INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis fan favorite received a huge honor at Victory Field.
The Indianapolis Indians officially retired Razor Shines' No. 3 in a ceremony before Saturday's game against Rochester.
Shines played 835 games in Indianapolis, including playoffs, from 1984-1989 and again from 1991-1993. He helped the Indians win 10 championships, including the 1984 American Association pennant, four American Association postseason championships and two Triple-A Classic titles.
He ranks third in Indians history with 68 home runs, fourth with 404 RBI and his 138 doubles in Indianapolis is fifth in team history.
"We not only wanted to win on the field, but we wanted to win off the field," Shines said.
He did. Shines was known for holding clinics for kids and never saying no to an autograph.
"There were guys that had better numbers than I had. No question about it, but I guess I was that guy that refused to lose," Shines said. "No matter what the situation was, I thought we had a chance to win."
Shines is the first player in the Indians' 122-year history to have his number retired. The only other number retired by the team is Jackie Robinson's No. 42, which was retired across all of professional baseball in 1997.
"When I found out they were going to do that, my entire family ... it was just mind-boggling for us all," Shines told 13News this week. "It means more than anything. To see my number hung beside Jackie Robinson's number, that's just something you don't even think about that as a kid while you're playing. That's not why you play, but to be honored that way, it is a tremendous honor."
Shines was surrounded by former teammates and family Saturday.
"My main focus was trying not to cry, and it's touching," Shines said.
No. 3 is now next to Jackie Robinson's retired number at Victory Field.
"I was born in the south in the mid 50s. There were some difficulties and some struggles," Shines said. "Things have changed. Thanks to that number 42, I had the opportunity to do what I'm doing here. It means that you did something right."