Tim Raines
Encyclopedia
Timothy Raines nicknamed "Rock", is a former American
professional
baseball
player. He played as a left fielder
in Major League Baseball
for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos
. He is regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters
and baserunners
in baseball history.
selected Raines in the fifth round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
. After debuting with six games as a pinch runner
in 1979
, he played briefly as a second baseman
for the Expos in 1980
but soon switched to playing the outfield, and rapidly became a fan favorite due to his aggressiveness on the basepaths. In his strike-interrupted 1981
rookie season, he batted .304 and stole 71 bases – then the second most ever by a rookie, behind only Benny Kauff
's 75 for the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the Federal League
. Raines was caught stealing for the first time in 1981, after having begun his career with a major league record 27 consecutive successful stolen bases. Raines was the runner-up for the National League's Rookie of the Year Award
in 1981, which was won by Los Angeles Dodgers
pitcher Fernando Valenzuela
.
Raines's performance dipped in 1982,
as he hit .277 with a .353 on base percentage. At the end of the season, Raines entered treatment for substance abuse, having spent an estimated $40,000 that year on cocaine. To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, Raines carried it in his hip pocket, and slid headfirst when running the bases.
He used cocaine before games, in his car, after games, and on some occasions, between innings in the clubhouse.
Raines would later testify at the infamous Pittsburgh drug trials
, in September, 1985.
In 1983
, Raines resumed his exciting play, stealing a career high of 90 bases, the second-best total in franchise history, and scoring 133 runs, a franchise record. In each season from 1981 to 1986
, Raines stole at least 70 bases. He had a career-high .334 batting average in 1986, winning the National League Batting Championship. Raines maintained a consistently high on base percentage during this period and a rising slugging percentage, reaching a career peak of .429 in 1987. Although he never won a Gold Glove Award
, Raines was an excellent defensive player who led the National League with 21 assists
in 1983 and, with 4 double play
s, tied for the league lead in double play
s by an outfielder in 1985.
Raines became a free agent on November 12, 1986, but in spite of his league-leading play, no team made a serious attempt to sign him. (During this period, the Major League Baseball owners acted in collusion
to keep salaries down.) On May 1, 1987
, hours after being permitted to negotiate again with Montreal, Raines signed a new deal with the Expos for $5,000,000 over three years, and a $900,000 signing bonus. In his first game back on May 2, facing the Mets, although Raines had not participated in spring training
or any other competitive preparation for the season, he hit the first pitch he saw off the right-field wall for a triple. Raines finished the game with four hits in five at-bats, three runs, one walk, a stolen base, and a game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning.
In spite of the shortened season, Raines led the Expos in runs, walks, times on base, runs created, and stolen bases, in addition to batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. He also garnered MVP honors in the All-Star Game
as he delivered a game-winning triple in the 13th inning. Raines would, in , be one of dozens of players retroactively awarded collusion damages, receiving over $865,000.
Raines was traded to the Chicago White Sox
on December 20, 1990
, along with Jeff Carter
and a player to be named later (Mario Brito would eventually be agreed upon), in exchange for Iván Calderón
and Barry Jones
.
, Raines hit for a .268 average but had a .359 on base percentage
; he was second on the team in runs scored as the White Sox finished the season in second place in the American League Western Division
. His average improved in 1992
to .294 with a .380 on base percentage. In 1993
, he hit .306 with 16 home runs as the White Sox won the American League Western Division title. In the in 1993 American League Championship Series
against the Toronto Blue Jays
, Raines posted a .444 batting average and scored five runs in a losing cause.
On December 28, 1995, he was traded to the New York Yankees
. With the Yankees, Raines received two World Series rings in 1996
and 1998
. While his playing time was curtailed due to injuries, he contributed to a loose clubhouse atmosphere,
and was productive when he came up to the plate.
In January 1999
, Raines signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics
. After a kidney biopsy on July 23, Raines was diagnosed with lupus
and spent the rest of the year undergoing treatment and recovery.
, but was released on March 23. On December 21, Raines was signed by the Expos, returning to the team that drafted him. With limited playing time, Raines batted .308, with a .433 on base percentage and a .436 slugging percentage.
Raines underwent surgery on May 31 due to a left shoulder strain, and spent time rehabilitating with the Expos Triple-A club, the Ottawa Lynx
. On August 21, 2001, Raines and his son, Tim Raines, Jr.
, became the first father-son pair to play against each other in an official professional baseball game, when the Lynx played the Rochester Red Wings
(the two had faced each other earlier in the year during spring training).
Raines returned to the major league club on August 22.
On October 3, the Expos traded Raines to the Baltimore Orioles
, thereby permitting Raines to play a major league game with his son.
On October 4, Raines, Jr. played center field and Raines, Sr. played left field for Baltimore, becoming the second father and son team to play for the same major league team (a feat previously accomplished by Ken Griffey, Sr.
and Ken Griffey, Jr.
).
Raines played his last season in 2002
with the Florida Marlins
. He is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades.
accumulating 2,605 hits
in 8,872 at bats for a .294 career batting average along with 170 home runs, 980 runs batted in, a .385 on base percentage
and a .425 slugging percentage. He ended his career with a .988 fielding percentage
. Raines stole at least 70 bases in each of his first six full seasons (1981–1986), leading the National League in stolen base
s each season from 1981 to 1984, with a career high of 90 steals in 1983. Raines also led the National League in runs scored
twice (1983 and 1987). Raines batted over .300 in five full seasons and over .320 from 1985 to 1987, winning the 1986 National League batting
title with a .334 average. He also had six full seasons with an on base percentage above .390.
With 808 steals in his career, Raines has the fourth-highest total in major league history, behind Rickey Henderson
, Lou Brock
and Ty Cobb
.Some sources also place Raines behind Billy Hamilton, who recorded over 900 steals from 1888 to 1901; however, nearly 800 of these were achieved prior to 1898, when the definition of a steal was altered, and these early steals are not officially recognized.
Until 2008,Carlos Beltran passed 300 steal attempts in 2008 and as of September 20, 2008, has a higher stolen base percentage. His career stolen base percentage (84.7%) was the highest in major league history for players with 300 or more attemptsCaught stealing data is incomplete prior to the 1951 season.
and he was successful on 40 consecutive steal attempts between July 1993 and August 1995, setting an American League record at the time (the record was broken by Ichiro Suzuki
in May , when he completed 45 consecutive steals).
Among switch hitters, Raines ranks sixth in career hits (2,605), fourth in runs (1,571), walks
(1,330) and times on base
(3,977), fifth in plate appearance
s (10,359), seventh in singles
(1,892), doubles
(430), total bases
(3,771) and at bat
s (8,872), eighth in triples
(113) and tenth in extra base hit
s (713). He holds Expos/Washington Nationals
franchise records for career runs (947), steals (635), singles (1,163), triples (82) and walks (793), and was the seventh player whose career began after to retire with over 1,500 runs and 100 triples.The previous six were Willie Mays
, Lou Brock
, Pete Rose
, George Brett
, Robin Yount
and Paul Molitor
. His 1,966 games in left field ranked seventh in major league history when he retired.
From 1983 to 1987, Total Baseball
rated him as one of the National League's five best players each season. He is also listed as the 40th greatest non-pitcher in major-league history according to Bill James
's win shares
formula, one place ahead of Mark McGwire
.
All-Star
in 7 consecutive seasons (1981–1987), and was named the Most Valuable Player
of the 1987 All-Star Game
.
In 1981 the Sporting News named Raines the National League Rookie of the Year.
Raines finished in the top 10 in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award
three times (1983, 1986, 1987). He won a Silver Slugger Award as an outfielder in 1986 when he led the National League in both batting average and on base percentage
.
and commentators have supported his induction.
Raines received only 24% of the vote in his first attempt in 2008
, far short of the required 75%. In 2009
, he received 22.6% of the vote, in 2010
he received 30.4% of the vote, and in in 2011
he received 37.5% of the vote.
affiliate of the Expos. He was promoted to the major league team in 2004 and was present for the Expos' final games as a Montreal franchise.
He was a coach for the White Sox from November 2004 until October 2006. During the 2005 World Series
Championship season, Raines served as first base coach. During the 2006 season, he served as bench coach. He was the hitting coach for the minor-league Harrisburg Senators
in 2007, but was not retained by the team for 2008. Raines signed a two-year contract to manage the Newark Bears
of the Atlantic League
, starting in 2009. After the 2010 season, the Bears moved to the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, and the team announced Raines would return to manage in 2011.
. The couple gave birth to two children: Tim, Jr.
("Little Rock"), and André ("Little Hawk"). In high school he was a running back
and has said he enjoyed football
more than baseball at the time. On the matter between the two he reflects, "in football I was a running back, so in the NFL my career would have probably lasted six or seven years and in baseball I ended up playing 23 years. In baseball you can play a long time so I think it’s better when you think of it in that way."
In 1985, Raines became a resident of Heathrow, Florida
. In 2007, he moved to Estrella Mountain Ranch, just outside of Phoenix, Arizona
, and married Shannon Watson from Arnprior, Ontario
.
Raines had twin babies in 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played as a left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He is regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
and baserunners
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
in baseball history.
Montreal Expos
The Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
selected Raines in the fifth round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
1977 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The White Sox raised some brows when they passed on right-handed pitcher Bill Gullickson, a native of nearby Orland Park, IL, and selected outfielder Harold Baines as the number one...
. After debuting with six games as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
in 1979
1979 Montreal Expos season
- Offseason :* November 28, 1978: Duffy Dyer was signed as a free agent by the Expos.* December 4, 1978: Ken Macha was drafted by the Expos from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1978 rule 5 draft....
, he played briefly as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the Expos in 1980
1980 Montreal Expos season
- Offseason :* December 7, 1979: Dan Schatzeder was traded by the Expos to the Detroit Tigers for Ron LeFlore.* December 6, 1979: Rowland Office was signed as a free agent by the Expos....
but soon switched to playing the outfield, and rapidly became a fan favorite due to his aggressiveness on the basepaths. In his strike-interrupted 1981
1981 Montreal Expos season
The Montreal Expos made it to the postseason for the only time in franchise history. The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike.- Offseason :...
rookie season, he batted .304 and stole 71 bases – then the second most ever by a rookie, behind only Benny Kauff
Benny Kauff
Benjamin Michael Kauff was a professional baseball player, who played centerfield and batted and threw left-handed. Kauff was known as the “Ty Cobb of the Feds.” He is the only player to be permanently banned from baseball for reasons other than gambling...
's 75 for the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
. Raines was caught stealing for the first time in 1981, after having begun his career with a major league record 27 consecutive successful stolen bases. Raines was the runner-up for the National League's Rookie of the Year Award
Rookie of the Year award
K-League Rookie of the Year Award is newly established in 1985 that third season in K-League. Many star players were received this award such as Lee Dong-Gook, Lee Chun-Soo, and so on.- Winners :- See also:* K-League MVP Award...
in 1981, which was won by Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
pitcher Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
.
Raines's performance dipped in 1982,
as he hit .277 with a .353 on base percentage. At the end of the season, Raines entered treatment for substance abuse, having spent an estimated $40,000 that year on cocaine. To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, Raines carried it in his hip pocket, and slid headfirst when running the bases.
He used cocaine before games, in his car, after games, and on some occasions, between innings in the clubhouse.
Raines would later testify at the infamous Pittsburgh drug trials
Pittsburgh drug trials
The Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 were the catalyst for a baseball-related cocaine scandal which resulted in the harshest Major League Baseball penalties since the Black Sox scandal of 1919...
, in September, 1985.
In 1983
1983 Montreal Expos season
The Montreal Expos season was the fifteenth in franchise history. At the end of the season, the Expos had managed the best cumulative winning percentage in the National League from 1979 to 1983.- Offseason :...
, Raines resumed his exciting play, stealing a career high of 90 bases, the second-best total in franchise history, and scoring 133 runs, a franchise record. In each season from 1981 to 1986
1986 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* October 24, 1985: Bill Laskey was traded by the Expos to the San Francisco Giants for George Riley and Alonzo Powell.* November 7, 1985: Mel Rojas was signed by the Expos as an amateur free agent....
, Raines stole at least 70 bases. He had a career-high .334 batting average in 1986, winning the National League Batting Championship. Raines maintained a consistently high on base percentage during this period and a rising slugging percentage, reaching a career peak of .429 in 1987. Although he never won a Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
, Raines was an excellent defensive player who led the National League with 21 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in 1983 and, with 4 double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s, tied for the league lead in double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s by an outfielder in 1985.
Raines became a free agent on November 12, 1986, but in spite of his league-leading play, no team made a serious attempt to sign him. (During this period, the Major League Baseball owners acted in collusion
Baseball collusion
Baseball collusion refers to owners working together to avoid competitive bidding for player services or players jointly negotiating with team owners....
to keep salaries down.) On May 1, 1987
1987 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* October 7, 1986: Bert Roberge was released by the Expos.* January 19, 1987: Dave Engle was signed as a free agent by the Expos.* February 3, 1987: Jeff Reardon and Tom Nieto were traded by the Expos to the Minnesota Twins for Neal Heaton, Yorkis Pérez, Jeff Reed, and Al Cardwood .*...
, hours after being permitted to negotiate again with Montreal, Raines signed a new deal with the Expos for $5,000,000 over three years, and a $900,000 signing bonus. In his first game back on May 2, facing the Mets, although Raines had not participated in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
or any other competitive preparation for the season, he hit the first pitch he saw off the right-field wall for a triple. Raines finished the game with four hits in five at-bats, three runs, one walk, a stolen base, and a game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning.
In spite of the shortened season, Raines led the Expos in runs, walks, times on base, runs created, and stolen bases, in addition to batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. He also garnered MVP honors in the All-Star Game
1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 58th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1987 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland,...
as he delivered a game-winning triple in the 13th inning. Raines would, in , be one of dozens of players retroactively awarded collusion damages, receiving over $865,000.
Raines was traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on December 20, 1990
1990 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:*October 26, 1989: Yamil Benitez was signed by the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent. *December 7, 1989: Oil Can Boyd signed as a Free Agent with the Montreal Expos....
, along with Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter (baseball pitcher)
Jeffrey Allen Carter is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 19th round of the amateur draft...
and a player to be named later (Mario Brito would eventually be agreed upon), in exchange for Iván Calderón
Ivan Calderón (baseball player)
Iván Calderón Pérez , born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player from 1984 to 1993, and was named an All-Star in 1991. He was murdered in a bar in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Shot seven times in the back and head, he died instantly...
and Barry Jones
Barry Jones (baseball)
Barry Louis Jones is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during eight seasons at the major league level for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 3rd round of the 1984 amateur draft...
.
Post-Expos career
In his first season in the American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, Raines hit for a .268 average but had a .359 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
; he was second on the team in runs scored as the White Sox finished the season in second place in the American League Western Division
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
. His average improved in 1992
1992 Chicago White Sox season
The 1992 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 94th season. They finished with a record 86-76, good enough for 3rd place in the American League West, 10 games behind the 1st place Oakland Athletics.-Offseason:...
to .294 with a .380 on base percentage. In 1993
1993 Chicago White Sox season
The 1993 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox' 94th season. They finished with a record of 94-68, good enough for first place in the American League West, eight games ahead of the second-place Texas Rangers. However, they lost the American League Championship Series in six games to the...
, he hit .306 with 16 home runs as the White Sox won the American League Western Division title. In the in 1993 American League Championship Series
1993 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 5, 1993 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, IllinoisThe ALCS opened at Comiskey Park with a battle of aces, as Toronto threw Juan Guzmán against Chicago's Jack McDowell, the eventual 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner...
against the Toronto Blue Jays
1993 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season involved the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses. They were shut out only once in 162 regular-season games. The Blue Jays would repeat as World Champions and become the first back-to-back champions since the New...
, Raines posted a .444 batting average and scored five runs in a losing cause.
On December 28, 1995, he was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. With the Yankees, Raines received two World Series rings in 1996
1996 New York Yankees season
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the Yankees. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx....
and 1998
1998 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1998 season was the 96th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a franchise record regular-season standing of 114-48, 22 games ahead of the second-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East...
. While his playing time was curtailed due to injuries, he contributed to a loose clubhouse atmosphere,
and was productive when he came up to the plate.
In January 1999
1999 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1999 season involved the A's finishing 2nd in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. It was their first winning record since 1992.-Offseason:...
, Raines signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. After a kidney biopsy on July 23, Raines was diagnosed with lupus
Lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a category for a collection of diseases with similar underlying problems with immunity . Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs...
and spent the rest of the year undergoing treatment and recovery.
Recovery and return
Raines was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on February 1, 20002000 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2000 season was the 98th season for the Yankees in New York, and their 100th overall going back to their origins in Baltimore. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The team finished 1st in the AL East with a record of 87–74, 2.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, after...
, but was released on March 23. On December 21, Raines was signed by the Expos, returning to the team that drafted him. With limited playing time, Raines batted .308, with a .433 on base percentage and a .436 slugging percentage.
Raines underwent surgery on May 31 due to a left shoulder strain, and spent time rehabilitating with the Expos Triple-A club, the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
. On August 21, 2001, Raines and his son, Tim Raines, Jr.
Tim Raines, Jr.
Timothy Raines, Jr. is a professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League, who are managed by his father, Tim Raines. He was with the Baltimore Orioles organization through , playing for the Orioles in and -. He played for the New Orleans Zephyrs and...
, became the first father-son pair to play against each other in an official professional baseball game, when the Lynx played the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
(the two had faced each other earlier in the year during spring training).
Raines returned to the major league club on August 22.
On October 3, the Expos traded Raines to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, thereby permitting Raines to play a major league game with his son.
On October 4, Raines, Jr. played center field and Raines, Sr. played left field for Baltimore, becoming the second father and son team to play for the same major league team (a feat previously accomplished by Ken Griffey, Sr.
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
).
Raines played his last season in 2002
2002 Florida Marlins season
The Florida Marlins' 2002 season started off with the team trying to improve on their season from 2001. Their manager was Jeff Torborg. They played home games at Pro Player Stadium...
with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades.
Career statistics
In a 23 year career, Raines played in 2,502 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
accumulating 2,605 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 8,872 at bats for a .294 career batting average along with 170 home runs, 980 runs batted in, a .385 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and a .425 slugging percentage. He ended his career with a .988 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Raines stole at least 70 bases in each of his first six full seasons (1981–1986), leading the National League in stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s each season from 1981 to 1984, with a career high of 90 steals in 1983. Raines also led the National League in runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
twice (1983 and 1987). Raines batted over .300 in five full seasons and over .320 from 1985 to 1987, winning the 1986 National League batting
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
title with a .334 average. He also had six full seasons with an on base percentage above .390.
With 808 steals in his career, Raines has the fourth-highest total in major league history, behind Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
, Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
and Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
.Some sources also place Raines behind Billy Hamilton, who recorded over 900 steals from 1888 to 1901; however, nearly 800 of these were achieved prior to 1898, when the definition of a steal was altered, and these early steals are not officially recognized.
Until 2008,Carlos Beltran passed 300 steal attempts in 2008 and as of September 20, 2008, has a higher stolen base percentage. His career stolen base percentage (84.7%) was the highest in major league history for players with 300 or more attemptsCaught stealing data is incomplete prior to the 1951 season.
and he was successful on 40 consecutive steal attempts between July 1993 and August 1995, setting an American League record at the time (the record was broken by Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
in May , when he completed 45 consecutive steals).
Among switch hitters, Raines ranks sixth in career hits (2,605), fourth in runs (1,571), walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(1,330) and times on base
Times on base
In baseball statistics, the term times on base, also abbreviated as TOB, is the cumulative total number of times a batter has been awarded for reaching base as a result of hits, walks and hit by pitches. This stat does not include times reaching first by way of error, dropped 3rd strike, fielders...
(3,977), fifth in plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s (10,359), seventh in singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
(1,892), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(430), total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(3,771) and at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s (8,872), eighth in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(113) and tenth in extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s (713). He holds Expos/Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
franchise records for career runs (947), steals (635), singles (1,163), triples (82) and walks (793), and was the seventh player whose career began after to retire with over 1,500 runs and 100 triples.The previous six were Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
, Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
, George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
, Robin Yount
Robin Yount
Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
and Paul Molitor
Paul Molitor
Paul Leo Molitor , nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor", is an American former Major League Baseball designated hitter and infielder. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...
. His 1,966 games in left field ranked seventh in major league history when he retired.
From 1983 to 1987, Total Baseball
Total Baseball
Total Baseball is a baseball encyclopedia first compiled by John Thorn and Pete Palmer in 1989. The latest edition, published in 2004, is its eighth...
rated him as one of the National League's five best players each season. He is also listed as the 40th greatest non-pitcher in major-league history according to Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
's win shares
Win Shares
Win shares is the name of the metric Bill James describes in his 2002 book Win Shares.It considers statistics for baseball and basketball players, in the context of their team and in a sabermetric way, and assigns a single number to each player for his contributions for the year. A win share...
formula, one place ahead of Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
.
League leading statistics
Reference: Baseball-Reference.com Leader and Record Board Index- Led the National League in batting average in 1986 (.334), the third switch hitterSwitch hitterIn baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
to win the NL batting title - Led the National League in on base percentage in 1986 (.413)
- Led the major leagues in stolen bases in 1981 (71) and 1984 (75)
- Led the National League in stolen bases in 1982 (78) and 1983 (90)
- Led the major leagues in runs scored in 1983 (133) and 1987 (123)
- Led the National League for times on base in 1983 (282), 1984 (281), and 1986 (274)
- Led the National League in outfield assistsAssist (baseball)In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in 1983 (21) - Tied for the National League lead in double playDouble playIn baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s by an outfielder in 1985 (4)
Expos/Nationals records
Reference: Washington Nationals Batting Leaders from baseball-reference.com- Single-season record for plate appearances (731 in 1982)
- Single-season record for runs (133 in 1983)
- Career record for runs (947)
- Single-season record for triples (13 in 1985); shared with Rodney ScottRodney Scott (baseball)Rodney Darrell Scott was a infielder in Major League Baseball. Primarily used as a second baseman and shortstop, Scott also played third base, designated hitter and outfield during his eight-year career....
and Mitch WebsterMitch WebsterMitchell Dean Webster , is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently the Midwest Regional Scouting Supervisor for the Kansas City Royals.... - Career record for singles (1,163)
- Career record for triples (82)
- Career record for walks (793)
- Career record for times on base (2,440)
- Career record for stolen bases (635)
- Career record for runs created (1,047)
Honors and awards
Raines was a National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 7 consecutive seasons (1981–1987), and was named the Most Valuable Player
Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award given to the most outstanding player in each year's MLB All-Star Game. Awarded each season since , it was originally called the "Arch Ward Memorial Award" in honor of Arch Ward, the man who...
of the 1987 All-Star Game
1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 58th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1987 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland,...
.
In 1981 the Sporting News named Raines the National League Rookie of the Year.
Raines finished in the top 10 in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
three times (1983, 1986, 1987). He won a Silver Slugger Award as an outfielder in 1986 when he led the National League in both batting average and on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
.
Baseball Hall of Fame candidacy
Raines was eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2008, and various sabermetriciansSabermetrics
Sabermetrics is the specialized analysis of baseball through objective, empirical evidence, specifically baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research...
and commentators have supported his induction.
Raines received only 24% of the vote in his first attempt in 2008
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2008
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2008 proceeded according to revised rules enacted in 2001 and further revamped in 2007. The Baseball Writers Association of America held an election to select from among recent players...
, far short of the required 75%. In 2009
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2009
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2009 proceeded according to revised rules enacted in 2001 and further revamped in 2007. The Baseball Writers Association of America held an election to select from among recent players...
, he received 22.6% of the vote, in 2010
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2010
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2010 proceeded according to rules enacted in 2001 and revised in 2007. As always the Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from a ballot of recent players; one player was elected...
he received 30.4% of the vote, and in in 2011
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2011
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2011 proceeded according to rules most recently revised in July 2010. As in the past, the Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from a ballot of recently-retired players...
he received 37.5% of the vote.
Coaching career
Raines began his coaching career in 2003 as manager of the Class A-Advanced Brevard County ManateesBrevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
affiliate of the Expos. He was promoted to the major league team in 2004 and was present for the Expos' final games as a Montreal franchise.
He was a coach for the White Sox from November 2004 until October 2006. During the 2005 World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
Championship season, Raines served as first base coach. During the 2006 season, he served as bench coach. He was the hitting coach for the minor-league Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
in 2007, but was not retained by the team for 2008. Raines signed a two-year contract to manage the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
, starting in 2009. After the 2010 season, the Bears moved to the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, and the team announced Raines would return to manage in 2011.
Personal life
In 1979, Raines married Virginia Hilton, a classmate at Seminole High SchoolSeminole High School (Seminole County, Florida)
Seminole High School is a public high school located in Sanford, Florida operated by Seminole County Public Schools. In February 2007 Mike Gaudreau, a Seminole High School alumnus, became principal....
. The couple gave birth to two children: Tim, Jr.
Tim Raines, Jr.
Timothy Raines, Jr. is a professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League, who are managed by his father, Tim Raines. He was with the Baltimore Orioles organization through , playing for the Orioles in and -. He played for the New Orleans Zephyrs and...
("Little Rock"), and André ("Little Hawk"). In high school he was a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and has said he enjoyed football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
more than baseball at the time. On the matter between the two he reflects, "in football I was a running back, so in the NFL my career would have probably lasted six or seven years and in baseball I ended up playing 23 years. In baseball you can play a long time so I think it’s better when you think of it in that way."
In 1985, Raines became a resident of Heathrow, Florida
Heathrow, Florida
Heathrow is a census-designated place and an unincorporated suburban community in Seminole County, Florida, United States. Heathrow is located on the I-4 Corridor in Central Florida, 19 miles Northeast of Orlando and 38 miles Southwest of Daytona Beach...
. In 2007, he moved to Estrella Mountain Ranch, just outside of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and married Shannon Watson from Arnprior, Ontario
Arnprior, Ontario
Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
.
Raines had twin babies in 2010.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base records
- List of Major League Baseball players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- Major League Baseball titles leadersMajor League Baseball titles leadersAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
External links
- BaseballLibrary — biography, career highlights and SABR bibliography