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 | ||
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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. People called him "the Hawk" or "Awesome Dawson". He played as an outfielder for 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). An outfielder is a player who fields balls hit into the outfield, the grassy area beyond the infield.
Andre played for four different teams, mostly as a center or right fielder. He spent most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs. He was chosen for the All-Star team 8 times. In 1977, he won the Rookie of the Year award. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1987. That year, he led the league with 49 home runs and 137 runs batted in (RBI). He was known for his amazing defense, winning eight Gold Glove Awards. A Gold Glove is an award given to the best defensive players in baseball.
Andre Dawson was one of only eight MLB players to hit at least 300 home runs and steal 300 bases in his career. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
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 U.S. Army. This meant Andre helped his mother take care of his younger brothers and sisters.
When he was young, Andre's uncle gave him the nickname "The Hawk." This was because Andre would bravely attack ground balls during practice, like a hawk going after its prey.
Andre went to Southwest Miami Senior High School. He had several knee injuries in high school. These injuries made it hard for him to get noticed by professional baseball teams or colleges. He ended up taking out student loans to go to Florida A&M University. At Florida A&M, he joined the baseball team as a freshman. He later said his time there helped him prepare for his future career.
Playing Career Highlights
Montreal Expos Years
The Montreal Expos picked Andre Dawson in the 11th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft. He played his first major league games in 1976. In 1977, he became a regular player for the Expos. He hit .282 (meaning he got a hit almost 3 out of every 10 times he batted) with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases. A stolen base is when a runner advances to the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball. He won the 1977 Rookie of the Year award in the National League.
Andre was known for his mix of 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. He became an excellent defensive player, winning his first Gold Glove in 1980. He was almost named the National League MVP twice, finishing second in 1981 and 1983.
Andre played 1,443 games for the Expos. He still holds the Expos' career record for sacrifice flies. He is also the only player to hit 200 home runs and steal 200 bases for Montreal. In 1978 and 1985, Andre did something special: he hit two home runs in the same inning! Only a few players in baseball history have done this twice.
Time with the Chicago Cubs
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After the 1986 season, Andre Dawson became a free agent. He wanted to play for a team with a natural grass field. This was because the artificial turf at Olympic Stadium in Montreal made his knee injuries worse. However, many team owners secretly agreed not to offer big contracts to free agents. This made it hard for Andre to find a new team.
Andre really wanted to play for the Chicago Cubs. He even showed up at their training camp with a blank contract, ready to sign for whatever they offered. The Cubs' general manager eventually signed him for $500,000. He also got bonuses if he stayed healthy and made the All-Star team.
In 1987, his first year with the Cubs, Andre led MLB with 49 home runs. He also won the National League MVP award. This was special because the Cubs finished last in their division that year. Andre was the first player ever to win an MVP award while playing for a last-place team.
He played five more seasons with the Cubs. He was one of the most popular players on the team.
Later Career and Retirement
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In 1992, Andre signed with the Boston Red Sox. On April 15, 1993, he hit his 400th career home run. He had more knee surgeries during his time with the Red Sox. This limited how many games he could play.
Andre played his last two seasons with the Florida Marlins. He retired after the 1996 season. In his final game, he was taken out of the game so fans could give him a standing ovation. It was a special farewell.
Career Achievements and Hall of Fame
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| Andre Dawson's number 10 was retired by the Montreal Expos in 1997. |
Andre Dawson finished his career with 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, to honor him. In 2010, the Washington Nationals, who used to be the Expos, placed Andre in their "Ring of Honor." In 2019, he was also inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Baseball Hall of Fame Induction
Andre Dawson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010. This was his ninth year of being eligible for the honor. His Hall of Fame plaque shows him wearing a Montreal Expos cap. Andre actually wanted his plaque to show him with a Chicago Cubs cap. He felt a stronger connection to the Cubs because of how his time with the Expos ended.
Many people, including his former Cubs teammate Ryne Sandberg, believed Andre deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. Ryne Sandberg said that Andre "worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson." He also mentioned Andre winning MVP for a last-place team, calling it "the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in baseball."
The Hall of Fame decided on the Expos cap because Andre played most of his career there. He had more hits and won more Gold Gloves as an Expo. However, Andre's only MVP award and five of his eight All-Star appearances were with the Cubs.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Andre Dawson worked in the front office for the Florida Marlins. He even got his first World Series ring in 2003 when the Marlins won.
Andre owns a funeral home in Florida called Paradise Memorial Funeral Home. He started investing in the business in 2003 and became the owner in 2008. He has talked about how sad it is to see families grieve, especially during difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic. His wife, Vanessa, works as the office manager there.
Andre also used to own a soul food restaurant called The Mahogany Grille. He often attends Chicago Cubs events and is still a favorite among fans. In 2012, he released his autobiography, a book about his life, 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 runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
