Who he is: Harold Baines was surprised when a representative of the White Sox contacted him recently to tell him hed made this years veterans' ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame.Before David Ortiz, Edgar Martinezor Frank Thomas came along, Baines might have been considered the best designated hitter in baseball history, finishing with 2,866 hits and a .289 lifetime batting average. He was le s impre sive by sabermetrics, which might have doomed his Hall of Fame bid with the writers, who never gave him more than 6.1 percent of the vote in his five years on the ballot.MORE: 25 worst HOF selections everSo he got a jolt recently with the news hed made the ballot for the Todays Game Committee, still known colloquially to many as the Veterans Committee.I was shocked that I was on the ballot for the Veterans Committee, really, Baines told Sporting News. When you get le s than 5 percent (from the writers), you figure your chance is over with.Baines is on an intriguing ballot that looks deepest for non-players Adeiny Hechavarria Jersey . Honoring people who made their greatest contributions to Major League Baseball between 1988 and 2001, the ballot features former All-Stars Albert Belle, Will Clark, Orel Hershiserand Mark McGwire, as well as former commi sioner Bud Selig, Braves president John Schuerholz, late Yankees owner George Steinbrennerand former managers Davey Johnson and Lou Piniella.Baines isnt sure what to make of his chances when the committee meets in December."Hall of Fame is tricky 'cause you don't know what really makes you a Hall of Famer, he said. Is it you've got toplay on winning teams? You've got to be a full-time player? You can't be a DH? I really don't know what the writers are thinking or even if my numbers are good enough."Are they?Cooperstown chances: 25 percentWhy: The first overall pick for the White Sox in the 1977 draft, Baines spent the first several years of his career as an outfielder before knee injuries forced him into full-time DH duties. Because of the timing of his career, he was arguably the best DH in baseball history through the mid-1990s.MORE: The 13 greatest No. 1 overall picksEven today, because of the low number of players whove been long-term designated hitters since the position was created in 1973, Baines still rates as one of the best. Here are the top OPS+ rankings for players with at least 5,000 plate appearances and at least 50 percent of their career games at DH, according to the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index tool:Frank Thomas, 156 OPS+Edgar Martinez, 147 OPS+David Ortiz, 141 OPS+Hal McRae, 125 OPS+Baines, 121 OPS+Don Baylor, 118 OPS+Billy Butler, 116 OPS+Thomas, Martinezand Ortiz havelong since overtaken Baines in the DH rankings. McRae arguably ranks in front and regardle s might be one of the more underrated players in baseball history. He, Baylorand Kevin Kiermaier Jersey Butler dont have much chance at Cooperstown.Ortiz just wrapped up one of the best final seasons in baseball history, offering a .315/.401/.620 slash line and maybe figuring into consideration for the American League Most Valuable Player award. Asked whether he thought of Ortiz as a future Hall of Famer, Baines said, I would think Edgar would hopefully get in before [Ortiz]does. Edgars had strong numbers. Not to take anything away from David, he has this great career. Hes played on a lot of world championships, his numbers speak for themselves. So hes definitely a Hall of Famer in my book.MORE: Ortiz leads list of second-chance starsBaines seems to be more bullish on Martinezs Hall of Fame chances than his own.I never won a batting title or anything like that, Baines said. Hes won batting titles. That might be a plus. And he kind of broke all of my DH records, and then Big Papi broke all of his records.Baines rated Martinez as one of the best hitters he saw.He was just a smart hitter, Baines said. He used the whole field. Actually, he wasnt a bad third baseman, either.Baines has this low-key, soft-spoken demeanor that seems like it could have cost him Hall of Fame votes. But it offered him other benefits during his career, such as helping him not mi s fielding at all when his body no longer allowed it.MORE: Most beloved player for each major league teamWhen you cant do something, you move on to something else, he said. The only way I could keep a job and help my team [was to]be prepared on the offensive side.Like Julio Franco, Baines enjoyed superb longevity, posting a 106 OPS+ past his 40th birthday and wrapping Joey Wendle Jersey up his career as a pinch hitter for the White Sox at age 42 in 2001. Asked whether he was hoping late in his career to get to 3,000 hits, Baines said, That wasnt my goal to get to 3,000 hits. My goal was just to win World Series rings.Baines strongest Hall of Fame case comes through traditional stats, his role in helping popularize the DH position, and his clubhouse presence. Hes le s of a sure thing by sabermetrics, with just 1.6 Wins Above Average and 38.5 WAR for his career. The only reason those stats might not sink him in this go-round is that Hall of Fame committees are typically composedof older writers and baseball lifers who have little use for those metrics.Its uncertain, though, whether the committee will make allowances for Baines long tenure as a DH. I have numbers just as good as people in the Hall of Fame, but they always go to the DH part of it, he said.MORE: Not every great player wins a titleRegardle s of his Hall chances,Baines looks back fondly on his career.It was a very special part of my life, he said. Made a lot of friends. Seen a lot of different states I wouldnt have been able to visit if I wasnt a baseball player. All these stadiums that I went to, I wouldnt have went to if I wasnt a baseball player. I have nothing but great, fond memories of baseball.Two candidates Baines thinks are shoo-ins on this ballot, by the way? Selig and Schuerholz.