Baines Snaps White Sox’s Postseason Drought
Harold Baines made a career out of late-inning heroics.
With a reputation as one of baseball’s best hitters with the game on the line, Baines proved clutch again on Sept. 17, 1983.
With the White Sox tied 3-3 with the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the ninth, Baines delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to clinch the win – and the division title – for Chicago.
“Harold brings to my mind the Yankees’ Old Reliable, Tommy Henrich (who played from 1937-50). He was overshadowed by (Joe) DiMaggio and (Bill) Dickey and (Yogi) Berra,” White Sox general manager Roland Hemond told the Chicago Tribune. “I think of Harold as our Young Reliable.”
In 1978, future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa had a similar perspective. Then managing the Knoxville Sox in the Southern League, La Russa filed a scouting report on Baines to the White Sox front office. The report read: “He has shown the qualities of a game-winning player. He can produce in game-winning situations.”
Five years later, Baines’ consistency was evident – he recorded a major-league best 22 game-winning RBI that season. He had already driven in two runs earlier in the game with an RBI groundout in the third and a solo home run in the eighth.
He nearly didn’t get another at-bat. After his homer put the White Sox ahead 3-1, closer Dennis Lamp was brought in for the save. However, he allowed a two-run, pinch-hit double to Ricky Nelson in the top of the ninth. Lamp stranded runners on second and third and kept the game tied.
Seattle then turned to closer Bill Caudill to force extra innings. After Jerry Hairston lined out to first, Caudill lost command. He walked Julio Cruz, Rudy Law and future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk in succession.
With the winning run 90 feet away, the Mariners tabbed Ed Vande Berg, a southpaw, to face the left-handed hitting Baines. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Baines lifted a fly ball to center, deep enough to score Cruz standing up.
As the winning run raced home, euphoria erupted. Third base coach and future Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland sprinted alongside Cruz in celebration. Players poured out of the dugout and fans jumped fences to flood the field at Comiskey Park.
The win secured Chicago’s first American League West title and its first postseason appearance since 1959. The White Sox clinched the division with 15 games remaining in the season, as they held a dominant 16-game advantage over the second-place Kansas City Royals.
“Think about it,” La Russa told the Chicago Tribune. “Just think about it. We are the champions. Not New York. Not Los Angeles. Chicago.”
Despite playing the hero, Baines kept to himself. Known for his quiet demeanor, the future Hall of Famer stood away from the on-field chaos.
“Deep down inside, I’m feeling good. But I don’t like being over-emotional,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “I don’t show emotion because I think it’s the best way to approach my job. My father acts the same way. Quiet. Dignified.”
Chicago’s postseason run ended quickly, as they lost in the American League Championship Series 3-games-to-1 to the Baltimore Orioles. Meanwhile, Baines finished the season with 55 extra-base hits – including 20 home runs – and 99 RBI and placed 10th in AL MVP voting.
Humble and modest, Baines never sought attention. When the Chicago Tribune asked how he wanted to be remembered, Baines said: “Nothing spectacular. Just as a good, ordinary player who tried hard and played well.”
Baines was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Noah Douglas was the 2025 communications intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Leadership Development
