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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

ESPNChicago: Dawson may wear Cubs hat for speech

Andre Dawson said he was disappointed the Hall of Fame decided his plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y., will feature a Montreal Expos hat, but Dawson plans to acknowledge Chicago Cubs fans during his induction speech in July.

Dawson, who spent the first 10 full seasons of his career in Montreal, wanted his plaque to feature a Cubs hat. He played six seasons with the Cubs, beginning with his MVP year in 1987.

“I know the difference in the 10 to 6 years probably was something of a consideration on their part,” Dawson said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “But I tried to explain, perhaps, the impact of 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, and I respect that, and from there I move on.”

Dawson was hoping his preference would carry a little more weight, but the fact the Expos no longer exist might have made an impact on the Hall. The organization left Montreal after the 2004 season and moved to Washington, D.C., becoming the Nationals.

Tripon Posted: January 27, 2010 at 07:22 PM | 21 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cubs, expos, hall of fame, history, memorabilia

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1. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:21 PM (#3448002)

If he sticks a finger in the eye of Expos fans by wearing a Cubs hat, I hope they boo the #### out of him.

2. Juan V Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:39 PM (#3448025)

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

3. Zac Schmitt Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:40 PM (#3448029)

Sounds like a Hall of Fame good guy to me.

4. Tim Wallach was my Hero Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:42 PM (#3448036)

The organization left Montreal after the 2004 season and moved to Washington, D.C., becoming the Nationals.

No! Really?

5. Sox Machine Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:43 PM (#3448039)

He should've helped the Cubs win a World Series. That'd've tilted it.

6. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:46 PM (#3448046)

If he sticks a finger in the eye of Expos fans by wearing a Cubs hat, I hope they boo the #### out of him.

What if he were enshrined as a Cub and wore an Expos hat to his speech?

7. Spivey Posted: January 27, 2010 at 09:48 PM (#3448049)

What if he were enshrined as a Cub and wore an Expos hat to his speech?

Fans still know best and get to decide what he does. Duh!

8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 27, 2010 at 10:32 PM (#3448093)

What if he were enshrined as a Cub and wore an Expos hat to his speech?

That'd still be kind of rude, but at least more understandable, given the nature and arc of his career.

Why be a jerk about it? Say that you're proud of all of your fans in all of your cities, and leave it at that.

9. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 27, 2010 at 10:35 PM (#3448098)

I just want to announce I may wear a Royals cap during Andre Dawson's speech.

10. Weeks T. Olive Posted: January 27, 2010 at 10:54 PM (#3448122)

I don't think he's being a jerk about it:

"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."

They asked him a question, he said "I thought about it, but probably not." Big deal.

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 27, 2010 at 11:05 PM (#3448138)

I don't think he's being a jerk about it:

He's not. But if he did, he would be.

12. bobm Posted: January 27, 2010 at 11:14 PM (#3448157)

[1]: Without a team in existence for 5 seasons, how many Expos' fans are motivated enough to go to Cooperstown to see Dawson inducted?

I think he could wear one of those half-and-half hats, with the Expos and Cubs. (And a sliver for the Marlins IIRC.)

13. Jonk Posted: January 28, 2010 at 12:32 AM (#3448269)

"But there will be some way I will try to acknowledge the Cubs fans to show just how important they were to me."

The Hall of Fame should allow him to address the crowd somehow, perhaps with a speech, and in this address could speak some words to the effect of "The Cubs fans were important to me."

14. Jose Canusee Posted: January 28, 2010 at 12:51 AM (#3448286)

Seeing that some predicted the HOF would put on a Cub hat to pander to Chicago fans or to not embarrass MLB about the failure of its product in one of the largest cities on the continent, to have an Expos cap even though Dawson preferred the Cubs one takes a bit of spine and I think they deserve some credit for that.

15. Sweatpants Posted: January 28, 2010 at 01:05 AM (#3448294)

to have an Expos cap even though Dawson preferred the Cubs one takes a bit of spine and I think they deserve some credit for that.

I wanted them to give him the Expos cap, too, but, when you put it like that, I'm actually thinking that it kind of stinks. Dawson's the one who's getting inducted; shouldn't he determine as much as possible about how he's remembered? I can understand taking the privilege away from players in situations like the Boggs one (not until today had I read the Dawson/Marlins variation, and, if that one's true, then this is kind of ironic). To me, it makes more sense, though, to have the player choose and the Hall be able to override it only if it's something like Boggs/Devil Rays or Piazza/Marlins.

16. kwarren Posted: January 28, 2010 at 04:20 AM (#3448420)

Using CHONE'S WARP here is summary of Dawson's career as an Expo and as a Cub:

1977 Expos 3.3
1978 Expos 4.2
1979 Expos 3.2
1980 Expos 6.7
1981 Expos 7.3
1982 Expos 6.8
1983 Expos 6.6
1984 Expos 1.9
1985 Expos 2.0
1986 Expos 2.0

1987 Cubs 2.7
1988 Cubs 4.2
1989 Cubs 2.0
1990 Cubs 2.2
1991 Cubs 2.5
1992 Cubs 2.4

Based on how he played for the two respective teams, I don't see how the Hall could have made any other decision and not looked ridiculous. BP's WARP tells a similar story.

17. Crispix Attacks Posted: January 28, 2010 at 04:26 AM (#3448421)

Without a team in existence for 5 seasons, how many Expos' fans are motivated enough to go to Cooperstown to see Dawson inducted?

It's possibly easier to drive to Cooperstown from Montreal than from any other big-league city (though NYC, Boston and Philly are closer distance-wise), so there might be a few. It's not like he used to play for the Winnipeg Jets.

18. E., Hinske Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:20 AM (#3448437)

It's not like he used to play for the Winnipeg Jets.

And Quebec even honours the Jets' stars with a band. They'll go down to Cooperstown for Dawson.

19. RMc is the loyal supporter of the MLB event Posted: January 28, 2010 at 01:46 PM (#3448516)

I think he should wear a Quebec Metros hat.

20. winnipegwhip Posted: January 28, 2010 at 05:35 PM (#3448681)

It's not like he used to play for the Winnipeg Jets.

There were nights in the Winnipeg Arena when Mike Smith was GM, that no one played for the Winnipeg Jets. Keith Tkachuk comes to mind.

21. Toolsy McClutch Posted: January 28, 2010 at 10:14 PM (#3449027)

The Hall of Fame should allow him to address the crowd somehow, perhaps with a speech, and in this address could speak some words to the effect of "The Cubs fans were important to me."

+1, Andre is handling this poorly. A couple of mentions of "Hey, I loved the fans in MTL" wouldn't hurt either.

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ESPNChicago: Dawson may wear Cubs hat for speech

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