Statue-worthy?

First things first: I love Harold Baines. If someone told me that the number 3 was being retired by the Orioles I would have no problem with that. I loved watching Harold hit (except when he couldn't get a runner home from third with less than two outs vs Cleavland in the '97 ALCS, but I digress) and it never hurt his case at Camden Yards that he was a native Marylander. We had Brady Anderson- who was born in MD- Harold, Billy and of coarse Cal. It added a nice touch to a team that was on the rise and needed a professional hitter in the middle of the line up. HB was that player.

Of course he is equally loved on the South Side of Chicago, where he played for 11 plus years with the Sox. The story goes that Bill Veeck first scouted HB as a 12 year old little leaguer on the Eastern Shore. When the Sox got the first over all pick of the '77 draft they jumped at the chance to take Baines and he delivered for them, starting in 1980. For his career he hit .289 with 384 home runs and 1628 RBI. (with the O's he was .301-107-378 in 666 Games) He was also remarkably clutch (again, save for that ALCS game when Mussina struck out 17 and got a no decision) and had just about as sweet a swing as you ever saw.

With all that said, I ask: Is Harold Baines statue-worthy? The White Sox seem to think so, and they unveiled the monument yesterday. If there is a statue to HB at Comisky, then why not at Camden Yards? He played for 5 teams, but other than the Sox he spent the most time with the birds, having spent 5 1/2 years in orange and black. What is the cut off? The O's had Reggie Jackson for two thirds of a season, so can we retire his number and give him a statue?

The only thing I do know is that the O's have a particular statue deficiency. The only likeness outside of Camden Yards is of a Yankee for crying out loud, albeit a Yankee from Baltimore. Why isn't Brooks outside of the third base entrance? Why isn't Eddie outside of the first base entrance? Why isn't Frank standing proudly on the other side of Eutaw St. from the Babe, so he can be near right field? I guess it all comes down to who you think is statue-worthy.