Cooperstown speech

Andre Dawson made good use of his induction speech into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown Sunday.

Mr. Dawson, a slugging, strong-armed outfielder who played 21 seasons — primarily with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs — gave a strong message about the game and the need to play it fair and square.

Without using the words "steroids" or "performance-enhancing drugs," he made his point: "Individuals have chosen the wrong road and they have chosen that as their legacy," he said. "Others still have a chance to choose theirs. Do not be lured to the dark side. It's a stain on the game, a stain that's gradually being removed."

Mr. Dawson, who retired in 1996, having hit 438 home runs and stolen 314 bases, spoke of his love for baseball. "It bothers me when I hear people knock the game. There's nothing wrong with the game of baseball. Baseball will from time to time, like anything else in life, fall victim to the mistakes people make. It's not pleasant and it's not right. Those mistakes have hurt the game and taken a toll on all of us."

In what the Associated Press described as "an otherwise lighthearted speech," Mr. Dawson made some serious points about the steroid era. "It's definitely been damaging to the history of the game," he said. "If my mind doesn't escape me, integrity is a very important part of the game."

Let's hope others heed Andre Dawson's plea to "play the game the way it's meant to be played."