Born in St. Albans, West Virginia, Raines is recognized for having been the first ballplayer to perform professionally in Minor League Baseball, Negro League baseball, Japanese Baseball and the major leagues.\n', '

Raines debuted professionally with the Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League, a premier team owned and managed by the legendary Rube Foster. In 1952, he topped the East–West All-Star Game poll with a total of 24,583 votes and started at shortstop for the Westen Division at Comiskey Park.\n', '

In 1953, Raines traveled to Japan where he playedduring two seasons for the Hankyu Braves. Raines posted a .286 batting average with eight home runs and 49 runs batted in through 120 games in his season debut. Then in 1953, he won the Pacific League batting title with a .337 average, while collecting 18 homers and 96 RBI in 137 games.\n', '

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