By Paul Sullivan
VOTE: Which cap should he wear?
Andre Dawson didn't want to discuss which cap he will wear on his Hall of Fame plaque, and the decision actually is in the hands of the Baseball Hall of Fame museum.
Museum spokesman Brad Horn said they will begin discussions with Dawson on Thursday over which team will be forever associated with him in Cooperstown. It's likely to be announced at Dawson's introductory news conference later that day in New York.
Dawson spoke of fond memories for both Montreal, where he began his career, and the Cubs, where he reached the height of his popularity. He refused to tip his hand as to what decision he'd make if it was up to him, though he did say one of the reasons he left Montreal as a free agent was the organization didn't "show any loyalty" to him after he became a free agent following 10 seasons with the Expos.
"My time was up there, and it was time to move on," said Dawson, who will appear at the Cubs Convention the weekend of Jan. 15-17 at the Hilton Chicago.
VOTE: Which cap should he wear?
Andre Dawson didn't want to discuss which cap he will wear on his Hall of Fame plaque, and the decision actually is in the hands of the Baseball Hall of Fame museum.
Museum spokesman Brad Horn said they will begin discussions with Dawson on Thursday over which team will be forever associated with him in Cooperstown. It's likely to be announced at Dawson's introductory news conference later that day in New York.
Dawson spoke of fond memories for both Montreal, where he began his career, and the Cubs, where he reached the height of his popularity. He refused to tip his hand as to what decision he'd make if it was up to him, though he did say one of the reasons he left Montreal as a free agent was the organization didn't "show any loyalty" to him after he became a free agent following 10 seasons with the Expos.
"My time was up there, and it was time to move on," said Dawson, who will appear at the Cubs Convention the weekend of Jan. 15-17 at the Hilton Chicago.
Horn stressed that Major League Baseball has no say in the
decision, and that it's up to the museum, after consulting with Dawson.
The museum took control after Wade Boggs tried to get inducted as a
Tampa Bay Devil Ray because of his bad ending with Boston.
Although he was asked several times about the cap, Dawson sidestepped it.
"It's important I'm a Hall of Famer now," he said. "This is time to compose myself and enjoy the moment."
Although he was asked several times about the cap, Dawson sidestepped it.
"It's important I'm a Hall of Famer now," he said. "This is time to compose myself and enjoy the moment."
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Scott, for the love of God, get off the hooch. Say no to drugs. You have every former Cub going to the hall. Must be good stuff. Dunston? LOL
I like "The Hawk" and though he was borderline, he should be in the Hall. Of course his bust will wear and Expo cap. Santo should be in too. The fine but greatly overrated Ryne Sandberg should not be in and wouldn't if not for one regular season nationally televized game in 1984. Ozzie Smith was the best fielding SS of all-time so that was a no-brainer.
Neil,
That's what the HOF is for... to remember what used to exist!
BTW, Sandberg was a great player and a class act.
I just do not get how he can go in as an Expo when they no longer exist......ANd anyone who says Ryne Sandberg was overrated either did not pay attention or they just do not know anything about baseball. If you want overrated do not look any further than Ozzie Smith.
Sorry Cubs fans.
He was drafted by the Expos, developed in their farm system, played 11 years there, was baptized as the "Hawk" there, held many team records when he left and should wear that cap when he goes to the Hall.
Case closed!
rob
Sandberg= Extremely Overrated Cap you must a cards fan or a retard i say a retarded card fan. please explain why you think that. nevermind retards dont know how to read so you would not understand his stats.
Andre Dawson should wear an Expos cap even though he's the last good right fielder the Cubs ever had. If Sammy Sosa somehow is still elected he should wear a White Sox cap.
Dawson/HOF/Cap.... They all center on a great CUB.
I wouldn't be surprised if Andre Dawson went to Cooperstown wearing a Expos cap, though I wish he'd consider wearing a Cubs cap. It just killed me to watch Bruce Sutter get inducted in the HOF wearing a Cardinals cap.
But what I REALLY want to know is when are those baseball "know it alls" gonna' vote Ron Santo in?!
No one is admitting any bias one way or another here but I am betting that it is running pretty high towards Cubs fans saying to wear the Cubs hat and non-Cubs fan going Expos. I will admit that my allegiance is to the Cubs and, yes, I think that he should go in with a Cubs hat. I base this on the fact that his batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+ were all higher during his time with the Cubs. I base this on his 1987 MVP award. yes all stats were up that year, but that only enhances its merit. All stats were up and one mans numbers were so far superior that they chose him from a last place team. The Expos argument can be made and I would mainly sum it up as a kid the two people that I hated see come to bat against the Cubs were Andre Dawson and Mike Schmidt. They KILLED us. I knew before he even came to the Cubs that he was going to be a Hall of Famer. So whatever hat it is, I am just glad he finally made it in.
No one could be more deserving to enter the HOF than my all-time favorite player, Andre Dawson. Further, he consistently demonstrated he is a consumate gentleman and ambassador for the game. Our world (not JUST baseball) needs more Andre Dawsons. I am confident that he and the Hall will agree that sporting a Cubs cap would reflect his best time as a player, as well as what city embaced him On behalf of all of us old Andre's Army fans, we bow to you, sir. Congratulations!
Chris = That was my point. If management was trying to win, they could have been a really good team during that era. They had a base of talent, but everyone else was just pure crap with some of that crap having career years in 1989.
JoeMama = Dawson obviously got into the Hall despite not winning or even reaching the World Series. But don't let 2005 go to your head. If you want to purge the Hall of anyone who hasn't won the World Series, there would be very few White Sox left. Your all time greats didn't exactly help you to any World Series titles now, did they?
Again, let me state that this is a day for all Cubs fans to be happy and proud. Dawson played the game hard and loved to play and it showed. He was a favorite of the fans and showed the fans love and respect in return. Even if he never reached the World Series in his career, he was still a winner and is absolutely deserving of being in the Hall.
Since attendance is always such a fun topic, which cap would likely draw at Cooperstown's ticket office - one hailing from Montreal or one from Chicago?
Again a great day for the Cubs. Could see Mr. baseball Grace getting in too, then the Cubs will have more hall of famers than the White Sox combined. Sosa will get in one day and Dunston would have if he stayed around for a few more years. Easily see Zambrano and Derek Lee going in one day too. Who do the White Sox? Bunch of loosers like AJ.
I am the best comparison to the Hawk. I became a star in Montreal before leaving for brighter lights. I wanted to go into the Hall wearing a Mets hat (since I thought it would help get me a job with them) but the museum said I had to go in wearing chapeau des Expos. To this day, I am the only Expo in the Hall. I need company.
I don't see how the Museum snubs the Cubs on this. Granted it might be more of a curiousity that he wears the Expos cap, but truly the man became legend in Wrigley.
I feel so good for him, but feel terrible that I was angry at him for his 1989 performance in the NLCS. They could have won that if someone besides Grace hit the cover off the ball.
If the Hawk stays with the Expos, he never gets to the hall. Wear the hat, Hawk. We love you.
Could go either way: Offensively, he was better in a Cubs jersey, defensively, he was better in a Montreal jersey.
In Montreal, Rookie of the Year, six Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers.
In Chicago, only two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger, but that was the team he won MVP with.
Played in the postseason once with each team. Did nothing of note for either team either time.
Myself, I'd say Montreal for four reasons: 1) he was #2 for MVP twice in Montreal which goes as far if not further than 1 MVP with the Cubs, 2) he played more games with Montreal than Chicago, 3) his biggest year as a player may have been with the Cubs ('87) but it was also during a season where numbers were inflated all around, 4) in a case where it's close (and I think this is one of those cases), I usually go with "the place where the player made his name" (typically the player's first team). No doubt Dawson made his name in Montreal.
Maddux= Braves cap
Dawson= Expos cap
Sosa= Dunce cap
Santo= Pity cap (but no HOF)
Sandberg= Extremely Overrated Cap (but still HOF)
Cubs have no GREAT history so they recreate things as they want them to be; Santo was good not great, Sosa cheated to be great, Dawsons best years, save 1, was with the Expos and anyone who knows anything about Maddux knows he will go in as a great Brave.
Hey Scott.. How many World Series Championships did Dawson help the Cubs win? Oh ya thats right.. STFU.
I could see it going either way. If you put him as an Expo, you get a chance to acknowledge a franchise that probably won't have any other chances at another hall of famer. Of course if you put a Cubs hat on him you are more likely to get the masses of Cubs fans.
at the least we should get one of those cool number retirement ceremonys. those always help us not think about the team we have out there.
chris on January 6, 2010 3:00 PM
I hope the Hall picks Andre to wear an Expos hat...the place where he did the most good.
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Actually, his avg, obp, slg, ops, and ops+ were all higher during his time with the Cubs.
Hey Scott....you might want to think a little bit about your Cubs of the Past....If Management wanted to win at that time, they wouldn't have let Maddux go in the first place...right after his first Nor would they have gotten rid of the other powerhouses from the farm system...Rafael Palmero comes to mind.
I hope the Hall picks Andre to wear an Expos hat...the place where he did the most good.
Chief/Head Poobah/Top Cheese/Numero Uno/#1/First In Line on January 6, 2010 2:26 PM
Make like the President of the United States. Make it the White Sox. If not, than Montreal.
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Was that a pathetic attempt at humor, or mereley an absolutely idiotic post?
Too bad both Andre and Ron Santo can't go in wearing CUBS hats.
Of course if you read the article you would know that it's not up to Dawson what cap he wears into the Hall. No, just another dumb Sox fan trying to take a cheap shot at the Cubs. Well guess what, your boy Raines only got 30% and your other boy Baines barely had enough to keep him on the ballot for another year. And Robin Ventura? Well he will still be best known as the guy who got his butt kicked by Nolan Ryan because he didn't even get enough votes to come back on the ballot for a second year! And the only other guy who you could possibly claim as your own, even though he only played a year or two with you, didn't get in either. So shut up, Sox fans.
Today is the day for all Cubs fans to feel happy and proud of one of their own. Dawson's hard play and his enjoyment of the game make him a winner no matter what cap he wears into the Hall. He was always fan-friendly and he loved playing for the Cubs. Just think, with two Hall of Famers, one soon to be Hall of Famer in Maddux, and quality players like Grace and Dunstion, if management actually got the Cubs another quality pitcher or two they would have been pretty good during the late 80s and early 90s, instead of just one good season in 1989. I only hope that when Sandberg takes over the team in 2011 that he can find a place for Dawson on the coaching staff! Go Cubs and congratulations to good old #8!
I'm not sure which cap I'll be wearing when I'm elected to the hall of Fame, but they better make sure it has an umbrella.
SIncerely,
Sammy Sosa.
Make like the President of the United States. Make it the White Sox. If not, than Montreal.
Trust the HOF to get it right? I don't.
Please let it be a Cubs hat.
DJ, I understand your argument but do you consider the Expos a winning organization?
If he wants to be remembered as a winner he shouldn't wear a Cub cap.