23 Facts About Harold Baines

1. Harold Baines was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 10, 1980, with the Chicago White Sox.

2. Harold Baines was born on Sunday, March 15, 1959, in Easton, Maryland.

3. Harold Baines had received support on 12 of the 16 ballots while Smith was a unanimous selection.

4. Harold Baines had a single season with an fWAR higher than 3.

5. Harold Baines was a special player for the Sox and thankfully he will be enshrined with other legends in the Hall of Fame.

6. Harold Baines was a consistent offensive producer for the Sox in his first stint with the team.

7. Harold Baines was a designated hitter for much of his career, and DHs have struggled to gain backing from Hall voters.

8. Harold Baines started with the White Sox and had 2,866 hits.

9. Harold Baines was a six-time All-Star but didn't earn much more in the way of accolades.

10. Harold Baines joins Frank Thomas as the only players to go into the Hall of Fame with DH as their primary position.

11. Harold Baines was named on 12 ballots, while one-time Oriole Lou Piniella was narrowly omitted from the class with 11 votes—one shy of the 75-percent threshold.

12. Harold Baines joined Frank Thomas as the only players in the Hall who spent more than half their games as a DH.

13. Harold Baines currently serves as a team ambassador in the community-relations department of the White Sox.

14. Harold Baines won a Silver Slugger once, and led the AL in slugging percentage once (1984).

15. Harold Baines 'shocked' at Hall of Fame election, and rightfully so.

16. Harold Baines joined Frank Thomas as the only players in the Hall who spent more than half his games as a DH.

17. Harold Baines currently serves as a team ambassador in community relations department of the White Sox.

18. Harold Baines was given a save as big as any Lee Smith ever posted.

19. Harold Baines collected 2,866 hits with a smooth left-handed swing during a 22-year career.

20. Harold Baines received 12 of the 16 votes needed for induction.

21. Harold Baines played his final season in 2001 with the White Sox.

22. In 1990 Harold Baines was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor league pitchers Scott Chiamparino and Joe Bitker, and he helped them reach the postseason only to be swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

23. Harold Baines graduated in 1977 from St Michaels High School on Maryland's Eastern Shore where, as a senior, he batted.