But youre talking a measly 22 PA here where he got on 5 times. Show me a player who never had a 5 TOB in 22 PA stretch.

I remember thinking when he played, back in my impressionable youth, that he had the most impressive physique I had ever seen on a baseball player. It was the classic v-shape–broad shoulders, narrow waist and hips, and not an ounce of extra body fat. All lean muscle mass. Eliminating those who I know or suspect to be artificially enhanced, I still think he had the most ideal baseball body I’ve ever seen, and if you got the chance to stand up close to him, you really appreciated how huge a man he was.

That’s why I recall how sad I was during the ’89 playoffs. Not just because the Cubs absolutely got hammered (Dawson wasn’t the only Cub future Hall of Famer who sucked–Maddux got lit up), but because Dawson, who had been so great for the Cubs when they were a pile of crap two years before was so obviously unable to perform. Joel above is right, the Giants started pitching around Grace to get to Dawson, which should have been unthinkable, but Dawson was clearly playing on one leg. Just to make things even sadder, was watching the Cubs tee off on Rick Reuschel in game 2 (it kind of sucked that it had to be him).

All that said, aren’t Halls of Fame kind of dumb, anyway? Why does it matter whether the likes of Jay Mariotti thinks that a given player deserves enshrinement or not? My memories of Dawson or Ron Santo are just as fond one way or the other, and that would be true Hall of Fame or no. I don’t need a bunch of sportswriters to validate that opinion. And as time goes on, and more players get elected, doesn’t the value of election get watered down anyway? Dawson’s the 232nd player elected. At some point, doesn’t the Hall get so crowded that the original purpose of recognizing the truly great get lost in the sheer numbers of players? What’s your favorite Ted Lyons memory? Do Joe Cronin’s .301 average, 2285 hits, and 170 homers excite you?

Anyway, I’m glad for one of my favorite players ever, and hope he gives a good speech.

http://deadspin.com/5443162/presenting-the-absolute-worst-hall-of-fame-voter

Originally Posted By blueslackerI’m pretty sure it was Roger Mason whom Dawson threw out at first on what should have been a single, on that day when the Hawk also went 5-5.

It was Kelly Downs.

greatest shirt ever?

http://andrewfalconer.com/neifi/