Rock Solid: My Life in Baseball's Fast Lane

For more than a decade, Tim Raines patrolled left field for the nascent Montreal Expos, igniting the powder keg of what would become one of the most innovative, entertaining, and talented teams of the modern era. Alongside other superstars such as Andre “Hawk” Dawson, Gary Carter, and Steve Rogers, Raines, nicknamed “Rock,” hit and stole his way into the hearts not only of Montreal fans but of the team’s dedicated fan base coast to coast. 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, ultimately earning three World Series rings (one as a coach). The Expos retired his number (#30), and now Raines sits on the cusp of entering Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. But it wasn’t always easy playing for the upstart Montreal Expos or 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. To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, Raines would carry it in his back pocket and slide headfirst when stealing bases. He used cocaine before games, after games, and on some occasions, in the clubhouse between innings. Raines later testified at the infamous Pittsburgh drug trials in September 1985. He would ultimately resume his career at a high level and once again become one of baseball’s brightest stars, both on and off the field. In 1999, Raines was forced to retire from baseball after being diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs). His was the first known case in an MLB player. However, after undergoing treatment and having missed an entire season, Raines returned at the age of 41 to where it all began in 1979—the Montreal Expos. This memoir details the life and playing career of one of the sport’s all-time greatest leaders and personalities, and is an honest, raw, and compelling tale of triumph and redemption.