From MLB.com
“Andre Dawson is this year’s sole electee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Wednesday…Dawson had 438 homers and 1,591 RBIs for four teams. He played 21 seasons, his first 11 with the old Montreal Expos and his next six with the Cubs, but never was a member of a team that went to the World Series. Last year at this time he missed the cut with 67 percent of the vote….Dawson will be inducted on July 25 in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were elected in December by a Veterans Committee.”
From Usatoday.com
“Dawson received 420 out of 539 votes for 77.9% of the vote in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Bert Blyleven was second with 400 votes (74.2%), five shy of the 405 votes or 75% needed for induction, and Roberto Alomar was third with 397 (73.7%).”
For more information on Andre Dawson’s Career, here is his Wikipedia page which already is updated
Close but no cigar:
Alomar was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove second baseman, who batted .300 with 2,724 hits during a 17-year career for seven teams. He came up in San Diego with the Padres in 1988 and played three seasons there before being traded to the Blue Jays where he played another five, winning the World Series in 1992 and ’93.
Blyleven also missed the cut last year with 62.7 percent of the vote. He won 287 games and recorded 3,701 strikeouts (fifth highest all-time) for five big league teams in 22 seasons. He had two stints with the Twins, coming up in that organization where he played his first six seasons. Blyleven later returned for a little longer than three more. During that second stint, he was a member of Minnesota’s 1987 World Series-winning team.
Larkin, another first timer on the ballot and likely electee, didn’t make it this time around, although he was a distinct possibility. Like Alomar, he also was a 12-time All-Star, who played on the Reds’ 1990 World Series-winning team. He batted .295 and had 2,340 hits. Comparatively on offense, Ozzie Smith, the last pure shortstop elected (on the first ballot in 2002), batted .267 with 2,460 hits in 19 seasons for the Padres and Cardinals. Smith got in so quickly because of his defensive ability.
40 comments
saltygary
1/6/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
Andre Dawson 420 77.9%
Bert Blyleven 400 74.2%
Roberto Alomar 397 73.7%
Jack Morris 282 52.3%
Barry Larkin 278 51.6%
Lee Smith 255 47.3%
Edgar Martinez 195 36.2%
Tim Raines 164 30.4%
Mark McGwire 128 23.7%
Alan Trammell 121 22.4%
This is just confusing. How does Dawson get in and guys like Raines are so far behind. Dawson, Raines, Dale Murphy were all on the same level in terms of impact on their teams and the game. It’s my own opinion that they were great players, just not hall of fame players. But if Dawson is going to be put in then Raines and Murphy should be right there next to him.
Looks like Alomar got the first year snub which is stupid. They other thing I hate is the big jumps in voting. BertB got a bunch more votes. Why did so many people change their mind?
GravediggerHebner
1/6/2010-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
This is totally a guess, I’m not clear on how their membership works, but is it possible that votes for particular guys change as membership in the BBWAA changes? And/or as guys in their “infinite wisdom from their thrones as baseball writers” have determined that “now it’s time?”
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
There are always writers who love to play God.
No one has ever been elected unanimously, because some writers feel no one “should” be.
Kooky.
fongy2
1/6/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Hard to understand all the writers who
wasted their votes on McGwire.
Tony LaRussa must really be loved!
saltygary
1/6/2010-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
I can understand the McGwire one more than all the others. There is a segment that feel steroids are a part of the history and because we don’t know who did/didn’t then it shouldn’t be a factor. Others remember the congressional hearing and won’t give the vote.
If I was a writer and McGwire came out before the season started and detailed his use and history and vows to use this to help coach athletes against the use, it would put a lot to rest for me. If he continues to not want to talk about the past then F’em.
fongy2
1/6/2010-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
McGwire was done about 7/8 yrs into his career before he really cranked up the ‘roid intake and suddenly had a second career better than the first.
To me,a larger question about the ‘roid era and the Hall is gonna be about the guys who didn’t take them but greatly benefitted from guys in the lineup who did,i.e Jeff Kent.
saltygary
1/6/2010-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
That’s the problem. I would like to see a room where you walk in it is explains the era and all the questions surrounding it. Anyone that was apart of that era should be there, so McGwire’s head right next to Mr. Piazza’s. Records and history cannot be erased so the only thing they can do is explain it.
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
It is arguable that no one enhanced their career to the degree McGwire did.
Bonds was a HOFer w/o drugs…Sosa was a very good all-around player before drugs…Palmeiro just lengthened his career….ARod is a HOFer without drugs, as is Clemens.
McGwire is different. He had a few very good years, some with VERY skewed stats, seemed done, then came out of nowhere to be the HR king. And was unquestionably dishonest about it.
I am sick to death of the steroid era, but McGwire’s performance in Congress was a joke. I mean, everyone there lies their ass off every day, but McGwire could have done something really special, and instead became just another rich guy lying in the US Capitol. Which, I guess, was wholly appropriate to his situation.
saltygary
1/6/2010-5:09pm at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
I am very skeptical with guys like Sosa and Alou, they gained so much mass is such a short period of time. They may never of had much of a career. Mcqwire came right out of the gate with over 40 HR but those 60s were way off base. As much as I want to belive steriods merely prolonged some careers, I just dont trust any of it.
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Andre Dawson is better than Alomar? What a joke.
Raines was a far superior player to Dawson, and Blyleven was probably too.
And if you had the last two games of the WS to win, which two of these four pitchers would you pick: Sutton, Niekro, Blyleven, and Morris? That’s right, in order, Morris, Blyleven, Sutton, then Niekro.
As for Edgar, yes, I am biased, but he was SO much better as a hitter than Andre Dawson, there is zero comparison.
And I now also officially agree with those who state that if Ozzie Smith is in, so should Keith Hernandez be in.
fongy2
1/6/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Jeez Brock I’ve never read one of your posts I disagree
with more.
I know I’m having a bad day
but that seals it!
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Uh oh! Sorry for the bad day buddy!
But what above is wrong?
Check out Raines–a druggie yes, but a FAR more valuable player than Dawson. Dawson’s OBP was very mediocre, and frankly, I have never forgiven him for beating our Steve Henderson for Rookie of the Year by one vote in 1977!
Oh Edgar Martinez…look at those stats! Those OBPs! He started slow in his career, he was slow as a runner, and he was not a fielder, but he may have been the best right handed hitter of his era, and one of the most underrated of all time.
dirtysanchez
1/6/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
I guess their logic is that they will eventually get voted in but…seniority first lol
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, that does make some sense for sure.
But I guess my personal, and VERY insignificant, feeling is that it should be based simply on greatness.
I mean, as much as I love Ralph Kiner, should he be in the Hall of Fame for 7 really good years totally based on HR and BB?
Phil Niekro? Yuck.
rustyjr
1/6/2010-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
how do u think blyleven feels – losing out by 4 votes lol
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Infuriated! I have seen him in the past getting really angry at young writers talking against him on ESPN….would one person say that Phil Niekro was better than Bert Blyleven? Drives me nuts.
fongy2
1/6/2010-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
I agreed about Jack Morris.
Raines was a
great player
no doubt BUT
didn’t bring anything on defense,bad secondbaseman
turned ordinary
LFer.Dawson was
a great OFer,1st in Center then in Right. OBP as are most stats overrated. Dawson was a feared hitter
during a decade I believe was the
most competetive one in MLB history.The Pitching was so much better,
only 24 teams
and very few “hitters” parks. Heck,Schmidt and your namesake used to compete for the HR crown
with 35 or so a yr. In the AL
Nettles would win the crown
with even less.
Raines will likely get in in time.Look how long it took Rice and now Dawson.
Blyleven will get in next yr.
And as you correctly stated with
guys like Sutton and especially Niekro in,I guess he should
be BUT in your younger days,when he pitched,did Blyleven ever really strike you as a lock HOFer?
My problem with Edgar is the same one I have with Molitor being in…The DH.
I mean,its not all that long ago he played
but during Molitor’s era,
did he ever really strike you as a HOFer?
Until the last few seasons anyway when he
started compiling numbers?
I watched him his whole career and never really thought “lock HOFer”.
Again, from this morning , in their prime
,while actually seeing them,Dawson wasn’t as good as Winfield?
Alomar too will get in,likely next yr or the yr after and I can’t really blame these writers for not
putting him in
first time on the ballot.
It should be reserved for Ruth,Aaron,Mays,Seaver etc.
As for Ozzie,
C’mon Brock.
Very good top of the order speed [player
and everyone agrees,the greatest defensive SS
in history.
Now I love Mex
BUT being the best 1Bman isn’t the same as the best alltime SS.
Not enough big offensive seasons.He falls short and should.
He should have taken better care of himself
when he was in his prime,but too much beer and too many smokes help cause a pretty fast downfall.
I’m rambling,I know BUT take yourself bck 30
yrs and ask yourself. if I’m starting a team how many
better,more impactful players can I
get who are better than Andre Dawson?
saltygary
1/6/2010-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
Morris would be at the top of my list for ANY pitcher in the last 30 years. Those late 70′s and 80′s weren’t the best pticher era’s. Morris was just so good around that time. So what he has an era, he one for his team and no-one wanted to face him in the playoffs. He had a couple shaky playoff games but also some of the most dominant ever.
fongy2
1/6/2010-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
Gary, anyone who lived
through that era and saw every ball game they could and read every box score, every morning can
tell you, Jack Morris was a HOFer Period
end of story.
wannybackstra
1/6/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
What did those boxscores tell you about his 3.90 ERA and his 5.8 k/9.
Oh I forget, these are measurable facts that the almighty Fongy doesn’t need because he had a television and a newspaper and saw every inning of Jack Morris’s career. Did you have the MLB extra innings package?
Are you going to offer a reason why Jack Morris was HOF good rather than stating it as fact? Lots of pitchers won more games him, struck out more hitters than he, gave up fewer runs than he and played in front of worse teams and they are not in the HOF.
Mr North Jersey
1/6/2010-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
Btw off topic is anyone into the CES 2010 that is going on out in Las Vegas?
saltygary
1/6/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
Yea definitely but have only had time to check out the Google phone. I love my Iphone but hate AT&T and need to move on in July when my contract is up.
saltygary
1/6/2010-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
didnt read the “is going to vegas part”. I am too scarred to go there I might die.
GravediggerHebner
1/6/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
of happiness?
saltygary
1/6/2010-4:49pm at 4:49 pm (UTC -4)
This smile on my dead face would put the joker to shame.
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-4:49pm at 4:49 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure I could think of a better way to go, or a better place…
If only it was right after the last out of the WS, in the Wynn sports book, with my $1000 Mets-to-win-it-all ticket in one hand, and a double Woodford in the other.
If I have to die young, that would be a decent way to go…..
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
No but I WISH!
Love that damn town….
rustyjr
1/6/2010-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
lol btw kong ever hear of the diablo swing orchestra? check em out – theyre trippy
Kingman 26
1/6/2010-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
No, have not…will check into them….
rustyjr
1/6/2010-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
anyone know how long its gonna be until keith hernandez is eligable for election by those frauds on the old timers comittee?
GravediggerHebner
1/6/2010-4:34pm at 4:34 pm (UTC -4)
I see from the comments section there that our man CaseStreet has already read it, but everyone else should read Ted Berg’s excellent (my opinion) article showing just how full of (insert expletive here) Bob Klapisch can be sometimes.
http://www.tedquarters.net/2010/01/06/holy-crap-bob-klapisch/
saltygary
1/6/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
I actually like a lot of what Bob write but that article was just plain bad.
GravediggerHebner
1/6/2010-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
Many of his criticisms are just and fair, and although in my subjective opinion he is too often negative, even in that context I can usually see where he’s coming from and sometimes I even agree with him in his negativity. I wanted a starting pitcher just as he did, for example.
But this article, as you note, is just plain bad. Capital letters WOW bad.
GravediggerHebner
1/6/2010-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
According to Buster “Nut” Olney, Los Mets are officially out of the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes (as are the Yankees and Astros).
stickguy
1/6/2010-5:36pm at 5:36 pm (UTC -4)
I honestly don’t remember watching Blyleven pitch (must be early onset (or maybe not so early…) alzheimers). I do remember Edgar as a really good hitter! And the DH is a position (unfortuneately), so it should count the same.
What I hate is “complilers” that aren’t really great, but just manage to last a long time and are often on good teams, so they pile up numbers.
The HOF should be about stars, not guys that managed to play for 20 years.
Neikro, Sutton, and I’m sure a bunch of hitters fit the bill.
Better a guy like Kiner that had a 10 year career, but was probably the premier power hitting in the NL for those years.
Hey, if you want to base it on HRs, is a guy that hits 40 for 10 less worthy than a guy that hits 420 over 20 years (21/year)?
Hazmet
1/6/2010-7:24pm at 7:24 pm (UTC -4)
6 Degree’s of Mets Seperation: The immortal Steve Henderson finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Dawson in 1977.
wannybackstra
1/6/2010-9:28pm at 9:28 pm (UTC -4)
From Neyer on ESPN.com:
“But Dawson did finish his career with a .323 on-base percentage, which means he’s wrested the title Hall of Fame Outfielder With the Worst OBP away from Lou Brock … and it wasn’t much of a battle, as Brock’s OBP is 20 points higher than Dawson’s.”
trs86
1/7/2010-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
Let it go Wanny. LOL.
wannybackstra
1/7/2010-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
I thought this was the topic for discussing Dawson’s Hall of Fame induction.
trs86
1/7/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
I was referring to the back and forth you and I like discussion you had with Fongy yesterday. Easy Wanny, just joking with you.