Sports in brief: Win in the 9th for Dawson

Baseball: Andrew Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday in his ninth try. He was the only player honored, as Bert Blyleven fell five votes short and Roberto Alomar finished eight shy.

Dawson received 420 of 539 votes in results announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, 15 more than the 75 percent necessary to gain election. The eight-time All-Star outfielder was 44 votes short last year.

“If you’re a Hall of Famer, eventually you’re going to get in no matter how long it takes,” Dawson said during a telephone conference call. “As I sit here, the only thing I can think of is that it was well worth the wait.”

Dawson hit 438 homers with 1,591 RBIs in a career that spanned from 1976-96. Nicknamed “The Hawk,” he was voted N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1977 with Montreal and N.L. Most Valuable Player in 1987 with the Chicago Cubs, the first member of a last-place team to earn that prize.

Joined by Barry Bonds and Willie Mays as the only players with 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases, Dawson also spent time with Boston and Florida. He never made it to the World Series.

He will be inducted July 25 at Cooperstown with manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, elected last month by the Veterans Committee.

Edgar Martinez received 195 votes (36.2 percent). The former Seattle Mariner, on the ballot for the first time, was considered a test of how voters receive players who were primarily designated hitters.

Associated Press

Seattle beats OSU by 51

Men’s basketball: Oregon State (6-8) equaled its worst loss in school history, falling to Seattle 99-48 at Corvallis, Ore.

The Redhawks (7-9), playing their first full Division I schedule, broke open a close game in the first half with a 9-0 run to go ahead 27-21, then outscored Oregon State 10-2 in the final three minutes to lead 41-27 at halftime.

Associated Press

Henry’s fiancee won’t be charged

NFL: Police will not charge the fiancee of late Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry in connection with his death last month.

Charlotte- Mecklenburg (N.C.) police said Wednesday that there was no evidence that Loleini Tonga drove recklessly or with excessive speed last month when Henry came out of the back of her pickup truck on a curvy road and suffered fatal injuries.

Police say Henry and Tonga were arguing at a home owned by Tonga’s family in Charlotte on Dec. 16 when Tonga attempted to drive away. A witness said he saw Henry jump into the back of the truck.

Associated Press