "Baines grateful and honored by his statue". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Harold Baines elected to Orioles Hall of Fame". Baltimore Orioles. MLB.com. March 24, 2009. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  36. ↑ "2011 Hall of Fame Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  37. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (December 9, 2018). "Cubs pitcher Lee Smith, White Sox outfielder Harold Baines elected to the Hall of Fame". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  38. ↑ Tayler, John (December 9, 2018). "Harold Baines's Stunning Hall of Fame Election Is an Embarrassment". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  39. ↑ Verducci, Tom (December 10, 2018). "Harold Baines Is the Most Puzzling Hall of Fame Choice in Baseball History". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  40. ↑ Schoenfield, David. "Tony La Russa rips people who think Harold Baines didn't belong in Hall". espn.com. ESPN, Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  41. ↑ Verducci, Tom. "Harold Baines Is the Most Puzzling Hall of Fame Choice in Baseball History". si.com. ABG-SI, LLC. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  42. ↑ Tayler, Jon. "Harold Baines's Stunning Hall of Fame Election Is an Embarrassment". si.com. ABG-SI, LLC. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  43. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (July 21, 2019). "Hall opens its doors for unforgettable '19 Class". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  44. ↑ Merkin, Scott (July 21, 2019). "Soft-spoken Baines emotional on Hall induction". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Harold Baines Speaks". Simply Baseball Notebook. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  46. ↑ Merkin, Scott (April 11, 2022). "Harold Baines heart, kidney transplant". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
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