In the aftermath of the 2007 Hall of Fame announcements, it seems I wasn't the only one with the '08 probables on their mind. Fox Sports' Dayn Perry makes a case for Tim Raines, and unfortunately harbors the same fears that he'll be on the outside looking a year from now.
As for Raines, he deserves induction. Raines played for 23 seasons, and he distinguished himself as a tremendous on-base threat and one of the best base-stealers of all-time. Consider his dossier:
It's never too early to start campaigning.
- He ranks 68th all-time with 2,605 career hits.
- He ranks fifth all-time with 808 steals.
- He ranks 32nd all-time with 1,330 walks.
- He ranks 46th all-time with 1,571 runs scored.
- He ranks 38th all-time with 3,977 times on base.
- He ranks 98th all-time with 3,771 total bases.
- He ranks 93rd all-time with 76 sac flies.
- He ranks 46th all-time with 2,502 games played.
- He led the league in steals four times, in doubles once, in runs scored twice, and in times on base three times.
- He won one batting title and once led the league in on-base percentage.
- He made seven All-Star teams and won one Silver Slugger award.