Harold Baines
Baseball · Hometown: Easton, MD
- High school
- St. Michaels High School
- Pro team(s)
- Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians
- Hall of Fame
- ⭐ Baseball Hall of Fame
Harold Baines was born on March 15, 1959, in Easton, Maryland, and grew up on the Eastern Shore, attending St. Michaels High School. He was discovered as a nine-year-old by Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck, who watched him play and told his son to remember that name. The Sox selected Baines with the 1st overall pick in the 1977 MLB Draft. He went on to a 22-year major league career spanning six teams — the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and a return to Chicago — consistently producing as one of baseball's most reliable designated hitters and outfielders. A left-handed hitter with exceptional plate discipline and a smooth, quiet swing, Baines was a six-time All-Star and finished his career with 2,866 hits, 384 home runs, and 1,628 RBI. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 by the Today's Game Era Committee. His induction honored a career that was less spectacular than it was relentlessly excellent — a model of professionalism and consistency. Born in Easton, Maryland.