Audio of the Day: Tim Raines
By Mike Silva ~ December 24th, 2009. Filed under: Audio of the Day, Yankees Alumni, Yankees Audio.
Tim Raines is best known for his 13 seasons with the now defunct Montreal Expos where he holds the team record for career runs (947), steals (635), singles (1,163), triples (82) and walks (793). He is also the seventh player whose career began after 1945 to retire with over 1,500 runs and 100 triples.
During the mid eighties Raines was the National League version of Rickey Henderson in the leadoff spot. In 1987 he became a free agent and, despite having an OPS of .889 during the 86′ season, received no interest on the open market. We know now the owners were colluding against that free agent class, but eventually he would sign with Montreal. Back then a player who wasn’t offered arbitration couldn’t resign with his former club until May 1st.
On that day the Expos were playing the world champion Mets. A young pitcher name David Cone started and Raines had the ultimate “comeback game” going 4 for 5 with a game winning grand slam in the tenth off Jesse Orosco.
Raines would go on to the American League, and eventually the Yankees in 1996. He was a valuable part time player in New York and one of the veteran leaders of the 96’ and 98’ championships. I still remember his wild catch to end Game 4 of the 96′ World Series. That was the same night Jim Leyritz turned around the World Series with his three run homer off Mark Wohlers. In 2000 Raines was diagnosed with lupus and forced to retire, but would remerge a year later signing with his former team in Montreal. He would play two more seasons as a pinch hitter and got the chance to play in the same outfield as his son Tim Raines Jr.
Despite a solid career Raines remains on the Hall of Fame “bubble” and has yet to be elected.
Since his retirement he has gone into coaching first, as a hitting coach in the Montreal/Washington system, and most recently the manager of the Newark Bears.
I was at a press conference in January of 2009 which announced the hiring of Raines. That day he sat down with me to talk about his Montreal days, that classic comeback game in 87’, his time in New York, thoughts on managing, and the Hall of Fame.
