Just about all Cubs fans are happy that Andre Dawson made it into the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. It is well deserved. Andre's biggest negative stat for me was his OBP. He was a dominating player in just about every other category offensively and defensively for years.
And there is going to be a lot of debate about what hat he will go in with. I'd love it to be the Cubs....but I'm going to guess it will be the Expos. (and I'm sure all 3 of those Expos fans will really appreciate him going in as an Expo too.)
But now we should ask...should the Cubs retire the number 8?
Cub fans have taken in Andre as their own, even though only 6 of his 21 seasons were with the Cubs. That is just over 1/4 of his career in Cubbie blue. Dawson spent 11 years as an Expo, two in Boston, and two as a Marlin.
Now the Cubs were very quick to retire the 31 of Greg Maddux (and of Fergie Jenkins) last season only months after Maddux retired. Maddux spent 9 1/2 season in Chicago during his 23 years. That was over 40% of his career. But most of Maddux's most productive seasons were spent in a Braves uniform.
Andre had 3 stellar years in Chicago, 1987, 1990 and 1991 were he put up some very good numbers which were comparable, if not better than typical numbers while with the Expos. Dawson averaged 29 homers and 98 RBI in a Cub uniform...compared to only 20/76 as an Expo.
And then there was the blank contract he signed in 1987 when he came to the Cubs and proceeded to hit 49 homers (tied for most in the decade of the '80s) and won the MVP for a last place team.
Dawson and Ryne Sandberg were the Cubs during that span. Maddux blossomed a little later, though he was on the club at that time too. People went to the ballpark to see Dawson. With exception of the blip of the 1989 division title (which Dawson had not much to do with) Dawson kept the Cubs interesting between 1987 and 1992. He put the fans in the stands even when the rest of the product on the field was quite terrible.
So, it's my opinion that the number 8 should be retired this year.
Thoughts?
