For the past two decades Harold Baines has quietly been smacking out hits. The reserved Baines has been a model of consistency and a true professional. Here is a look at his career.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1980-89: 'Glory Days' Baines, the #1 overall pick in 1977, broke into the majors in 1980 and led the Sox to the Western Divsion title in '83. He was an All Star from 85-89. Baines' first stint ended in July of '89 when he was dealt to Texas for Sammy Sosa, among others. He described that as the worst moment of his career.

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TEXAS RANGERS 1989-90: Baines' career in Texas lasted only 153 games. He was dealt in August of '90 to Oakland for their pennant push.

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OAKLAND ATHLETICS 1990-92: Although Baines' stay in Oakland was brief, it did include his only trip to the World Series. Baines .357 in the '90 ALCS, but slumped to .143 in the Fall Classic as the A's were swept by Cincinnati. He returned to the postseason in '92 hitting .440 in the ALCS, but Oakland fell to Toronto in 6 games.

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BALTIMORE ORIOLES 1993-1995: 'Back Home' Baines' first stint in Baltimore was a successful one as he hit .313, .294, and .299 respectivley. He returned to the Windy City follwing the '95 season.

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1996-97: Baines returned Chicago in fine fashion posting a .311 average with 22 HR and 95 RBIs in '96. He played 93 games for ChiSox in '97 hitting .305 before being traded back to Baltimore.

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BALTIMORE ORIOLES 1997-99: Baines helped the O's in the post-season in '97 hitting .400 in the divisional round and .353 verse Cleveland in the ALCS. He was an All Star selection in '99 hitting .322 for the O's before being dealt to Cleveland for the pennant drive.

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CLEVELAND INDIANS 1999: Baines career as an Indian lasted only 28 games. He hit .357 in the Tribe's ALDS loss to Boston.

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BALTIMORE ORIOLES 2000: Baines returned to Baltimore for the third time in '00. He played in 72 games for the O's before being dealt back to the White Sox.

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2000-01: Baines was brought back to Chicago for the Sox's play off push in '00. He hit .250 as the Sox were swept by Seattle in the ALDS. Injuries marred his '01 campaign - he hit .143 in only 32 games moslty pinch hitting. Presently Baines sits 134 hits shy of 3,000 - he hopes to catch on somewhere in 2002 and put a dent into that number.
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During the 1980s there was no player more exciting than Eric Davis. One of the games' most athletically gifted players, Davis nearly became the first 40/40 man in 1987. Davis retired following the 2001 season - here is a look at his career.

CINCINNATI REDS 1984-91: 'Eric the Red' Eric Davis made his major league debut in 1984 and was billed as the next Wille Mays. He broke out in '87 hitting 37 home runs and stealing 50 bases despite playing in only 129 due to injuries. Davis helped lead the Red's to the World Series Title in '90, but injured his kidney in the Fall Classic. The injury bug that would plague him his entire career never allowed him to play over 132 games in first stint in Cincinnatti. He was an All Star in '87 & '89.

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS 1992-93: Davis joined the Dodgers before the '92 season to play with his long-time friend Darryl Strawberry. He appeared in only 184 games over two years in Tinseltown hitting only .228 and .234 before being dealt to Detroit during the '93 season.

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DETROIT TIGERS 1993-94: Davis' career continued its downward spiral in Detroit. He played in only 37 games hitting .183 before retiring after the '94 season.

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CINCINNATI REDS 1996: After sitting out a year Davis decided to make a comeback in Cincinnati - the site of his greatest glories. He returned with a flourish hitting .287 with 26HR, 83 RBIs and 23 steals. He signed with Baltimore following the season.

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BALTIMORE ORIOLES 1997-98: Davis' comeback faced a major setback in '97 when he was diagnosed while colon cancer. He returned better than ever in '98 hitting a career high .327 with 28HR and 89 RBIs. His magical '98 season also included a 31 game hitting streak.

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ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 1999-2000: Injuries limited Davis to only 58 games in a disappointing '99 season, but he rebounded to hit .303 in '00 and helped the Redbirds reach the NLCS.

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SAN FRANSISCO GIANTS 2001: Davis joined the Giants and good friend Barry Bonds for one more season in 2001. He hit only .205 in 74 games mostly in pich-hitting role, but did have a front row seat for Bond's record setting year. Davis retired with a .269 career average, 282HR, 934 RBIs, and 349 stolen bases.

-dlz

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