Hall candidate: Speedy Tim Raines is on a slow climb

• Tim Raines was the second-best leadoff hitter of his generation behind Rickey Henderson
• Raines had a superb seven-year stretch but his career tailed off somewhat thereafter

(Editor's note: USA TODAY Sports is publishing sketches of the top Hall-of-Fame candidates on this year's ballot. It is an intriguing group, ranging from players with first-ballot accomplishments marred by the cloud of performance-enhancing drugs to unsullied players nearing the end of their 15-year eligibility. The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce Jan. 9 who, if anyone, accumulates the 75% of the vote necessary for induction.)

Name: Tim Raines

Position: Outfield

Career: 1979 to 2002; Expos, White Sox, Yankees, Athletics, Orioles, Marlins

Year on ballot: Sixth

Why he should be inducted: Because he was the best leadoff hitter of the modern era not named Rickey Henderson. Raines actually was better than Henderson in some areas, including a higher career batting average (.294 to .279), a lower strikeout rate and, most importantly, a better success rate stealing bases. Raines was caught stealing 15.3% of the time; the freewheeling Henderson was caught 19.2%. And Raines ran led the National League four times in steals and had a high of 90 in a season. He was caught just 14 times that year.

But Raines was more than running. He won a batting title, part of a seven-year stretch (he was an All-Star each of those years) when he hit .310, led the league in runs twice and on-base percentage once.

His career WAR ranks eighth all-time among left fielders, higher than Manny Ramirez, Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, Billy Williams, Jim Rice and 11 other Hall of Famers.

Why he shouldn't be inducted: Because he was good but not great. The closest he came to winning any individual award was finishing second to Fernando Valenzuela in the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year race.

Raines played 23 major league seasons but his dominant period was short. He had enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title just 11 times. Although his 808 steals ranks fifth all-time, 511 came in his first seven seasons and he never was an All-Star after those seven years. His admitted use of cocaine – he once said he carried a vial of the drug in his uniform pocket and slid headfirst so it wouldn't break -- might have eroded his skills prematurely.

Numbers don't lie: Raines' career runs and RBI total: 2,551. Tony Gwynn's total: 2,521

Verdict: Raines received 48.7% of the vote last year, and his popularity among voters is increasing. If the PEDs users remain out of favor, Raines could squeeze in.