Harold Baines

2025-05-21T00:15:22Z

2601:240:E080:6B30:E09B:2001:F60E:F22: /* Personal life */Incorrect organ that was transplanted

{{Short description|American baseball player and coach (born 1959)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Harold Baines
|image=Harold Baines.jpg
|caption=Baines with the Chicago White Sox in 2011
|position=[[Designated hitter]] / [[Right fielder]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1959|3|15}}
|birth_place=[[Easton, Maryland]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 10
|debutyear=1980
|debutteam=Chicago White Sox
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 27
|finalyear=2001
|finalteam=Chicago White Sox
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.289
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,866
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=384
|stat4label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,628
|teams=
;As player
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1980}}–{{mlby|1989}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1990}})
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1992}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1995}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1996}}–{{mlby|1997}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|1999}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1999}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|2000}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2001}})
;As coach
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2015}})
|highlights=
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]]–[[1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1987]], [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]], [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]], [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2005}})
* [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1989)
* [[Chicago White Sox#Retired numbers|Chicago White Sox No. 3]] retired
* [[Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2019]]
|hofvote = 75%
|hofmethod=Today'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.<ref name="bainesBRplayer">{{cite web |date= |title=Harold Baines Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baineha01.shtml |access-date=September 12, 2019 |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> The [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall selection]] in the [[1977 Major League Baseball Draft]] and a six-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], Baines led the AL in [[slugging percentage]] in {{by|1984}}. He held the White Sox team record for career [[home run]]s from {{by|1987}} until [[Carlton Fisk]] passed him in {{by|1990}}; his total of 221 remains the club record for left-handed hitters, as do his 981 [[run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBI) and 585 [[extra base hit]]s with the team. His 1,688 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and 1,643 games as a DH stood as major-league records until [[David Ortiz]] broke them in {{by|2013}} and {{by|2014}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randhawa |first=Manny |date=February 28, 2018 |title=Baines left mark with sustained success |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/harold-baines-left-lasting-impact-on-game-c267455816 |access-date=February 28, 2018 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]] |language=en}}</ref> He also held the mark for career home runs as a DH (236) until [[Edgar Martínez]] passed him in {{by|2004}}.

One of the most durable, consistent, and respected hitters of his era, Baines [[Batting average (baseball)|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 slam (baseball)|grand slams]] (13),<ref name=Spatz46>{{cite book|title=The SABR Baseball List & Record Book|year=2007|editor-last=Spatz|editor-first=Lyle|publisher=[[Charles Scribner's Sons|Scribner]]|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4165-3245-3|page=46}}</ref> fourth in three-home-run games (three),<ref>Spatz, op. cit., p. 53.</ref> and tied for seventh in major league history in [[walk-off home run]]s (10).<ref name=Spatz46/> He served as a [[coach (baseball)|coach]] with the White Sox from 2004 to 2015 before moving into a role of team ambassador and [[spring training]] instructor.<ref name="ambassador">{{cite web |last=Kane |first=Colleen |date=October 2, 2015 |title=White Sox will keep manager Robin Ventura for 2016 season |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-white-sox-ventura-returns-spt-20151002-story.html |access-date=December 10, 2018 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Baines was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] by the [[Veterans Committee#2016 revisions|Today's Game Era Committee]] as part of the [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|class of 2019]].<ref name="bainesBRplayer"/>

==Early life==
Baines was raised in [[St. Michaels, Maryland|St. Michaels]], [[Maryland]], by his father, Linwood, a [[stonemason]], with his three brothers and a sister.<ref name="tanton">{{cite news |last1=Tanton |first1=Bill |date=October 4, 1983 |title=Eastern Shore is proud of Baines |page=8 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun|The Evening Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112869898/eastern-shore-is-proud-of-baines/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He described his father as his "idol, more than anybody else." His father was separated from his mother, Gloria.<ref name="bierig">{{cite news |last1=Bierig |first1=Joel |date=June 5, 1983 |title=Chisox' Baines follows his father's work ethic |page=D6 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112870123/chisox-baines-follows-his-fathers/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="tanton" />

He graduated in 1977 from [[St. Michaels Middle/High School|St. Michaels High School]] on Maryland's Eastern Shore where, as a senior, he batted .532 and was named a high school All-American.<ref>{{Cite news| editor-last =Vaughn| editor-first =Rick| title =There's No Place Like Home: Maryland's native son joins the Orioles| newspaper =Orioles Program, Opening Day| page =18| date =April 5, 1993}}</ref> The White Sox made Baines the [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall selection]] in the [[1977 Major League Baseball Draft|1977 amateur draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1st Round of the 1977 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1977&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> He received a signing bonus of $32,000 – a record low for a first overall pick.<ref>{{cite web |last=Simpson |first=Allan |date=May 9, 2011 |title=Signing Bonuses: No. 1 Overall Picks Year-by-Year |url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5609 |access-date=January 18, 2018 |website=Perfect Game USA}}</ref>

==Professional career==
[[File:Harold Baines 1986.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.75|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 1980 |title=Baltimore Orioles vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: April 10, 1980 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198004100.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> In 1982, he batted .271 with 25 home runs and 105 RBI in 161 games.<ref name="bainesBRplayer" />

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 [[bunt (baseball)|bunts]] that would melt in your mouth, come up the next time and execute a [[hit and run (baseball)|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."<ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=Bill |author-link=Bill James |title=The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1984 |year=1984 |publisher=Ballantine Books |location=New York |isbn=0-345-31155-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/billjamesbasebal00jame/page/220 220] |chapter=Player Ratings |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/billjamesbasebal00jame/page/220 }}</ref> Baines ended the longest game in major league history (eight hours and six minutes over [[extra innings|25 innings]] on successive evenings) with a [[walk-off home run]] against the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]' [[Chuck Porter (baseball)|Chuck Porter]] on May 8, 1984;<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=May 10, 1984 |title=HOMER IN 25TH ENDS FIRST 8-HOUR GAME |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[United Press International|UPI]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/10/sports/homer-in-25th-ends-first-8-hour-game.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bainesBRplayer" />

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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spatz|first=Lyle|title=TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics|year=2007|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=United States|isbn=9781416532453|page=496}}</ref>

[[File:Harold baines2001.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Baines before a 2001 game]]
{{MLBBioRet
|Image = SoxRetired03.PNG
|Name = Baines
|Number = 3
|Team = Chicago White Sox
|Year = 1989
|}}
Midway through the 1989 season, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] acquired Baines, along with [[Fred Manrique]], from the White Sox in a much-derided trade which sent [[Wilson Álvarez]], [[Scott Fletcher (baseball)|Scott Fletcher]] and [[Sammy Sosa]] to Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 1989 |title=Baines leaves White Sox for Rangers in five-player trade |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/07/29/Baines-leaves-White-Sox-for-Rangers-in-five-player-trade/8148617688000/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[United Press International|UPI]] |language=en}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Alan |date=August 21, 1989 |title=WITH NO FANFARE, SOX RETIRE NO. 3 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-08-21-8901060870-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

On August 29, 1990, Baines was traded to the [[Oakland Athletics]] for minor league pitchers [[Scott Chiamparino]] and [[Joe Bitker]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 1990 |title=A'S ACQUIRE WILLIE MCGEE, HAROLD BAINES |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/8/30/18878791/a-s-acquire-willie-mcgee-harold-baines-br |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Deseret News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 15, 1991 |title=SCOTT CHIAMPARINO |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-03-15-9103150969-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Helene |date=October 13, 1990 |title=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. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-13-sp-2117-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and he helped them reach the postseason only to be swept by the [[Cincinnati Reds]] in the [[1990 World Series|World Series]]. In 1992, the Athletics returned to the playoffs, but lost to the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in the [[1992 American League Championship Series|ALCS]].<ref name="Baines">{{Cite web |date= |title=Harold Baines |url=https://baseballbiography.com/harold-baines-1959/ |access-date= |website=Baseball Biography |language=en-US}}</ref>

On January 14, 1993, Baines was traded by the A's to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] for minor league pitchers [[Bobby Chouinard]] and [[Allen Plaster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 15, 1993 |title=Athletics Trade Harold Baines to Orioles |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-15-sp-1411-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Baines batted .313, .294 and .299 over his first three seasons with Baltimore.<ref name="bainesBRplayer" /> On December 11, 1995, Baines returned to the White Sox as a [[free agent]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 1995 |title=SIGNINGS: NO PLACE LIKE HOME |url=https://www.deseret.com/1995/12/12/19209480/signings-no-place-like-home |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Deseret News]] |language=en}}</ref> On July 29, 1997, Baines was traded back to the Orioles for a [[player to be named later]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 1997 |title=Baines Is Back With the Orioles |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-30-sp-17723-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He helped the Orioles reach the playoffs, where they lost to the [[Cleveland Indians]] in the League Championship Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 ALCS - Cleveland Indians over Baltimore Orioles (4-2) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1997_ALCS.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

Baines represented the Orioles in the [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999 All Star Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 MLB All-Star Game Roster |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1999 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On August 27, 1999, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitcher Juan Aracena and a player to be named later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 1999 |title=Orioles send DH Baines to Indians for two players |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/1999/0827/7027.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On December 9, 1999, Baines returned for a third stint with the Orioles, signing a one-year, $2 million contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 1999 |title=DH Baines signs one-year deal to return to Orioles |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/1999/1209/223553.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> He was traded back to the White Sox with catcher [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] in exchange for Miguel Felix, Juan Figueroa, [[Brook Fordyce]] and Jason Lakman on July 29, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2000 |title=White Sox acquire C Johnson, DH Baines from Orioles |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0730/659724.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name="bainesBRplayer" /> His career RBI total is 34th all-time (through 2022);<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Leaders & Records for Runs Batted In |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/RBI_career.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> 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 [[Coach (baseball)#Bench coach|bench coach]] in March 2004 under new manager [[Ozzie Guillén]], his White Sox teammate, from 1985 to 1989 and in 1996–97.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2004 |title=White Sox pick Harold Baines as bench coach |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1764348 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="15chisoxbio">{{cite web |date= |title=White Sox Bio (Manager and Coaches): Harold Baines |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=cws&coachorstaffid=110456 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152347/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=cws&coachorstaffid=110456 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2019 |work=[[Chicago White Sox]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref name="bainesRETROmanager">{{cite web |date=2018 |title=Harold Baines Managing Record |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pbainh001.htm |access-date=September 12, 2019 |work=[[Retrosheet]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ginnetti |first=Toni |date=July 21, 2008 |title=Teary Baines gets statue |url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1065605,CST-SPT-soxnt21.article |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809103451/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1065605,CST-SPT-soxnt21.article |archive-date=August 9, 2008 |access-date=August 16, 2008 |website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Dyck |first=Dave |date=July 20, 2008 |title=Baines grateful and honored by his statue |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-080720-baines-white-sox-statue,0,6478035.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804045130/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-080720-baines-white-sox-statue,0,6478035.story |archive-date=August 4, 2008 |access-date=August 16, 2008 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=March 24, 2009 |title=Harold Baines elected to Orioles Hall of Fame |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/bal/y2009/m03/d24/c4061492.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210063511/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/bal/y2009/m03/d24/c4061492.jsp |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2018 |website=[[Baltimore Orioles]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

===Hall of Fame candidacy===
[[File:Harold Baines giving induction speech to Baseball Hall of Fame July 2019 (2).jpg|thumb|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 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2007 election]]. While 75% of the vote is needed for induction, he never received greater than 6.1% (which he received in 2010).<ref name ="bainesBRplayer"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Hall of Fame Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2011.shtml |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

On December 9, 2018, Baines was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 via the [[Veterans Committee#2016 revisions|Today's Game Era ballot]], a voting panel of 16 consisting of six players, one manager, six executives, and three journalists.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |date=December 9, 2018 |title=Cubs pitcher Lee Smith, White Sox outfielder Harold Baines elected to the Hall of Fame |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-lee-smith-white-sox-harold-baines-hall-of-fame-20181209-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210063432/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-lee-smith-white-sox-harold-baines-hall-of-fame-20181209-story.html |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2018 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> His election drew 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.<ref name="Tayler">{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/12/10/harold-baines-mlb-hall-fame-election|title=Harold Baines's Stunning Hall of Fame Election Is an Embarrassment|first=John|last=Tayler|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=December 9, 2018|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Verducci">{{cite web |last=Verducci |first=Tom |date=December 10, 2018 |title=Harold Baines Is the Most Puzzling Hall of Fame Choice in Baseball History |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/12/10/harold-baines-hall-fame |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724190130/https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/12/10/harold-baines-hall-fame |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Specific criticism was leveled at [[Tony La Russa]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schoenfield |first1=David |title=Tony La Russa rips people who think Harold Baines didn't belong in Hall |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25518933/tony-la-russa-calls-harold-baines-detractors-weak |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN, Inc. |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> [[Jerry Reinsdorf]],<ref name="Tayler"/> and [[Pat Gillick]]<ref name="Verducci"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |date=July 21, 2019 |title=Hall opens its doors for unforgettable '19 Class |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/class-of-2019-inducted-into-hall-of-fame |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724191340/http://www.mlb.com/news/class-of-2019-inducted-into-hall-of-fame |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=July 21, 2019 |title=Soft-spoken Baines emotional on Hall induction |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/harold-baines-inducted-into-hall-of-fame |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724191116/http://www.mlb.com/news/harold-baines-inducted-into-hall-of-fame |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> As of {{currentyear}}, Baines is one of only four former first-overall MLB draft picks to be elected to the Hall of Fame, along with [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], [[Chipper Jones]], and [[Joe Mauer]].

==Personal life==
[[File:20170718 Dodgers-WhiteSox Harold Baines performing a cermony (3).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harold Baines Speaks |url=http://z.lee28.tripod.com/sbnscoverstories/id2.html |access-date=December 10, 2018 |website=Simply Baseball Notebook}}</ref>

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.<ref name="15chisoxbio"/>

In May 2021, Baines had to undergo emergency surgery for both heart and liver 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Harold Baines heart, kidney transplant |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/harold-baines-heart-kidney-transplant |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|baines-harold}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=110456|espn=466|br=b/baineha01|fangraphs=1000434|brm=baines001har|retro=B/Pbainh001}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|8e1285e8}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081212024430/http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081209&content_id=10466&vkey=hof_news Baseball Hall of Fame: Classy Baines Heralded for Clutch Hitting]
*White Sox Bio (Manager and Coaches): [http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=cws&coachorstaffid=110456 Harold Baines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006040945/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=cws&coachorstaffid=110456 |date=October 6, 2015 }}
*WhiteSox Community Relations Representatives: [https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/team/front-office Harold Baines]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title= [[Chicago White Sox|Chicago White Sox Bench coach]] | before= [[Joe Nossek]] | years=2004–2005| after=[[Tim Raines]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Chicago White Sox|Chicago White Sox First base coach]] | before= [[Tim Raines]] | years=2006–2015| after=[[Daryl Boston]]}}
{{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baines, Harold}}
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Harold Baines