Shawon Dunston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shawon Dunston |
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Dunston with the Chicago Cubs in 1988
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: March 21, 1963 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 9, 1985, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 2002, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .269 | ||
| Home runs | 150 | ||
| Runs batted in | 668 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Shawon Donnell Dunston (born March 21, 1963) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a talented shortstop who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many years. Shawon played from 1985 until 2002.
He was a star player for the Chicago Cubs for a long time. He also played for other teams like the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets. Shawon was so good that he was chosen to be an All-Star twice, in 1988 and 1990. In 2023, he was honored by being added to the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame.
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Shawon Dunston's Early Life
Shawon Dunston was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 21, 1963. He grew up in a place called the Linden Apartments with his family. His dad, Jack, worked as a taxi driver, and his mom, Brenda, worked in a clothing store.
Shawon went to Thomas Jefferson High School. He played baseball there as an infielder. In his last year of high school, Shawon was amazing. He hit the ball almost every time, with a .790 batting average. He also hit 10 home runs and stole 37 bases without getting caught!
Playing Baseball Professionally
Shawon Dunston was considered one of the best young players in the country. In 1982, the Chicago Cubs picked him as the very first player in the MLB draft. This was a big deal because he was the first player from New York to be chosen first overall.
Shawon signed a contract with the Cubs for $100,000. He started playing in a lower league called the minor leagues.
Starting in the Major Leagues
In 1985, Shawon tried out for the starting shortstop spot with the Cubs. He won the job and made his first MLB game on April 9. However, he had a tough start, hitting only .194 and making some errors. So, the Cubs sent him back to the minor leagues for a bit. After playing well there, he came back to the Cubs later that year.
Becoming an All-Star Player
Shawon became a key player for the Cubs. In 1988 and 1990, he was chosen to be an All-Star. He helped the Cubs win their division title in 1989. That year, he hit .278, had 20 doubles, 9 home runs, and stole 19 bases.
After the 1991 season, Shawon signed a big contract to stay with the Cubs. But he got a back injury in 1992 and needed surgery. Even though he was injured, the Cubs kept him on the team.
Moving to Different Teams
After the 1995 season, Shawon became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team. He wanted to stay at shortstop, but the Cubs wanted him to play third base. So, he signed with the San Francisco Giants for the 1996 season.
In 1997, he returned to the Cubs. Later that year, the Cubs traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit two home runs in his very first game with the Pirates!
After that, he played for the Cleveland Indians in 1998. Then, he was traded back to the San Francisco Giants that same year. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets in 1999. He returned to the Cardinals in 2000.
Reaching the World Series
Shawon signed with the San Francisco Giants again in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, he reached the 2002 World Series with the Giants. This was his first time playing in the World Series! In Game 6, he hit a home run that gave his team a lead. Even though the Giants didn't win the series, it was a memorable moment.
Shawon ended his career with a .269 batting average. He hit 150 home runs and had 668 runs batted in in 1814 games. Towards the end of his career, he often played in the outfielder position or came off the bench as a helpful player. He wore jersey number 12 when he played for the Chicago Cubs.
Shawon's Playing Style
Shawon Dunston was known for his incredibly strong throwing arm as a shortstop. He could throw the ball very hard and accurately across the field. In 1996, he won the Willie Mac Award for being a great leader and having a good spirit on the field.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing, Shawon Dunston became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. While he didn't get enough votes to be inducted, his career was still very impressive.
Shawon has a son, Shawon Jr., who has also played minor league baseball. One of his three daughters, Jasmine Dunston, works for the White Sox baseball team.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
