Tim Raines Biography

Timothy Raines Sr., nicknamed Rock, was born on September 16, 1959, and is an American professional baseball coach and former player. He has played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball for six teams from 1979 to 2002, with 13 seasons spent with the Montreal Expos. A seven-time All-Star and four-time stolen base champion, Raines also won the National League batting title, establishing his status as a top leadoff hitter and baserunner. He reportedly received over 100 scholarship offers to play college football before pursuing a professional baseball career. The Montreal Expos selected Raines in the fifth round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. Raines was caught stealing for the first time in 1981, ending a streak of 27 consecutive successful stolen bases that began at the start of his career. He was the runner-up for the National League's Rookie of the Year Award in 1981, which was awarded to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.