The gates of the Temple, Tim Raines thanked Andre Dawson

Photo: Mike Stobe Getty Images Agence France-Presse
Tim Raines thanked several teammates who have shared his 23 years in major league baseball.

“I always thought that winning the world Series was the most beautiful feeling that is. Until today. Until that I’m here, among these legends. “

In the last portion of his speech, Tim Raines summarized the feelings that have inhabited, Sunday, when he officially made his entry to Cooperstown, in the company of Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez, as well as builders, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig.

The doors of the hall of fame of baseball, then he made the greatest tribute that is, it is Andre Dawson, who presented it, that Raines has reserved his warmest thanks felt.

“I don’t know what would have happened to my career if I had not met Andre Dawson. At a certain point, I felt that I needed someone to guide me in the right direction. This guy was Andre Dawson. “

“This was not the kind of guy that you could just approach to start the conversation. He has this look, this pout. You need to be prepared, and I was a little scared ! Finally, I decided. I said to myself that this guy represented everything I wanted to be. This is what I said to him : “I want to be like you”. He has come to accept and from this day onwards, I followed. Thanks a lot Andre Dawson, for making me the player that I became. […] Six or seven years during which we have played together, win or lose, it was always good. I was just glad to have you at my side. “

Pulled to the nines in a dark suit with thin stripes, light coloured shirt striped and yellow tie, Raines thanked several teammates who have shared his 23 years in major league baseball, that this is Frank Thomas in Chicago, Wade Boggs, New York, or Gary Carter, Warren Cromartie, Tim Wallach, Ellis Valentine and Steve Rogers in Montreal.

“We played many years together, he said on the subject of Wallach. Thank you for being a great teammate, but most importantly a great friend. “

“As for Gary Carter, he added before taking a break. God knows that he is watching me now and that he should say :“You have succeeded, young man !”. He showed me how to be ready each and every day. This guy played baseball the way it should be. “

Raines did not fail to greet the reporter montreal native Jonah Keri, who has conducted a large cabal with voters to make them realize the impact of Raines, as demonstrated by the advanced statistics.

The influential Keri, who works with several american media, was very touched — and embarrassed — by this mark of recognition.

Moving speech

The explosive and exuberant throughout his career, Raines has shown a side of his personality is little known to his supporters by delivering a moving speech on the stage of the Clarke Sports Center.

“I just spent six wonderful months since I received the call I was waiting for so long, he said holding back his tears about his 10 years in hope to get the sufficient number of votes. This day has finally arrived. “

He became especially excited when it came time to thank his parents, his four children, and his wife, Shannon.

“I’m sorry. I caught a cold. Let’s see if you drink this ! ” he blagué.

Raines also apologized to supporters francophones des Expos.

“I tried for 25 years to speak your language. This is not yet to the point “, a-t-il launched first in English, before you miss his greetings in French.

“I have just butchered it all ! Yet we had practiced all night “, has launched Raines for his wife, while pretending to slap him. The many supporters of the Expos on-site — Expos Nation had chartered four buses, not counting the hundreds of others who had travelled by their own means — does he not held accountable and were warmly applauded.

These supporters were particularly vocal, chanting “Let’s go Expos !” well felt after commissioner Rob Manfred had read his license plate to the new member.

Even Moises Alou, who came to attend the enthronement of his good friend Jeff Bagwell, had chosen a cap of the Expos as a head covering. The ex-first baseman of the Astros has not missed it out during his speech.