When the Today’s Game Era Committee announced their selections for the 2019 National Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball pundits were shocked.
The committee — made up of 16 members of the Hall of Fame — selected RHP Lee Smith and OF/DH Harold Baines. Smith was a fine selection, but it’s the choice of Baines that has people up in arms, as former colleagues gave him the votes necessary for enshrinement.
Baines, who spent more of his time as a designated hitter than in the the outfield, played for 22 seasons and hit .289/.356/.465 with 384 HR over 11,092 plate appearances.