Two of the three most prominent Cubs of my youth are in the news this weekend.  Andre Dawson will be inducted in the Hall of Fame tomorrow, and my boyhood idol, Ryne Sandberg, is rumored to replace retiring Cubs manager, Lou Piniella, next season.

I almost feel like I’m 10 years old again.

Now if only Mark Grace could start making some headlines.

So as happens this time of year, I have read nothing but Hall of Fame-related material, and was inevitably reminded of this song.  I LOVE this song.  It is simply a bunch of names of baseball players set to music.  And it has made me happy everytime I listen to it for probably 20 years.  I don’t think I can say that about any other song.  I am a dork.

And if you are curious if any of the mentioned players are members of the Hall of Fame, there are five: Roy Campanella, Johnny Mize, Early Wynn, Lou Boudreau, and Ernie Lombardi.

I was very happy today to see Andre Dawson get elected to the Hall of Fame.  I can’t believe it took 10 years.  Admittedly, I was never as big a Dawson fan as some of my other Cubs-fan friends (Ryne Sandberg was my boyhood idol), but he was still a prominent sports figure of my childhood.  I am glad this happened for him.

Dawson will go into the Hall alone this year.  I’m a little surprised by this.  I thought Bert Blylevyn would get in.  He fell 4 votes short.  Roberto Alomar barely missed as well.  I’m certain this is only because of the small percentage of voters who believe that only the truly legendary players should be elected on the first ballot.  I don’t completely disagree with them.  Both will certainly get in next year.