Baseball Hall of Fame

This past week we heard Andre "The Hawk" Dawson was the only former Major Leaguer inducted into Cooperstown, N.Y., site of Baseball's Hall of Fame.

It was also learned, that it was Dawson's ninth attempt, at earning enough ballots from the Baseball Writer's Association of America (BWAA) to join the likes of ex-Expo greats Gary Carter and Tony Perez at the Hall.

Dawson was the only player chosen for Hall status in 2010, when he received more than the 75 percent threshold needed for induction. "The Hawk" got 420 of 545 ballots sent in by the members of the BWAA.

On Wednesday, the writers made a mockery of the baseball Hall of Fame yet again when they left a handful of worthy players out of the hallowed institution. The most notable player left out was Roberto Alomar, who many talking heads have argued is the finest all-around second baseman of all time.

What makes this an even greater shame is that five writers turned in ballots that were completely blank.

Excessive Politics and Subjectivity in Uneven Voting Process

When someone asks me if so-and-so should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I have always stuck to my rule of thumb:

If you can't say yes in three seconds, the guy doesn't belong.

It's that simple, yet every year we argue about who belongs and who doesn't.

This year, Andre Dawson got in and Roberto Alomar did not. How could that be? How does Dawson get in and Roger Maris and Dale Murphy not?

Excuse me, loyal reader, as I go on a bit of a rant this morning.

On Tuesday's addition of Around the Horn on ESPN, writer Jay Mariotti won the day's pseudo competition and was awarded his 30 seconds of face time.

He chose to use this time to exclaim how he didn't vote this year for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame.

He said that none of the players up for the first time deserved to get in on the first ballot, and that was reserved for players like Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwen.

"When he's hot there's no stopping him—he'll even hit a ball over his head." - Nolan Ryan in Nolan Ryan's Pitchers Bible.  (1991)

The man known as "The Hawk" has finally made it to Cooperstown.  Andre Dawson will soon have a plaque and a place in baseballs hall of fame.  My only question is, what took so long?  He should have been in years ago, and I think it's only fitting he will enter the hall alone.  No one will be able to steal his thunder or overshadow him in anyway.  It will be the Hawk's day.  A day that is well deserved and long overdue.

Congratulations, Andre Dawson.

Finally, in your ninth year of eligibility, you will be taking your rightful place amongst the baseball greats in Cooperstown.

What should be a day of celebration for anyone who loves baseball once again has turned into a day of debate and disappointment. Well, unless of course you're Andre Dawson.

Dawson was a deserving and long overdue selection for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. Few, if any, question the merit of his induction, as "Hawk" was one of the most complete players to ever roam an outfield.

All I can say is ... wow.

Another cold winter day came and went, and only one man was floating on cloud nine after 2:00 pm EST.

That man was Andre "Hawk" Dawson.

Dawson made it on the ninth ballot. Collecting 77.9 percent of the votes, his ticket is stamped for the July induction. 75 percent is the requirement to be elected.

How can the baseball writers justify eight years of baseball purgatory for one of only three men to hit 400 HR and steal 300 bases? The man could do it all.

It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it does.

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) failed to elect Bert Blyleven into the Hall of Fame by five votes. He received 74.2 percent of the votes when 75 percent is needed.