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Thursday, January 7th, 2010 | Posted by Editor - Blog News Service

Andre Dawson elected to Hall of Fame

Andre Dawson elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame

Andre Dawson elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame

Evan Grant/Blogger

In his ninth year on the ballot, Andre Dawson finally squeezed into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, by being named on 77.9 percent of the 539 ballots submitted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He was the only player elected.

Of note:

• Bert Blyleven missed by five votes. He was named on 400 ballots and needed 405 in order to be named on 75 percent (the threshold for election). I still don’t understand why the lack of respect for Blyleven’s career. 287 wins. 3,701 strikeouts. He belongs. Plain and simple.

• Roberto Alomar narrowly missed in his first year on the ballot. He was named on 73.7 percent of the ballots. It’s OK by me. Though I voted for him, I don’t have a problem with Alomar reaching on the second ballot rather than the first. I just think if there is anything that separates a first ballot guy from other Hall of Famers, it should be reaching automatic thresholds like 3,000 hits or 500 homers (done without performance enhancing drugs).

• Speaking of PEDs, Mark McGwire, long linked to steroids in the 1990s received 128 votes (23.8 percent). In his four years on the ballot, McGwire has received 22, 24, 24, and 23.8 percent. Guys who are going to eventually get elected start seeing significant upticks in their percentages after the first year. McGwire isn’t seeing that. If he cares at all about the Hall of Fame, I expect that McGwire, now the Cardinals hitting coach, at spring training will admit to it in the past, call it a mistake and apologize. Otherwise, his chances are going to fade away.

• For the record, my votes went to Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Jack Morris and Time Raines. Morris jumped from a previous high of 44 percent to 52.3 percent and Raines jumped from a previous high of 24 to 30 percent.

• The following guys were not named on at least five percent of the ballots and will be removed from future voting: Andres Galarraga 22 (4.1%), Robin Ventura 7 (1.3%), Ellis Burks 2 (0.4%), Eric Karros 2 (0.4%), Kevin Appier 1 (0.2%), Pat Hentgen 1 (0.2%), David Segui 1 (0.2%), Mike Jackson 0, Ray Lankford 0, Shane Reynolds 0, Todd Zeile 0.

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