White Sox retire Baines’ No. 3

“With an imperfect public-address system, no advance publicity and No. 3 joining other retired numbers on the right-field wall (that will come later), the crowd – 27, 518 boosted by a car-company promotion and Umbrella Day – seemed confused as to what was really going on,” Alan Solomon wrote in the Chicago Tribune.

Baines, who had spent 10 seasons with Chicago prior to the trade, was given a commemorative plaque along with a gold watch and chain from the White Sox, while shortstop Ozzie Guillén presented Baines with a set of golf clubs on behalf of his former teammates.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Baines said. “It is very gratifying. A part of me will always be here.”

The 30-year-old Baines became the seventh player to have his number retired by the White Sox, following Luke Appling, Ted Lyons, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, Billy Pierce and Minnie Miñoso.

Only a select few big leaguers like Frank Robinson and Phil Niekro had previously had their numbers retired by a team while still active.

Ironically, at the time his No. 3 was retired, Baines was wearing No. 13 for the Rangers. When he arrived in Texas, No. 3 was already taken by Rafael Palmeiro.

“I’m thinking of giving No. 3 to Harold next year,” Palmeiro told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “He certainly has the rights to it.”

Baines began his professional career with the White Sox, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 1977. After debuting in 1980, he quickly established himself as a force in Chicago’s lineup, claiming four All-Star selections and slugging 20 or more homers in a club record six consecutive seasons from 1982-1987.

But on July 29, 1989, the White Sox, then in last place in the AL West, traded their homegrown slugger to the Rangers in the deal that sent Sammy Sosa to the South Side.

“I find that there’s a big void in my life with Harold gone. This kind of helps ease the pain,” Reinsdorf said of the number retirement.