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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 29 July 2017
Raines, Bagwell, Pudge, Selig and Schuerholz ready for HOF

By JOHN KEKIS at least 400 steal attempts.
AP Sports Writer Raines credits his fortune
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) to the increasing popu-
— Tim Raines played in the larity of sabermetrics, ad-
major leagues for more vanced statistics that give
than two decades, and greater insight into a play-
yet one at-bat still sticks in er’s worth.
his mind. “I think they kind of looked
Nervous about making at the numbers on the
the Montreal Expos’ ros- baseball cards,” said
ter after two brief call-ups Raines, who overcame a
that didn’t work out so well recreational drug addic-
(one hit in 20 at-bats), his tion that hampered his pro-
performance on Open- duction early in his career.
ing Day 1981 in Pittsburgh “There’s more to the game
erased any doubt. Raines than just those numbers.
led off the game with a Guys can be just as impor-
walk, stole second on the tant to a team and an or-
first pitch to the next batter ganization in a lot of differ-
and scored after the errant ent ways.”
throw to second eluded Rodriguez, who holds the
the outfielders. major league records for
A star was born. In this Jan. 19, 2017, file photo, Hall of Fame inductees Jeff Bagwell, left, Tim Raines, center, and games caught (2,427)
“I think that was the begin- Ivan Rodriguez, poses for a photo during a news conference, in New York. Bagwell, Raines, Rodri- and putouts by a catcher
ning of the type of player guez, Bud Selig and John Schuerholz each carved his own niche in major league baseball, and (12,376), hit 311 homers
Tim Raines could be,” on Sunday they will receive the game’s ultimate reward _ induction into the Hall of Fame. and batted .296 in his ca-
Raines recalled. “It kind reer. No surprise that he’s
of got me going. I think if Raines will be inducted into America to easily top the stolen bases is the fifth-high- only the second catcher
I would have struck out the Baseball Hall of Fame. 75 percent threshold need- est total in major league elected on the first ballot,
and not do anything of- Joining him are Jeff Bag- ed. history and includes 70 or following in the footsteps
fensively that game, I’m well and Ivan Rodriguez, That tally came on his fi- more steals in each season of his childhood idol, for-
not sure what would have along with former Commis- nal year on the ballot, an from 1981-86, a streak that mer Cincinnati Reds star
happened to my career. sioner Bud Selig and retired oversight that’s difficult to stands alone in baseball Johnny Bench.
I hadn’t really proven to Kansas City and Atlanta fathom in retrospect. history. In 21 seasons spent mostly
anyone what type of play- executive John Schuerholz, The switch-hitting Raines Take a closer look at his with the Texas Rangers,
er that I was. It kind of just both elected by a veterans batted .294 and had a .385 accomplishments on the Rodriguez was a 14-time
took off from there.” committee. on-base percentage in his basepaths, and they are All-Star, won a record 13
His baseball journey ends Raines received 86 percent 23-year career, finishing quite remarkable — his 84.7 Gold Gloves and took
Sunday in Cooperstown, of the vote by the Base- with 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs percent success rate tops home seven Silver Slugger
when the 57-year-old ball Writers’ Association of and 808 stolen bases. The the list among players with awards.q

Predators sign C Ryan Johansen to 8-year, $64 million deal

By TERESA M. WALKER, season, and linemates Filip final. Johansen said he is
AP Sports Writer Forsberg and Viktor Arvids- fully recovered and work-
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) son are signed for the next ing on conditioning with
— General manager Da- five years after Arvidsson the team’s strength coach.
vid Poile has made it clear signed a seven-year, $29.75 Nashville traded for Johan-
he’s been looking for a top million deal last weekend. sen in January 2016, swap-
center since first hired to Poile said that was the goal ping defenseman Seth
build the Nashville Preda- this offseason. Jones to Columbus for the
tors 20 years ago. “We got our whole core young center. Johansen
He believes he has just that signed up for a lot of guys says he tried to embrace
in Ryan Johansen, and for a lot of years, and I the challenge of proving
that’s why the Predators hope we’ve chosen cor- in the Predators’ run to
rewarded the 24-year-old rectly,” Poile said for a their first Stanley Cup Final
center Friday with an eight- team that lost the Stanley that he is a top center and
year, $64 million contract. Cup in six games to Pitts- sees Nashville as the place
It’s the biggest deal the burgh in June. “I believe where he belongs.
franchise has ever handed we’ve chosen correctly.” “Just the class that they’ve
out. Johansen, who turns 25 shown with myself and
“I think he is ready to take Monday, tied for the lead committing and trusting
that next step to become in scoring with 61 points (14 me and believing in me for
an elite player in the Na- Nashville Predators’ Ryan Johansen speaks during an NHL hock- goals, 47 assists) over 82 these next eight years is just
ey press conference at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.,
tional Hockey League,” Friday, July 28, 2017. games this season. He had so humbling and so excited
Poile said. “Your actions Associated Press 13 points (three goals, 10 for the next chapter, which
say volumes about what assists) in 14 playoff games is coming up fast with the
you and how you feel, how years, the money is signifi- The Predators now have this spring before acute short summer,” Johansen
this is the longest contract cant, but we feel we got Johansen under contract compartment syndrome said. This leaves only one
that we’ve ever given out the right man to be our No. at an average of $8 million ended his postseason in big decision remaining for
since I’ve been here. Eight 1 center for a lot of years.” a year through the 2024-25 the Western Conference Nashville.q