Harold Baines Is Getting a Statue

Every season over the last few years, the White Sox have unveiled a statue at U.S. Cellular Field. Last year they honored pitcher Billy Pierce, and before him they did Minnie Minoso, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, Carlton Fisk, and Charles Comiskey. Hell, the White Sox like statues so damn much, they're even having one made of the 2005 World Series trophy.

While you ponder how pointless and somewhat sad that is, it was also announced yesterday that the man to be immortalized this season will be Harold Baines.

"It's surreal," said Baines on Sunday morning, shortly after the team announced his day of honor would be Sunday, July 20, prior to a home contest against the Royals. "It looks just like [how] I was 20 years ago.

"Yes, it's better because I had hair and a beard. I think it will be just as special for my family as for me, just because we share this as a whole, not just as me personally. All the friends I made through baseball helped this happen, too, because it kept me on an even keel."

And if anybody knows about keeping things on an even keel, it's Harold Baines. I don't remember ever seeing Harold get emotional about anything, whether it was as a player with the White Sox, or now as a coach.

Baines was one my favorite White Sox as a kid, mostly because he was my dad's favorite, so I've got no problem with him getting his own statue. While looking at Harold's career numbers there's nothing there that really blows you away, but he drove in more game-winning runs than anybody else I've ever seen in a White Sox jersey.

Besides, what better way is there to honor Baines than by building him a statue? He'd already been one the last 10 years of his career.

*Hey, this is the 3000th post in Foul Balls history! Congratulations to me!