It's Official, Andre is Entering the Hall as an Expo.

Okay, I could be a disappointed Cub fan today, but it's hard for me to sit here and feel that way. Andre's in the Hall and that's enough for me; wearing a Cubs jersey was just going to be icing on the cake.

Andre became one of the best players in the game during his time in Montreal and that shouldn't be overlooked. True he reached career highs and led the National League in home runs (49) and RBIs (137) in 1987 as a Cub. But as an Expo he reached a career high in hits and also led the NL with 189 in 1983 and had his only 100 run seasons (107 - 1982 and 104 - 1983).

I don't think it should be questioned whether his years as an Expo were more deserving to be honored than his time spent as a Cub. I think what should be questioned is why the Hall of Fame has the ultimate decision. Why isn't it the player's choice? Andre wanted to wear a Cubs' cap on induction day.

Andre was the one who endured through some awful seasons in which the Expos and Cubs were not competitive - not the Hall. Andre was the one who helped carry the team in the seasons they were play-off contenders. Andre was the one who would get up out of bed the day after a night game with achy knees and head back to the ball park to do it all over again. How he wants to be remembered should be his decision, so I repeat - not the Hall!

So as I sit here writing this post, I just want to remind Dawson fans, Cub fans, Expo fans, baseball fans...it doesn't matter what cap will be on Andre's plaque, what matters is that he's there among baseball's greatest.

Andre's Biggest Games - 11 Games of 5 RBIs or More

Hall of Fame players have big games; they can carry an offense and intimidate a pitching staff on any given day, which was often the case in Andre's career. He had 11 games during his career of at least 5 RBIs or more.*

1977, July 4th - vs. Chicago Cubs, Won 19-3
Game Stats: In 6 ABs - 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 Hits, and 2 Runs

1985, April 27th - vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Won 8-3
Game Stats: In 5 ABs - 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 Hits and 2 Runs

1985, Sept. 24th - vs. Cubs, Won 17-15
Game Stats: In 6 ABs - 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 4 Hits and 3 Runs
(Became 2nd player in history to hit 2 home runs in same inning, pair of 3-run shots in the 5th inning.)

1987, June 1st - vs. Houston Astros, Lost 5-6
Game Stats: In 5 ABs - 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 2 Hits and 2 Runs

1987, June 2nd - vs. Houston Astros, Won 13-2
Game Stats: In 5 ABs - 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 Hits and 2 Runs

1987, Aug. 1st - vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Won 5-3
Game Stats: In 4 ABs - 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 Hits and 3 Runs

1988, May 3rd - vs. San Diego Padres, Won 13-5
Game Stats: In 4 ABs - 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 Hits and 2 Runs

1990, Aug. 4th - vs. Montreal Expos, Won 10-2
Game Stats: In 4 ABs - 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 Hits and 1 Run

1991, April 21 - vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Lost 12-13
Game Stats: In 6 ABs - 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 Hits and 1 Run

1992, May 2nd - vs. Cincinnati Reds, Won 10-3
Game Stats: In 5 ABs - 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 Hits and 2 Runs

1995, Aug. 16 - vs. Atlanta Braves, Won 8-5
Game Stats: In 4 ABs - 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 Hits and 2 Runs

Ask any pitcher that faced The Hawk in those 11 games and I bet they would tell you that he should be in the Hall of Fame without a doubt!

* www.baseball-reference.com

The Hawk's Intimidation Factor

You know what they say, "If you can't beat 'em, bean 'em," often in Andre's career that was the case. While being hit by a pitch isn't a statistic that comes into consideration for hall of fame induction, it does give insight on how pitchers were intimidated by Andre's power. He was one of the most feared hitters of the 1980s; in fact, he ranked in the top 10 Hit by Pitch stat for the first six years of his career. He actually led the league 4 times in that category.

1978 NL--12--1st
1979 NL--6--9th
1980 NL--6--1st
1981 NL--7--1st
1982 NL--8--2nd
1983 NL--9--1st
1986 NL--6--6th
1987 NL--7--5th
1993 AL--13--3rd
Career--111--47th*

And who could forget one of the most famous beanings of all-time, the July 8, 1987 Beanball Brawl between the Cubs and Padres. Andre had hit two homeruns in a game against the Padres two days earlier. He hit a homer in the first inning of this game, his seventh against the Padres so far that season. During his second at-bat, Padres pitcher Eric Show threw a pitch that hit Andre in the mouth, launching a bench-clearing melee resulting in seven ejections.**

Other than a bloody lip, Andre was fine. And rightfully, Show apologized after the game.

Even the all-time strike-out king was intimidated by the Hawk, "When he's (Andre Dawson) hot there's no stopping him." - Nolan Ryan***

That quote is from a Hall of Fame pitcher, one of the best of all-time, 'nuff said.

* www.baseball-refernce.com
** www.nytimes.com
*** Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible (1991)