FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Slumped on a chair at his locker, Harold Baines is sitting on history. Just don't expect him to give an interpretation.

Not yet, anyway. Not with his aging hamstrings still cooperating and his place as the Orioles designated hitter assured for another season. Not with another season teasing him with a shot at the team goal he has never experienced.

Entering his 20th major-league season, the St. Michael's native and resident would rather discuss what he has instead of what he is pursuing. "I always approached it as if they would have to take the uniform off my back," he says. "Who wouldn't enjoy this type of living? On top of that, I'm playing at home. I'm playing on a good team. I'm playing, period."

Baines, who turned 40 on Monday, snapped a hitless spring Thursday against Florida with a two-run home run and a double before giving way to Chris Hoiles, the other half of the DH platoon.

All is again right with the world. Harold Baines is again hitting.

Ask for a description of Baines as a player and the ready response is "professional hitter." He represents the definition of designated hitter, probably because he stands as the position's all-time leader in RBIs (837) and ranks second in home runs (200) and games played (1,411).

Baines needs only 20 home runs to pass Don Baylor and 18 games to eclipse Hal McRae. His numbers have come with four different teams via four trades and one free-agent signing and don't include a 200-hit or 30-home run season, which somehow makes them seem more remarkable.

Of his numbers, Baines says, "I don't dwell on them. People bring them to my attention, but I don't go out saying I want to get my 1,500th RBI now. I don't go into a season saying I want to accomplish this or accomplish that."

"You watch Harold take BP and it's amazing," says manager Ray Miller. "He hits everything where it's pitched. If it's away, he hits it away. If it's in, he hits a home run."

As he does most things, Baines quietly enters the season stalking two significant milestones. He needs two home runs to reach 350 and 20 RBIs to reach 1,500, a number that eluded such Hall of Famers as Billy Williams and Eddie Mathews. In a climate where renown typically comes from a breakthrough performance, Baines has instead been chiseling his niche since 1980.

"He came along at a time when guys were holding their fist in the air, bowing to the crowd and stuff and Harold was already on the bench," says Miller. "When they announced his name as 'Harold Baines hitting .320' they'd have to hurry to get it in there because he'd already be in the box."

Baines has batted at least .300 the last three seasons and at least .290 in the last six, a distinction that separates him from the rest of a clubhouse filled with former All-Stars. Baines is second only to Baltimore native Al Kaline (399) for most career home runs without a 30-home run season, further testimony to his inerrant consistency. And with only two 100-RBI seasons -- 1982 and 1985 -- Baines stands ready to become the 36th player to reach 1,500 RBIs.

If he is impressed by his numbers, Baines doesn't let on. There will be plenty of time for reflection, he insists, when his body or 30 major-league teams tell him it is time to leave the game he has played professionally since 1977, the year after Sidney Ponson was born.

"I don't evaluate myself. I don't have to," he says. "They're going to tell me when it's time to quit. The perfect way is to walk away on your own."

At times last season, walking anywhere became a chore.

Baines batted .300 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs. He averaged an RBI almost every five at-bats and batted .347 with runners on base, third in the AL to Tony Fernandez and Jose Offerman. He led the league by batting .388 with runners in scoring position, driving in a staggering 35 percent of those runners.

However, Baines endured a pulled hamstring for much of the season and was finally put on the disabled list from July 11 to Aug. 4. Though his second-half run production matched his first-half pace, his availability became limited.

"I was productive until I got hurt," he says. "It still comes down to winning. When you win, they overlook all that."

Miller realizes that he possesses one of the game's most specialized and most clutch players. Finding the appropriate role to use him on a given day -- starting designated hitter, late-inning pinch hitter or merely a decoy -- offers a welcome challenge.

"He's a pleasant enigma because when he's in there he's one of the best hitters in the game," Miller says. "When he's not in the lineup all I have to do is get him up and there will be somebody jumping up in the other club's bullpen. When he's not in the game, the league will do whatever it takes to keep him from getting to the plate when it counts. If a [manager] isn't prepared, you can get Harold up there quick and he can win a game for you."

Baines concedes he is nearing the end of his understated career -- he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract last September -- but isn't ready to say how close he has come.

The number Baines really seeks is one. For someone who has never been part of a world championship team, a World Series ring remains the most powerful motivator.

"This team has talent. Every team has talent. You just have to go out and have your year. They don't have to have great years. Just have the year you expect them to have and then you'll be successful. That's how you win. It's not one or two people having a great year. It's not a combination of 25; it's usually a combination of 31 to 35."

Pub Date: 3/20/99