Baseball player Tim Raines used to always slide head first—and the reason why is shocking

Tim Raines is regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters and baserunners in baseball history, having played for 6 major league teams between 1979 and 2002.

He is best known for his achievements while playing the 13 seasons for the Montreal Expos, where he holds a number of records for stealing bases. He could often be seen diving head first for a base during a game, a practice seen as particularly brave since most would slide feet first in case they connected with the opposing player.

Raines, however, had an entirely different reason for his head first dive. Raines at the time was a severe cocaine addict often resorting to taking “hits” before, during and after a game. To enable him to feed his habit he carried small vials of cocaine around with him during the game.

Raines kept these vials in his hip pocket, and to avoid breaking the vials he would have to slide head first on his stomach instead of the more traditional feet first.

Thankfully, Raines was admitted to an addiction program early on in his career and went on to become one of the greatest players in the games history—but he never stopped sliding head first.