Rock Solid: My Life in Baseball's Fast Lane

by Tim Raines, Alan Maimon

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. Raines, nicknamed “Rock,” hit and stole his way into the hearts of baseball fans across North America. 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. And now Raines sit 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' performance dipped in 1982, and at the end of the season, Raines entered treatment for substance abuse for cocaine addiction. To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, Raines would carry it in his hip pocket, and would slide headfirst when stealing bases. He used cocaine before games, in his car, after games, and on some occasions between innings in the clubhouse. Raines would later testify at the infamous Pittsburgh drug trials, in September 1985, and would ultimately resume his career at a high level and once again become one of baseball’s brightest stars, on and off the field. This memoir entails the life and playing career of one of the sport’s all-time greatest leaders and personalities, an honest, raw, and compelling tale of triumph and redemption.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography, Canada

272 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good autobiography on Tim Raines. He opens the book with the elephant in the room - why he did cocaine early in his career. Thankfully, he took responsibility, cleaned up and became what looks like a really solid person as well as a solid hall-of-famer with the Montreal Expos and later the White Sox, Yankees, A's, Expos again and Orioles (who remembers him with the Orioles????) I love that this book discusses his time with the Expos for about half the book, but a good portion is mentioned on his time with the 93 White Sox as as well as his two World Series he won with the Yankees. Good stuff on a great ball player from my youth. I do wish that maybe talked more about what it was like to win a batting title in 1986. Barely mentioned, like, "Oh yeah by the way I won the batting title in 1986." In a time were Tony Gwynn dominated, winning a batting title in that era was big. But overall really good book. Expos fans will especially love.

[Roman Chaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably would have been one of my favourite players if I was alive at the time.

Great redemption arc

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 3 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: HIS MANTRA WAS… TO ONLY TRY TO SWIPE A BAG TO WIN!
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This is the autobiography of recently elected Baseball Hall of Fame member Tim Raines. Raines is one of five players in baseball history to have stolen over eight hundred bases. (Rickey Henderson, Ty Cobb, Lou Brock, “pre-modern” Billy Hamilton… and the author.) Very early in the book Tim does the smart thing… and issues a mea culpa regarding his heavy cocaine use early in his career. It’s interesting the numerous thoughts the author shares regarding his love of football… and his decision to pursue baseball as a lifetime path. Many times Raines states what a hilarious… fun loving guy he was in every clubhouse… from the Expos… to the White Sox… to the Yankees… to the A’s… Orioles… and Marlins… yet… to be frank… my feeling is… he sure missed a golden opportunity to share very many of them with the reader.

His long career quest to be on a championship team… finally came true… in the midst of his third decade in the Major Leagues with the Yankees. To me… the best part of the book was in his descriptions of his “competition” (whether he admits it or not… he was definitely competing against him) with Rickey Henderson. I was quite proud of some of his early bold (and as a hard core baseball fan… I agreed with what Raines said) statements… denigrating the “ME-FIRST-NON-CRUCIAL-STATISTICAL-FATTENING-AND-PILING-ON” stolen base numbers… that Henderson created… though I was then totally disappointed when Raines seemed to almost hypocritically eat his words in the acknowledgement .

Early in the book the author wrote: “I never tried to compete with Rickey. That would have been futile. I ultimately came to the conclusion that Rickey and I stole bases for different reasons. In my opinion, RICKEY STOLE BASES FOR RICKEY, and I hope that doesn’t sound negative. Rickey believed he was the greatest of all time and he sought to back that assertion up with cold, hard stats. I didn’t resent him for that, but at the same time, I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION NEVER TO PLAY THE GAME THAT WAY.” (Capital letter emphasis is the reviewer’s)…

Later on the author boldly states: “sticking to my mantra of only trying to swipe a bag if it helped my team to win.”

Then one-hundred-thirty-five pages later in the acknowledgements the author somehow decides to state: “Throughout my career, I drew inspiration from guys who played the game the way I did. Lou Brock, RICKEY HENDERSON, and Vince Coleman were kindred spirits.” Wait a minute… you said you only swiped a bag to help your team win… but Rickey stole bases to pad his stats… INCLUDING STEALING BASES LATE IN GAMES WHEN THE GAME WAS ALREADY DECIDED AND WELL IN HAND!

In closing this is a short two-hundred-fifty-three page book… with thirteen “unnamed” chapters… and each start and end of a chapter included two to three blank pages which means approximately thirteen-per-cent of the book is blank pages.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real quick read. The book contains many blank pages so it goes quickly. I always thought Raines was an interesting ballplayer who had an exceptional career. The book isn't really a memoir. You really don't learn much about him as a person. It largely recounts games he played in. In discussing the World Series he played in as a Yankee, it was almost like reading the box score; dry and kind of boring. He beat a well-reported drug addiction. But how did he do that? The book doesn't really explain how. He went to rehab and came out cured. That's all he says about it. He participated or witnessed some interesting things, but he doesn't go into anything in depth or how he was affected by them. He spills no secrets and doesn't tell us anything that hasn't already been reported. Many times he quotes newspaper articles. Nothing here is scandalous. He seems like a really great guy and I'm glad he was finally recognized by the Hall of Fame, but I wished he had shared more about himself.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fascinating read, because it seems that Tim Raines, in addition to being one of the greatest base stealers of all time, also happened to be present at nearly every memorable baseball event for three decades. He played in the "Blue Monday" game, was at bat when Dave Dravecky broke his arm, was on the bench when Nolan Ryan put Robin Ventura in a headlock, played for the A's under Billy "Moneyball" Beane, was on the Orioles for Cal Ripken Jr.'s last game while also playing with his son and becoming only the second father and son duo (after Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr.) to play on the same team, and was the first base coach when the White Sox won their first World Series since 1917. This is scratching the surface of this amazing book, and so baseball fans will not be able to put this down.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written autobiography about the life of Tim Raines. The majority the book focuses on his baseball career, with highlights into his family and stint with drug use early in his career. I admire his resiliency and bouncing back and accomplishing amazing numbers with eventual entrance into the Hall of Fame. I did not grow up an Expos fan, but I do appreciate hard work and perseverance.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the baseball fan, the Expos fan or anyone with fond memories of 90’s baseball this is a good book. At times it suffers from writing that feels more like a dry listing of stats. “I went three for four in a 10-6 loss” for example. The writing is hardly poetic but it still feels nostalgic for anyone who was a fan of the Expos, White Sox or early days of the Yankees dynasty.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty basic sports autobiography. It interested me as an Expos fan, and to hear his story of coming back from drug addiction. He doesn't dwell on it but does talk openly about it, particularly the role Andre Dawson had in mentoring him through the tough times and throughout life.

[Ron Maskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Montrealer and baseball fan this book is certainly a drive down nostalgia. It's a fun read and good for even the casual fan. I expected a bit more meat on the bone in terms of stories but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

[Richard Canale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positive memoir of this Hall of Famer. Lots of baseball books out there like his, but I have always been a Raines fan so I wanted to show some support.

[Tgandco2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Largely tedious and boring written in a template like so many other boring sports book. Not worth spending the time to get the (very) few interesting pieces

[Steve B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was alright if you grew up watching the Expos (as I did) and wanted to rekindle some of the memories. But this was nothing more than a year by year description of his career. I had forgotten about his later years with the White Sox, Yankees and A's so that was kind of cool. Otherwise nothing that readers who followed his career didn't know. Certainly nothing controversial - even when he had a chance. Would have been nice to get the scoop on something.
Anyways, I was happy to support him and get the book. He gave me enough to cheer about all those years at the Big O.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I didn't grow up a big baseball fan. Living in Toronto, when I did pay attention to baseball it was mostly to the Jays, but I knew the big names on the team and I've read Jonah Kerri's book and watched the documentary on the Expos' last season. I was happy when I heard that Raines (and Andre Dawson) made it into Cooperstown.

The book was good - not too in-depth, but it fit my interest level. Raines touched all the high (and low) points of his career, gives you a sense of who he is as a person and player, and clearly recognizes that most readers of this book will be in Canada. It was perfect for me - an interested, not very informed, baseball fan. An entertaining, quick read.

[Dan Lalande · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newly crowned Hall of Famer Tim Raines offers a full perspective on his time in baseball. In chummy, straight-ahead prose, you'll find his professionalism, humility, graciousness and inextinguishable love of the game.

[Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for Expos fans and all around baseball fans. Mostly reads like a play by play of the important games in his career, I would have liked a bit more reflection on his life off the field but all in all this Expos fan enjoyed the book.