MLB great Andre Dawson wants to switch his hat from Expos to Cubs on Hall of Fame plaque
Former outfielder Andre Dawson has worn a Montreal Expos cap on his National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque since his induction in 2010. That may change.
According to The Athletic, the Hall of Fame is planning to consider Dawson's request to change his depiction on the plaque from one wearing an Expos cap to one donning the cap of the Chicago Cubs.
A representative from the National Baseball Hall of Fame confirmed they plan to speak to Dawson, though they still have not received his letter as of Wednesday night.
The 1987 National League home run leader says he did not approve the Expos hat for his plaque when the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voted him in with the Class of 2010. He recently submitted a request to the leader of the Hall of Fame's board of directors to have the cap changed, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“I just felt my preference all along was as a Cub,” Dawson said to the Tribune.
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The 69-year-old former outfielder began his career with the Expos in 1976 and played for Montreal until 1986. He played for the Cubs from 1987-1992, then finished his career with the Red Sox (1993-94) and the Marlins (1995-96). Dawson retired from MLB after the 1996 season at 42 years old.
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Who decides what caps players wear on their Hall of Fame plaque?
The Hall of Fame has chosen the cap worn by players on their plaques since 2001.
Jeff Idelson, the president of the Baseball Hall of Fame from 2008 to 2019, told ESPN in 2019, "[The Hall of Fame's senior staff and research team] look at a player's career numbers and look at the impact, and quite honestly, it's usually a no-brainer... Then we have a conversation with the player, because we wouldn't do something unilaterally."
Dawson says he did not get much of a choice.
"It’s hard for stuff to bother me, to a degree. But this has toyed with me over the years for the simple reason that I was approached with the (announcement) that was going to be released to the press that I was going to wear an Expos emblem. I didn’t agree with it at the time. But for me, getting into the Hall was the most important thing," he said to the Tribune.
"Over time, I’ve thought about it more and came to the (conclusion) I should have had some say-so … I personally feel my mission, for the rest of my life going forward if that’s what it takes, is to right a wrong."
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Has a player ever changed their cap in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Since players had been able to select their caps until 2001, no players have made a request to change their cap after their inductions.
There are several players who are members of the Hall of Fame and don't wear a logo on their caps on their plaques.
Legendary manager Tony La Russa and dominant pitcher Greg Maddux, both members of the Hall's Class of 2014, are two examples. La Russa and Maddux elected not to have a logo on their caps on their respective Hall of Fame plaques after storied careers managing and playing for multiple teams.
More recently, Class of 2023 member Fred McGriff also elected to enter the Hall of Fame without a logo on his cap.
Andre Dawson Cubs and Expos statistics comparison
| Montreal Expos | Chicago Cubs | |
| Tenure | 1976-1986 | 1987-1992 |
| Games | 1,443 | 867 |
| Slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) | .280/.326/.476 | .285/.327/.507 |
| Home runs | 225 | 174 |
| RBI | 838 | 587 |
Andre Dawson career accolades
- 1977 National League Rookie of the Year
- 8x Gold Glove Award winner (1980-1985, 1987, 1988)
- 4x Silver Slugger Award winner (1980, 1981, 1983, 1987)
- 8x All-Star (1981-1983, 1987-1991)
- 1981, 1983 National League MVP runner-up
- National League home run leader (49) (1987)
- National League RBI leader (137) (1987)
- 1987 National League MVP