For nine years, Andre Dawson has been looking for his name in the voting results for the Baseball Hall of Fame, to see what incremental increase he received. Yesterday, he got 77.9 percent of the vote - more than a 12 percent increase over his 2009 total - and surprisingly was the only player voted into the Hall by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
“It’s been a while,’’ said Dawson, who was named on 420 of 539 ballots cast, “but it was worth the wait. I didn’t know how I would react if this moment ever came, but it’s a great feeling to know you’re among the greatest players who ever played the game.
“I don’t think you ever know it’s going to happen until it actually does, and then it’s every bit, if not more, fulfilling as you thought it would be.’’
Affectionately known as “Hawk,’’ Dawson spent two seasons in Boston (1993 and 1994), when his knees were so ragged that every step he took was painful. He will join former Royals and Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were voted in by the Veterans Committee in December, at the July 25 induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
While Dawson’s ascent over the 75 percent mark needed for induction wasn’t a surprise, the fact that 10-time Gold Glove second baseman Roberto Alomar didn’t gain entry on the first ballot was the day’s shock factor. Alomar was named on 397 ballots (73.7 percent), falling eight votes short.
It was also a bittersweet day for Bert Blyleven, who in his 13th season of eligibility missed by five votes, receiving 74.2 percent (400 votes).
“I’m very happy for Hawk,’’ said Jim Rice, who was voted in last year, his 15th and final year of eligibility. “I understand the waiting, but for me, I always felt it was out of my control, but once it comes, the worrying is over. It’s yours. And they can’t take it back.’’
Rice, who played against Dawson in the minor leagues, added, “He’s a Hall of Famer because he could run, throw, hit, hit for power. He was one of the best all-around players in the game when he played.’’
Former Red Sox and Expos general manager Dan Duquette said of Dawson, “We’re all proud of him. He he was a five-tool player, a great player and a great man. We enjoyed watching him throughout his career. By the time he got to Boston he was at the end of his career, but handled himself with great class and dignity.’’
Duquette was GM for only Dawson’s second year with the Sox. Lou Gorman brought Dawson to Boston.
After Dawson’s vote total reached 61 percent in 2006, it went down to 56.7 in 2007, making him wonder whether his dream of being a Hall of Famer was ever going to come true. Yet it rose to 65.9 percent in 2008 and 67 percent in 2009. His biggest year-to-year increase came this year.
“I can’t really describe the elation,’’ Dawson said. “If you’re a Hall of Famer, eventually you’re going to get in, no matter how long it takes.’’
Blyleven took the news as a sign he would likely be elected.
“I was a little disappointed, but at the same time, my vote total went up considerably, and that’s a sign that things may work out soon,’’ said Blyleven, whose vote total rose from 338 to 400. “I was very surprised Robby Alomar didn’t get the votes, but he’s going to be in soon as well.
“I am very happy for Andre Dawson, who was one of the best players of his era. It’s well-deserved, considering all of the time he waited for this day. Very happy for him.’’
In his career, Blyleven fell 13 wins short of 300, and that has seemed to hurt him, as well as his 250 losses. But he pointed out that 2009 Cy Young winners Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum won 16 and 15 games, respectively, an indication that “wins aren’t everything,’’ he said. “There’s a lot more that goes into good pitching than just the W.’’
The induction of Alomar seemed like a given, considering that he batted .300 with 2,724 hits during a 17-year career. But apparently there were voters who held the 1996 spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck against him. That may well have cost him the eight more votes he needed.
“I feel disappointed, but next year hopefully I make it in,’’ Alomar said. “At least I was very close.’’
Edgar Martinez, who was on the ballot for the first time - the first DH to get serious Hall consideration - received only 36.2 percent. Writers still seem hesitant to vote for a DH, despite the fact that Martinez was a superb hitter with a .312 career average and .418 on-base percentage.
The controversial Mark McGwire, who is the Cardinals’ hitting coach, received only marginal support again, getting 23.7 percent. McGwire hit 583 homers but has been dogged by suspicions of steroid use and his lack of cooperation at the congressional hearing in 2005.
Barry Larkin, another player some believed might sneak in on the first ballot, received 51.6 percent. Another former Red Sox player, Lee Smith, can’t seem to garner significant support, receiving 47.3 percent. Money pitcher Jack Morris showed a slight increase to 52.3 percent.
Another interesting first-timer, Fred McGriff, stayed on the ballot with 21.5 percent.
Blyleven took the news as a sign he would likely be elected.
“I was a little disappointed, but at the same time, my vote total went up considerably, and that’s a sign that things may work out soon,’’ said Blyleven, whose vote total rose from 338 to 400. “I was very surprised Robby Alomar didn’t get the votes, but he’s going to be in soon as well.
“I am very happy for Andre Dawson, who was one of the best players of his era. It’s well-deserved, considering all of the time he waited for this day. Very happy for him.’’
In his career, Blyleven fell 13 wins short of 300, and that has seemed to hurt him, as well as his 250 losses. But he pointed out that 2009 Cy Young winners Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum won 16 and 15 games, respectively, an indication that “wins aren’t everything,’’ he said. “There’s a lot more that goes into good pitching than just the W.’’
The induction of Alomar seemed like a given, considering that he batted .300 with 2,724 hits during a 17-year career. But apparently there were voters who held the 1996 spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck against him. That may well have cost him the eight more votes he needed.
“I feel disappointed, but next year hopefully I make it in,’’ Alomar said. “At least I was very close.’’
Edgar Martinez, who was on the ballot for the first time - the first DH to get serious Hall consideration - received only 36.2 percent. Writers still seem hesitant to vote for a DH, despite the fact that Martinez was a superb hitter with a .312 career average and .418 on-base percentage.
The controversial Mark McGwire, who is the Cardinals’ hitting coach, received only marginal support again, getting 23.7 percent. McGwire hit 583 homers but has been dogged by suspicions of steroid use and his lack of cooperation at the congressional hearing in 2005.
Barry Larkin, another player some believed might sneak in on the first ballot, received 51.6 percent. Another former Red Sox player, Lee Smith, can’t seem to garner significant support, receiving 47.3 percent. Money pitcher Jack Morris showed a slight increase to 52.3 percent.
Another interesting first-timer, Fred McGriff, stayed on the ballot with 21.5 percent.
taken from : boston.com
No comments:
Post a Comment