Player: Harold Baines
Set: 1981 Fleer and Topps
Card Number: 346 and 347 respectively
Why is These Cards are Must Have?: This one is going to be a strange one. As far as entry into the Hall of Fame goes, there are either people who think he absolutely deserves it, and another side that thinks there is no room for career designated hitters. Here are the facts, he played for 22 seasons, had 2866 hits and 348 home runs. If he wasn’t a designated hitter, I think he would get in. So now you have to weigh the designated hitter factor. For me, stats say it all,if your stats say you deserve entry, then you deserve it. To me his 2866 hits (40th all time),is enough to get him in. I know Steve from White Sox Cards feel the same way. Either way, he is one of the better players of the 80s and early 90s. He deserves to be in your collection regardless of how you feel towards designated hitters.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have Is This Card?: A 5 for either card, come on folks, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, I know if he will ever get there. You find find either one of these cards on eBay for no more than a dollar.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he keeps gaining votes.