Former Cub great Andre Dawson was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame yesterday, albeit as an Expo, but, hey, whatever, we all knew him as a Cub, right? Dawson was the only player inducted this year and he went in alongside manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey. Major League Baseball's decision to induct Dawson as an Expo, despite Dawson expressing some hope he'd go in as a Cub, prevented us from having a Cub enter alongside a long-time Cardinal great (Herzog). Still, there were plenty of Cubs fans there to cheer Dawson's induction (what else are they going to cheer this year?). Said Dawson, "And from my heart, thank you Cubs fans. You were a true a blessing in my life. I didn't know what it was like to be loved by a city until I got to Chicago. ... You were the wind beneath the Hawk's wings." After the jump, check out an equally cheesy musical dedication to Dawson and his time at Wrigley. more ›

Former Cubs great Andre Dawson visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York yesterday for a private tour, something of an "orientation" ahead of his induction in July. Said Dawson of visiting the Hall: more ›

Even against teams that no longer exist, the Cubs can't catch a break. Andre Dawson informed the Tribune last night that he'll be going in to the Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo and not a Chicago Cub. Dawson sent the Trib a text, saying, "Hall will issue a press release (Wednesday) announcing that I will go in as an Expo." Dawson played his first 11 seasons (1976-1986) with the Expos, a stretch that included the 1977 Rookie of the Year, six Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and three All-Star appearances. After famously signing that blank contract with the Cubs in 1987, Dawson played six seasons (1987-1992) at Wrigley. While with the Cubs, he won the 1987 MVP, made five All-Star teams, won two Gold Gloves, and one Silver Slugger. Dawson had expressed an interest in entering the Hall as a Cub - a move that would have resulted in the team retiring his No. 8 - but the Hall has other plans. Dawson will become only the second player in the Hall as an Expo: catcher Gary Carter, who like Dawson played a bulk of his career with the Expos but is better remembered for his time with another team (the NY Mets), is the other. more ›

As Andre Dawson awaits the decision from the Hall of Fame as to which team he will enter the Hall of Fame under - the literally defunct Expos or the spiritually defunct Cubs - the Cubs are getting proactive. If Dawson enters the Hall as a Cub, the team will retire his No. 8, according to a Tribune report from over the weekend. He'd be the seventh Cub to have his jersey number retired (Williams, Ryno, Maddux, Santo, Banks, and Jenkins). Dawson played his first 11 years with Les Expos before coming over to the Cubs for six seasons, which included his '87 MVP season (.287/47HR/137RBI). The Hall of Fame is expected to make an announcement on which team Dawson will be entered under by Spring Training. more ›

• Mayor Daley announced he's replacing his current chief-of-staff, Paul Volpe. Volpe will probably best be remembered as the man behind the parking meter lease.
• Police continue to search for Shontell Davis, a missing 15-year-old.
• The dangers of ice flinging from vehicles on the road.

Major League Baseball announced it's Hall of Fame class of 2010 and it - finally - includes Cubs great Andre Dawson. In fact, Dawson was the only player elected to the hall by the BBWA this year. Dawson received 77.9 percent of the vote, the only player to achieve the 75 percent of votes required to earn election to the Hall. Pitcher Bert Blyleven and infielder Roberto Alomar fell just short of the threshold. more ›

Major League Baseball's annual election results will be announced today, and a couple of former Chicago players hope to cross the magic threshold from paying customers to inductees in Cooperstown. Voted on by the Baseball Writers of America, players become eligible five years after retiring and must receive votes on 75 percent of ballots. more ›

Around the virtual Chicagoist "offices" we're known as "Grandpa" because we're one of the older members of the staff. We also have a penchant for telling "back in my day" stories, so sit back and strap in as we take the Chicagoist Wayback Machine on a trip to the spring of 1987. Back then, Harold Washington was re-elected as mayor and he had the votes in City Council to fully implement his agenda; Andre Dawson... more ›

We're guessing that The Daily Southtown's Paul Ladewski was following his mother's advice when he decided to submit a blank ballot for baseball's Hall of Fame voting. While many players with Hall of Fame numbers eligible for election were passed over because of steroid allegations — yes you, Mark McGwire — Ladewski decided to just forfeit the whole era. more ›

While the Cubs have suffered nearly a century of team futility, that doesn't mean they haven't had some of the best players of all time on the team over the years. Last year, we saw Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg elected to the Hall of Fame. This year's lone selection is Bruce Sutter, yet another former Cub. He was voted in by the BBWAA, receiving votes from 76.9% of the voters (75% req. for entry).... more ›

Former Cubs 2nd baseman Ryne Sandberg was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame today, in his third year of eligibility. He received a total of 393 votes, a slim six vote margin over the 387 necessary to reach the 75% threshhold. more ›

The Baseball Hall of Fame announces its inductees Tuesday at 12 noon CT. Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg is a virtual lock for the call this year after finishing just short last year. Sandberg received 61 percent of total votes. Sandberg needs 75 percent of total votes for induction. more ›