Will Andre Dawson get elected to the Hall of Fame? YES!

[RedFlash]

I know the problems that come with it, but I still think the player should have final say not some commitee of players or non-players. With that said, IMO, they didn't do this because they felt he had a better career with Montreal, they did it for the nostalgia purposes, cause Dawson was reportedly wanted to be inducted in as a Cub. So they went against the player's wishes, which is why the decision should be the player and the player only.

[SouthSideRyan]

With that said, IMO, they didn't do this because they felt he had a better career with Montreal, they did it for the nostalgia purposes

 

If there's one thing MLB loves doing, it's celebrating the history of the Montreal Expos. He had a better career with the Expos. The only thing that pushed him towards a Cubs hat was an absurd MVP.

[SouthSideRyan]

Also:

 

I know the problems that come with it, but I still think the player should have final say not some commitee of players or non-players...So they went against the player's wishes, which is why the decision should be the player and the player only

 

Is awesome.

[Old Style]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4862768

 

Dawson was asked if he might put on a Cubs hat during his induction speech.

 

"To be honest with you, I thought about that," he said. "It was a tough night for me sleeping [Tuesday]. I slept better the night before the announcement than I did after I got the decision last night, as odd as that might sound.

 

"I don't want to do anything that might be an embarrassment to someone or show someone up, that's not my character. But there will be some way I will try to acknowledge the Cubs fans to show just how important they were to me. I did think about at some point in time during the speech putting a Cubs cap on, but I don't know if that's appropriate."

[EricG]

MLB probably thinks they can sell a bunch of Expos hats to Cubs fans.

[fromthestretch]

MLB probably thinks they can sell a bunch of Expos hats to Cubs fans.

 

But it's not an MLB decision. It's a Hall of Fame decision.

[Derwood]

This doesn't really bother me, but then again, i wasn't a Cubs fan during Dawson's playing days, so I have no emotional attachment to him. While it would be nice to see a few more Cubs in the HoF, Dawson is so marginal that I don't feel like this is some egregious error

[Old Style]

This doesn't really bother me, but then again, i wasn't a Cubs fan during Dawson's playing days, so I have no emotional attachment to him. While it would be nice to see a few more Cubs in the HoF, Dawson is so marginal that I don't feel like this is some egregious error

I was around for the Dawson days and I was a big fan of his, but I don't feel this is any kind of egregious error. I just think it is a shame that he wants to go in as a Cub and the HOF ignored his request. It's not like Wade Boggs requesting to go in as a Devil Ray. The Hawk had a great career in Chicago.

[EhDubya]

When Scott Rolen goes in, it better be as a Phillie...

[inari]

When Scott Rolen goes in, it better be as a Phillie...

 

I'm not sure Scott Rolen gets to have a "when" instead of an "if."

[SouthSideRyan]

Dawson had ~2500 more PAs as an Expo than a Cub. Rolen's got something like 800 between Philly and St. Louis.

 

It's probably not why they did it, but Dawson's HOF case to me has to rely strongly on his defense in CF in Montreal. Add in all those extra PAs and its a slam dunk.

[Shilzzz]

why this is important is beyond me. his number is retired, his plaque will state his time in chicago, and cubs fans know he played here. who cares.

[Abe Frohman]

I don't really feel like I can comment on this, because I fell in love with baseball/the Cubs/Andre Dawson in the Summer of 1989. Oddly enough, I already recognized the name "Andre Dawson" as the 1989 Cubs really turned me on to baseball.

 

Many of Dawson's accomplishments were in Montreal - the same place that probably robbed him of many more productive Major League years. I really think that Dawson's popularity rocketed when he signed that historic contract with the Cubs and responded with the NL MVP award. He had many productive years with the Cubs, and the fact that he openly made it known that he preferred to be recognized as a CUB in the HOF and was denied that - to me is kind of wrong.

 

Considering the fact that the Expos are no longer around, I can't understand why Dawson's preference to go in as a Cub has been rejected.

[OleMissCub]

talking to a radio station yesterday

 

He said he wanted a chance to tell them "what really catapulted me to Hall of Fame status and pretty much what my preference was but I think their decision had been made. It was a little gut-wrenching for me to hear that but it's their decision."

 

"I'm disappointed," Dawson told the ESPN Radio affiliate. "I can proudly say that because Chicago was my preference."

 

Dawson told WMVP he thought he "would have a little bit more input or I would carry or merit some sort of weight" as to whether he would go into the hall as a Cub or Expo.

[Soul]

I think in this case the HoF should have gone with Dawson's wishes. His Chicago years were important enough to his career that it should have been essentially his choice. I know the Hall has the final say, but when you have a player that feels strongly for one team, and that team was actually important to the player's career, then I believe they should follow the wishes of the player.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

I think in this case the HoF should have gone with Dawson's wishes. His Chicago years were important enough to his career that it should have been essentially his choice. I know the Hall has the final say, but when you have a player that feels strongly for one team, and that team was actually important to the player's career, then I believe they should follow the wishes of the player.

 

I totally agree. It's not like he wanted to go in as a Marlin or something. In this case, the Hall should have been fine with either the Expos or the Cubs.

[Soul]

I think in this case the HoF should have gone with Dawson's wishes. His Chicago years were important enough to his career that it should have been essentially his choice. I know the Hall has the final say, but when you have a player that feels strongly for one team, and that team was actually important to the player's career, then I believe they should follow the wishes of the player.

 

I totally agree. It's not like he wanted to go in as a Marlin or something. In this case, the Hall should have been fine with either the Expos or the Cubs.

 

Exactly. The HoF should have overridden his choice if it was the Marlins, but not the Cubs.

 

I thought that was the entire point of the new rule anyway. Not to pull a power play on a hall-of-famer in his hour of glory for no good reason.

[SouthSideRyan]

The difference in PAs between the Cubs and Marlins compared to the difference in PAs between Cubs and Expos is about one season's worth.

[Garwilly]

The difference in PAs between the Cubs and Marlins compared to the difference in PAs between Cubs and Expos is about one season's worth.

 

 

I think it is fair to say that 10 vs 6 warrants a debate, but 6 vs 1 (2 combined) doesn't.