Harold Baines
Six-time All-Star and Hall of Fame designated hitter.
Harold Douglas Baines, born March 15, 1959, is an American former designated hitter and right fielder who played for five American League teams from 1980 to 2001, most notably the Chicago White Sox. The first overall pick in the 1977 draft and a six-time All-Star, he held major-league records for hits and games as a designated hitter and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Designated hitter; Right fielder
- Born
- 15 March 1959
- Birthplace
- Easton, Maryland, U.S.
- Bats
- Left
- Debut league
- MLB
- Debut date
- April 10
- Debut year
- 1980
- Debut team
- Chicago White Sox
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Baines grew up in St. Michaels, Maryland, with his father Linwood, a stonemason, three brothers, and a sister; his parents were separated. White Sox owner Bill Veeck began scouting him at age 12. He graduated from St. Michaels High School in 1977, batting .532 as a senior and earning high school All-American honors. The White Sox selected him first overall in the 1977 amateur draft, and he signed for a $32,000 bonus, a record low for a top pick.
Professional career
Baines debuted on Opening Day 1980, starting in right field. In 1982 he hit .271 with 25 home runs and 105 RBI. The 1983 White Sox reached the postseason, and on September 17 Baines drove in three runs, including a walk-off sacrifice fly that clinched the American League West title. In 1984, Bill James praised his all-around hitting; on May 8, Baines ended the longest game in major league history (25 innings over two nights) with a walk-off home run. Knee problems began in 1986, forcing him to become a regular designated hitter; he had eight knee surgeries over his career. He recorded his fifth straight 20-homer season in 1986, a White Sox first. Despite reduced speed, he collected 166 hits in 1988. Baines holds the record for most seasons between 100-RBI seasons: 14 years separated his 113 RBI in 1985 and his 103 in 1999.
Honors
On July 20, 2008, the White Sox unveiled a bronze statue of Baines at U.S. Cellular Field. In August 2009, he was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame as its 46th member; in seven seasons with Baltimore he batted .301 with 107 home runs and 378 RBI. Baines first appeared on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2007, never exceeding 6.1% of the vote; in 2011 he received 4.8%, dropping off future writers' ballots. On December 9, 2018, the Today's Game Era Committee elected him to the Hall of Fame class of 2019. His election drew criticism from writers and fans due to low wins above replacement, poor MVP voting, and limited defensive play. Critics noted that five of the six players on the committee had played against him, a sixth had managed him, and four executives had been in management during his career; specific criticism targeted Tony La Russa, Jerry Reinsdorf, and Pat Gillick for personal ties. La Russa acknowledged candid discussions and compared Baines to Alan Trammell, arguing that strikes in 1981 and 1994 cost Baines at least 125 games and likely 3,000 hits.
Personal life
St. Michaels, Maryland, designates January 9 as Harold Baines Day. He established the Harold Baines Scholarship Fund for college-bound students. Baines is married to Marla Henry and has four children: Toni, Britni, Harold Jr., and Courtney, all of whom attended his alma mater. In May 2021 he underwent emergency heart and liver transplants on successive days after amyloidosis damaged both organs; the surgeries were successful.
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