Tim Raines - Expos, Yankees, White Sox, A's, Marlins

Tim was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 5th round in 1977 amateur draft. He went on to have a stellar 23-year Major League career. He was selection to the National League All-Star team in seven consecutive seasons (81-87) and was named the MVP of the 1987 All-Star Game. Tim broke into the MLB as a second baseman, but quickly made the transition to outfield where he made an immediate impact and name for himself. Tim's calling card became his exciting play and his ability to steel bases. He ranks fourth in Major League History in stolen basis with 808 behind Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Ty Cobb, having a careen high of 90 in 1983. His career stolen base percentage of 84.7% is the highest in major league history for players with 300 or more attempts. Although he never won a Golden Glove Award, Raines was an excellent defensive player who led the NL in assists with 21 in 1983. In 1990 he was traded to the Chicago White Sox where he spent five seasons and then in 1995 he was traded to the New York Yankees. He achieved the goal of every major league player when he helped the Yankees to World Series Championships in 1996 & 1998.

In January of 1999, Raines signed a free-agent contract with the Oakland A's, but after a kidney biopsy in July, Raines was diagnosed with lupus and spent the rest of the year undergoing treatment and recovery. In December of 2000, Raines returned to the team that drafted him the Montreal Expos where with limited playing time he batted .308 with a .433 on-base % and .436 slugging %. On August 21, 2001 Raines and his son Tim Raines, Jr. became first father-son to play against each other in an official professional baseball game, when the Ottawa Lynx (Expos AAA Team), played the Rochester Red Wings. Tim returned to the Expos the next day. Tim and Tim Jr. made major league history again on October 4th when Raines Jr. played center field and Raines Sr. played left field for the Baltimore Orioles, becoming only the 2nd father-son tem to play for the same team at the same time…Ken Griffey Sr. & Ken Griffey Jr. were the first to accomplish this. Raines played his last season with the Florida Marlins in 2002 and is eligible for the Major League Hall-of-Fame in June of 2008.