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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Andre Dawson - Hall of Famer


New Hall of Famer Andre Dawson didn't spend long in the minors. He only played 186 games over two seasons before being called up to Montreal for good. One of his stops was the stadium pictured above, Stade Municipal. The photo was taken on our January 2009 trip to Quebec City, sadly there was no game that day.

But this is the same stadium where the future Hall of Famer played in 1976 with the Quebec Metros, the Expos AA affiliate. It only received a renovation when the current Quebec Capitales came to town in 1999. Dawson hit .357 in 40 games for the Metros. In fact, in each of his three minor league stops, in Quebec City, rookie Lethbridge, Alberta, and AAA Denver, Dawson never hit below .330.

By 1977, he was up to stay, winning the Rookie of the Year, on his way to the Hall of Fame.

I go through all that as a way to note the election of my favorite player as a kid, Andre Dawson. I became a fan later after he joined the Cubs and had his great year in 1987. I've always said I'd be there for his induction, the wife and I will be there July 25.

Anyway, back to CMC. It's interesting to note that there is one member of the CMC set that was on the HOF ballot this year for the first time. But, while his name is on the card, it's apparently not all his, according to the set checklist on OldBaseball.com. Edgar Martinez received 36 percent support this year, his first on the ballot. He played for Calgary in 1989. His name and stats are on the card. But the photo is apparently that of Tino Martinez, who himself had a good career and will be on next year's ballot. I'll get back to this card again when it comes around.

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