Looking out at the crowd, with 50 Hall of Famers behind him and nothing but baseball eternity in front of him, Tim Raines knew Sunday afternoon was more than worth the wait.
The legendary leadoff man and switch-hitter who sparked lineups and flew around the bases and the outfields of the National and American Leagues for more than two decades, was welcomed into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on a beautiful day in Cooperstown, N.Y., and he delivered a heartfelt speech during the Induction Ceremony.
Raines was known for stealing bases, and he earned every minute of his speech with a remarkable career that was deservedly honored with Hall enshrinement in his final year of eligibility after a 10-year wait.