White Sox: Tim Raines Elected to MLB Hall of Fame

By Matt Manetti | Jan 19, 2017

Tim Raines is going to the Hall of Fame. Raines played five seasons for the White Sox and was the first-base coach for the 2005 World Series team. This was his final year of eligibility.

Tim Raines is finally going to Cooperstown. Raines, who played five seasons for the Chicago White Sox and was first-base coach when they won the 2005 World Series, was in his final year of eligibility. He joins Ivan Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, Bud Selig and John Schuerholz as 2017 inductees. The induction will take place on July 30. Raines becomes the 39th former member of the White Sox to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

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Raines spent the majority of his 23 MLB seasons with the Montreal Expos. The switch-hitting outfielder was among the game’s best lead-off men. The White Sox acquired him in 1990. He quickly became a key player and was the leadoff man for the 1993 team that won the American League West.

His 808 stolen bases ranks him fifth all-time in MLB history. Raines batted .294 and had a .385 on-base percentage during his stellar career. Among his other accolades; three-time World Series champion (1996, 1998, 2005), seven-time All-Star, Silver Slugger award winner, All-Star game MVP, National League batting champion and he led the National League in stolen bases in four consecutive seasons (1981-1984).

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Raines holds numerous team records he set during his 13 seasons with the Expos. Because of his accomplishments his No. 30 was retired by the Expos. He goes down as one of the best leadoff men in baseball history, right there with Rickey Henderson. In his career he had 170 home runs and 980 RBIs. Not bad for a guy whose primary focus was getting on base and stealing bases.

Congratulations to Tim Raines and the rest of the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees.

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