In Tim Raines' first major league season -- 1979 -- Vic Davalillo, Willie McCovey and Stan Bahnsen were still active. And now, 22 years later, Raines is attempting to play in his fourth decade -- a remarkable feat, especially for a guy whose best attribute has always been his legs.
|  | | A career .295 hitter, Tim Raines could provide the Expos a lift off the bench. |
For that reason alone, it's OK to pull for 41-year-old Tim Raines to make the Expos' roster this spring. But there are better reasons. He hasn't played in 1 1/2 years because of Lupus, a debilitating illness that can turn the strongest of men into helpless mounds of flesh. Tim Raines' nickname is Rock, but for eight months, Rock was as soft as a worn pillow.
"It was like being in a cast for eight months," he said. "You know that flab that develops under the arms of old people? That's what I had. I lost my butt. I've always had this big butt, but that disappeared. I went from 215 to 170. I haven't weighed 170 pounds since junior high school. You know how kids today wear these baggy clothes, and it looks like there's nothing inside? That's the way I was, but I didn't WANT to dress that way, that's what happened to my body. I'd go out with these baggy clothes on and a hat and sunglasses, and my friends would see me and say, 'Tim, is that you?' They thought I was going to die."
He didn't die. The chemotherapy treatments worked, and slowly, his strength returned.
"Lupus took a year and a half away from my career," he said. "Now I want it back."
He looks like Rock Raines again, he's got his butt back, he's back to 195 pounds and he's still got his legs and that great swing.
"He's still a very good hitter," says Expos manager Felipe Alou.
The Expos want him on their team, not as a cheerleader or a drawing card or a sympathy case, but because he can get a hit or steal a base coming off the bench. Plus, he's a team leader. When Raines played with the Yankees, and teammate Darryl Strawberry was diagnosed with cancer, it was Raines who organized the entire team to appear on ESPN as a giant get-well wish. The Expos have some terrific young talent, including rookie left fielder Milton Bradley, who needs a mentor to help keep stay under control. That has been Raines.
"I can already tell the difference with Milton," Alou says. "Tim has done some very good things."
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Staying power
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Tim Raines is trying to become the 26th player to appear in the majors in at least four decades. The others:
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5 DECADES
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Player
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Pos
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Years
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Nick Altrock
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P
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1898-33
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Minnie Minoso
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OF
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1949-80
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4 DECADES
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Player
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Pos
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Years
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Dan Brouthers
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1B
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1879-04
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Bill Buckner
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1B
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1969-90
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Eddie Collins
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2B
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1906-30
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Rick Dempsey
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C
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1969-92
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Carlton Fisk
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C
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1969-93
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Kid Gleason
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P/
2B
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1888-12
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Rickey Henderson
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OF
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1979-00
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Jim Kaat
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P
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1959-83
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Tim McCarver
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C
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1959-80
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Willie McCovey
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1B
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1959-80
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Deacon McGuire
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C
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1884-12
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Mike Morgan
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P
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1978-00
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Bobo Newsom
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P
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1929-53
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Jack O'Connor
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C/
OF
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1887-10
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Jesse Orosco
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P
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1979-00
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Jim O'Rourke
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OF
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1872-04
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Jack Quinn
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P
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1909-33
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Jerry Reuss
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P
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1969-90
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Jack Ryan
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C
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1889-13
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Nolan Ryan
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P
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1966-93
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Mickey Vernon
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1B
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1939-60
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Ted Williams
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OF
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1939-60
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Early Wynn
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P
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1939-63
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The Expos need Raines on the team because he was in Montreal during the best days in franchise history. He debuted in '79, his first start came in 1980 against Nolan Ryan. Raines was hitting third. "I was 20," he said. "I'm thinking 'what am I doing hitting third against Nolan Ryan?' He was throwing so hard. I swung so late, (I fouled the) first two pitches into the dugout. I got the count to 3-2, and he struck me out on a curveball. The ball was in the dirt. I told the umpire, 'that ball was in the dirt.' He said 'get to the bench, rook.'"
In 1981 -- Montreal's only postseason appearance -- Raines hit .304 with 71 steals in 88 games. Before long, he became the Rickey Henderson of the National League, but not enough people noticed because he was playing in Montreal. The next four seasons, he stole 78, 90, 75 and 70 bases, but he wasn't Vince Coleman, who did little to help his team besides stealing bases. Raines was a complete player, an offensive force. In 1986, he led the NL in hitting (.334) and had 64 extra base hits -- back when those numbers really meant something.
Today, Raines is a borderline Hall of Famer. He has a career average of .295; Henderson's lifetime is .282. Raines' 807 stolen bases are the fourth most in history, trailing Henderson, Lou Brock and Ty Cobb. Among active players, Raines has the most triples, the second most walks and the third most runs scored. Thirty-six RBIs with give him 1,000 for his career, which would put him slightly behind Henderson, a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
But Raines has never been about the numbers, and especially isn't now. He just wants to play again. He says if he doesn't make Montreal's team this spring, he'll retire "and work on my handicap." (he's a 10; he didn't pick up a club until four years ago). But he has every intention of making the team, and will if he can beat out Mark Smith for a reserve outfield spot. Really, who would you rather have on your bench, Tim Raines or Mark Smith?
Who knows, maybe Raines will someday play against his son, Tim Jr., who is in the Orioles' minor league system. They played against each other in an exhibition game this spring.
"I told him 'I'm going to play in the major leagues, now it's up to you," said Raines Sr., who is 5-for-12 (.412) so far this spring. "Maybe in his first start, he'll strike out on a slider in the dirt from Randy Johnson."
ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian writes a weekly column for ESPN.com.
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