Rock Solid : My Life in Baseball's Fast Lane
Author(s): Tim Raines, Alan Maimon
A NATIONAL POST NON-FICTION PICK
For more than a decade, Tim Raines patrolled left field for the Montreal Expos, igniting the powder keg of what would become one of the most innovative and talented teams of the modern era. Alongside superstars such as Andre “Hawk” Dawson and Gary Carter, Raines, nicknamed “Rock,” hit and stole his way into the hearts of the team’s dedicated fan base. The seven-time All-Star tore through the Expos’ record books before moving on to the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Florida Marlins, earning three World Series rings (one as a coach). The Expos retired his number (#30), and in January 2017, Raines was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
But it wasn’t always easy being Tim Raines. Raines’s performance dipped in 1982, and at the end of the season, he entered a substance abuse program for cocaine addiction. He used cocaine before games, after games and, on occasion, in the clubhouse between innings. He would ultimately resume his career and once again become one of baseball’s brightest stars, but in 1999, Raines was forced to retire after being diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. After undergoing treatment, Raines returned at the age of forty-one to where it all began—the Montreal Expos.
Review(s):
“Another testament to the good things that happened on the diamond in Montreal.”
“Rock and I helped the Expos win a lot of games, and we had a friendship based on mutual respect. Rock says I had a big impact on his life and career. Rock’s impact on me was huge, and I’m a better person for knowing him.”
“It was the pleasure of a lifetime to call Tim Raines my teammate and my friend. We were fortunate to win two championships together. Having watched him play, you understand why this Hall of Famer is called one of the greatest leadoff hitters of all time.”
“Tim Raines was a great mentor, one of the best teammates ever. Rock’s one of my best friends in life. If you look at his numbers, they’re crazy. He’s the best power-hitting leadoff hitter of all time.”
“Tim Raines was by far one of my favorite teammates. He taught me how to be a professional and more importantly to enjoy the game and have fun every day.”
“I was one of the many players who looked up to Rock and admired his approach to the game. He worked hard, listened to his body, and played with a sense of joy.”
“Once Tim Raines reached base, he was a destructive force, one of the finest base runners of all time, his speed blaring, his savvy vital, the two combined unfair.”
ISBN: 9781443453103