Former White Sox player Harold Baines was announced as one of two players composing the 2019 Major League Baseball Hall-of-Fame class. Baines joins Lee Smith in next year’s class.
THIS MOMENT! 🤗 pic.twitter.com/uxLINZMbZk
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 10, 2018
The White Sox blitzed social media all week to drum up support for Baines and Bob Nightengale of USA Today added that Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was instrumental in getting Baines into the Hall.
Clutch ✔ #HaroldBainesWeek pic.twitter.com/x6PCHKJwI0
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 8, 2018
💯 #HaroldBainesWeek pic.twitter.com/y02g4WKklr
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 7, 2018
A remarkable feat considering Harold Baines' career included two strike-shortened seasons. #HaroldBainesWeek pic.twitter.com/dBuefUHV6A
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 6, 2018
Seven players besides Baines had 20 seasons with 10+ homers, all of them Hall of Famers: Ken Griffey Jr., Reggie Jackson, Al Kaline, Willie McCovey, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken Jr. and Dave Winfield. #HaroldBainesWeek pic.twitter.com/6XCLlV5EHi
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 5, 2018
The numbers are pretty staggering. Baines had a long career centered around consistency. He retired with a .289/.356/.465 slash line spread over 22 seasons. He was a six-time all-star, three of which came while playing for the White Sox.
In his first nine seasons from 1980-1988, Baines batted .286 with 173 home runs and 763 runs batted in. He logged a .797 OPS with a 115 OPS+ over that time period as well. Baines led the league in slugging in 1984 (.541), a year where he batted .304 with 29 homers and 94 RBI.
2,830 games.
2,866 hits.
6 All-Star Games.
1 retired number.
2019 Hall of Fame class.Congrats, Harold. pic.twitter.com/kq4P3SZpRT
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 10, 2018
Despite a fairly illustrious career, Baines himself was shocked to receive the news.
Harold Baines says he was "very shocked'' by the news
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2018
And as pointed out earlier by Nightengale, it seems Reinsdorf had something to do with getting Baines a bust.
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was very influential to get Harold Baines into the Hall of Fame
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2018
Depending on how one evaluates a career Baines falls all over the spectrum for consideration. Some will argue that he was never an MVP, and with only six all-star seasons over a 22-year career, there is room to shrug off a hall nod – not to mention a 38.7 career WAR, but I digress.
As a rejoinder, you’ll find those that say thins about Baines.
Ron Kittle on former White Sox teammate Harold Baines making the Hall of Fame: “I’m not his family but I’m proud as if I was a member of his family. I think it’s completely awesome.”
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) December 10, 2018
We can’t Monday-morning quarterback his election. Let’s congratulate him on a career worthy enough to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Welcome to the @baseballhall, Harold! pic.twitter.com/sHOSeGVOg4
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 10, 2018
