Andre Dawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andre Dawson |
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Dawson in 2009
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: July 10, 1954 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 11, 1976, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1996, for the Florida Marlins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Hits | 2,774 | ||
| Home runs | 438 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,591 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2010 | ||
| Vote | 77.9% (ninth ballot) | ||
Andre Nolan Dawson (born July 10, 1954) is a famous American former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 21 seasons. People often called him "the Hawk" or "Awesome Dawson."
Andre played for four different teams, mainly as a center fielder and right fielder. He spent most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs. He was chosen as an All-Star eight times. In 1977, he won the Rookie of the Year award. Later, in 1987, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). He hit 49 home runs and had 137 runs batted in (RBI) that year.
Andre Dawson was also a great defensive player. He won eight Gold Glove Awards for being excellent in the outfield. He was known for his hard work and studying the game. In 2010, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Growing Up and Early Challenges
Andre Dawson grew up in Florida. He was the oldest of eight children. His father was often away because he was a major general in the United States Army. This meant Andre helped his mother take care of his seven younger brothers and sisters.
Discovering Baseball
Andre would pay his younger brothers with cookies. They would toss him rocks, and he would hit them with a broomstick. This was his way of practicing his batting. His uncle gave him the nickname "The Hawk" when he was very young. His uncle noticed that Andre attacked the ball like a hawk, unlike other kids his age.
High School and College Years
Andre went to Southwest Miami Senior High School and graduated in 1972. He had several knee injuries in high school. These injuries made it hard for him to get attention from professional baseball teams or colleges. So, he took out student loans to go to Florida A&M University.
At Florida A&M, Andre joined the Rattlers baseball team as a freshman. He spent three years there. He later said that his time at Florida A&M helped him prepare for his future in baseball.
Andre Dawson's Amazing Baseball Career
Andre Dawson was drafted by the Montreal Expos. This happened in the 11th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft. He played his first major league game on September 11, 1976.
Starting with the Montreal Expos
In 1977, Andre became a regular player for the Expos. He hit .282 with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He won the 1977 NL Rookie of the Year award. Andre was known for having both power and speed. He hit at least 20 home runs in seven seasons with the Expos. He also stole at least 20 bases in his first seven seasons.
Andre played mostly center field for the Expos. He became an excellent defensive player. He won his first Gold Glove Award in 1980. He was so good that he finished second in the National League MVP voting in both 1981 and 1983. He was also named the Montreal Expos Player of the Year in those same years.
Andre played 1,443 games for the Expos. This is the fourth-highest in the team's history. He set team records for home runs (32) and RBI (113) in a single season. He is the only Expos player to hit 200 home runs and steal 200 bases for the team.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
After the 1986 season, Andre left the Expos. He wanted to play for a team with natural grass. The artificial turf at Olympic Stadium in Montreal was hurting his knees. However, it was hard for him to find a new team.
Andre really wanted to play for the Chicago Cubs. Their home field, Wrigley Field, had natural grass. He even showed up at the Cubs' training camp with a blank contract. He was willing to let the team fill in the salary. The Cubs eventually signed him for $500,000. They also added bonuses if he stayed healthy and made the All-Star team.
In 1987, Andre became the Cubs' starting right fielder. He led MLB with 49 home runs. He also won the National League MVP award that year. This was a big achievement because the Cubs finished last in their division. He was the first player to win an MVP award while playing for a last-place team. Andre played five more seasons with the Cubs. He became one of their most popular players.
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Finishing His Career
In 1992, the Boston Red Sox signed Andre Dawson. He hit his 400th career home run with the Red Sox in 1993. He had another knee injury that year. This limited how many games he could play. He had more knee surgery the next year.
Andre played his last two seasons with the Florida Marlins. He played less often because of his injuries. He retired after the 1996 season. In his final game, fans gave him a standing ovation as he left the field. It was a special farewell to a great player.
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Amazing Achievements and Records
Andre Dawson ended his career with many impressive numbers. He had 2,774 hits, 438 home runs, 314 stolen bases, and 1,591 RBI. He is one of only eight players in MLB history to have over 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases. This is known as the "300-300 club." He is also one of only five players to have over 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases.
In 1997, the Montreal Expos retired his jersey number, 10. This was a great honor. The Washington Nationals, who used to be the Expos, also honored him. They placed him in their "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park in 2010. In 2019, he was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Induction
Andre Dawson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010. This is a very special place for the best baseball players ever. It was his ninth year of being eligible for the Hall of Fame. His Hall of Fame plaque shows him wearing a Montreal Expos cap.
Andre had played most of his career with the Expos. However, he was a bit sad about the cap choice. He felt that his relationship with the Expos had ended badly. He wanted his plaque to show a Chicago Cubs cap instead. He played six years with the Cubs. Five of his eight All-Star appearances were as a Cub. His only MVP award also came in his first year with the Cubs in 1987.
Even though he wanted a Cubs cap, the Hall of Fame decided to keep the Expos cap. They noted that he had more hits and won more Gold Gloves as an Expo. He also helped the Expos win their only postseason series.
Life After Baseball
Andre Dawson married Vanessa Turner. They have two children, Darius and Amber.
Family and Business Ventures
After retiring from playing, Andre worked for the Florida Marlins. He even got his first World Series ring with them in 2003.
Andre Dawson owns a funeral home in Florida called Paradise Memorial Funeral Home. He started investing in it in 2003. He became the owner in 2008. He also used to own a soul food restaurant called The Mahogany Grille.
Andre often attends events for the Chicago Cubs. He is still a very popular player among their fans. He even appeared in a TV commercial for State Farm Insurance in 2012. In 2012, he released his autobiography called If You Love This Game: An MVP's Life in Baseball.
See Also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
