COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — In Andre Dawson's perfect world, he'd march into the Hall of Fame after Sunday's induction wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball cap. Instead, his plaque will bear the logo of the defunct Montreal Expos.
The Hawk reluctantly understands the Hall of Fame's decision on the cap, but that in no way lessens the importance of his six summers on the lush green grass at Wrigley Field.
If Dawson had never worn a Cubs cap he wouldn't be joining manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey on the podium Sunday. Being a Cub earned him the trip to Cooperstown.
Dawson, his knees crippled from 10 years on the treacherous Olympic Stadium AstroTurf, wanted out of Montreal following the 1986 season and became a free agent. I should mention his first 24 games with the Expos in 1976 were on natural grass at Jarry Park.
But in 1986-87, what would later be determined as collusion by Major League owners and cost them $280 million in damages, was in full bloom. Dawson couldn't get a contract. Owners were trying to hold down salaries.
The Hawk's first choice was Chicago, his second Atlanta, because the Braves were close to his Florida home.
There was no offer of substance from either team.
And yet he was one of the premier players on the market, a tremendously valuable commodity.
What ultimately happened is what Hall of Fame stories are made of. It's all about the blank contract.
Because Dawson and Dick Moss, his agent, were unable to land a deal, they called the bluff of the Cubs and Dallas Green, their general manager. After negotiations repeatedly failed they gave Green a signed contract and left the amount blank.
Bottom line: Green scribbled in $500,000. Dawson began his most productive season. He blasted 49 homers, drove in 137 runs, batted .287 and became the first player for a last-place team to win the MVP award.
Dawson played five more seasons with the Cubs before his career wound down with stops at Boston and Florida.
Green, in Cooperstown this weekend to honor Dawson, agrees his stint with the Cubs made him a Hall of Famer.
"I certainly would have liked to see him go in as a Cub, but I understand the longevity angle with Montreal," Green told me. "The Hall of Fame makes that decision."
To Green, being able to bring Dawson aboard in '87 was one of his key moves while running the Cubs.
"For me, the difference was like night and day once I did get on the grass," said Dawson. "I had a goal to play 15 years, but I almost quit my fourth year because of a fracture in one of my knees. The years of playing on AstroTurf really did a number as far as the wear and tear on the knees was concerned. That just made playing on grass feel like the difference of night and day."
Dawson said knee problems began with football injuries in high school. He had 14 surgeries and two replacements during his baseball career.
Green calls the "blank contract" a saga that began when the Cubs showed interest in Dawson after he filed for free agency.
"I had several phone conversations with Dick Moss and told him the Tribune Co. (Cubs owner at the time) wouldn't approve the money to pay Andre what he deserved. I had already spent quite a lot and couldn't do much more. Moss said Andre wanted off artificial turf and that Wrigley Field would be perfect for him. As you know, owners were trying to hold salaries down at the time."
Spring Training of '87 was just under way. Moss suggested he and Dawson go to Mesa, Ariz., and visit with Green.
"I told them not to come," said Green. "Then, I flew off to an owners' meeting. That's where I was when I got a call from my office informing me Moss and Dawson were in camp. I thought, 'Oh, my god.' I got mad went into a tirade. I flew back and finally met with them. That's when Dick Moss said Andre would sign a blank contract and I could fill in the amount. And I think he told the media that, too."
Dawson said "they really didn't know how to take that. They looked at it, but told us they couldn't guarantee anything."
Green, with the blessing of the Tribune Co., filled in the $500,000.
"I told Andre it was well below his worth and mentioned I wanted to be fair, but that was my best offer," said Green.
Dawson had already flown back to his Florida home. "I said, 'It's more about pride and principle, and I'll accept it. I was man enough to present this to you, and I'm going to stand up to it.' The Expos had asked me to take a cut of $200,000 to $1 million. So, in essence, I was going from $1.2 million to $500,000."
Green said he had written clauses in the contract that amounted to $250,000 if Dawson made the All-Star team, started in the All-Star Game, and won the NL MVP. He earned all three.
In 1992, as part of the $280 million owners were assessed, Dawson was awarded $1 million. He more than got the money back he gave up to sign the blank contract.
"Dick Moss said we had to make an offer that would not be turned down," Dawson said, adding it turned out to be one of the best moves of his career.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Hall of Fame induction weekends — this is my 40th — is watching the newest members mingle with players from former classes the last couple of days before the ceremony. It's almost like a rookie player walking into a Major League clubhouse for the first time.
"As the days go by and the induction gets closer, I am feeling like I belong," said Dawson.
I was here in May during his orientation and as the long day neared its end, each step through the Hall of Fame seemed to become more meaningful for Dawson.
He said being inducted means more to him now than numbers and achievements. "The integrity and character is who you are as a player. That's what you'll be remembered by," he said.
"As a new inductee you've got to protect that. And now I fully understand why it's so tough to get into the Hall of Fame."
That kind of integrity kept Dawson from backing down after signing a blank contract in 1987.
The unheard-of-gesture propelled him to the Hall of Fame.