Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Andre Dawson

Known for his great heart and determination, legendary Chicago Cubs outfielder Andrew Dawson never met a challenge he wasn’t ready to overcome.

Determination made Andre Dawson a great talent in Chicago Cubs lore. It pushed him to come back from more than a dozen knee operations. Throughout not only his career, but his life, it made him strive to not be overlooked by naysayers. Determination made Andre Dawson into a Hall of Fame player.

A prodigious athlete at his Miami high school, Dawson excelled at both baseball and football, despite playing against kids multiple years his senior. His football career hit a hard stop when he suffered his first knee injury. The trainers insisted it was only a strained ligament, but it proved to be much worse. He was soon diagnosed with torn cartilage and ligaments, requiring the first of many knee surgeries to come.

Not letting a knee injury hinder his athleticism, Dawson focused on baseball. He had a knack for great focus at the plate. Due to this, his uncle became calling him by a nickname – “The Hawk.”

Chicago Cubs: The start of something great

Dawson went on to play baseball at Florida A&M University before the Montreal Expos drafted him in the 11th round of the 1975 Major League Draft.

In his first full season, he earned National League Rookie of the Year honors, batting .282 with 19 home runs and 65 runs batted in. He quickly became known around the league as a bonafide five-tool player.

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In 1983, he had his best season yet, showcasing all of the facets of his game. He led the National League with 189 hits and 341 total bases. He batted .299 with 32 home runs and 113 RBI, the first time he would reach the 30 home run-100 RBI plateau. He also showcased his wheels, stealing 25 bases and scoring 104 runs. He finished second to Atlanta’s Dale Murphy in the MVP race but managed to capture both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award.

The next season, Dawson had a down year, as a decade in the Majors started to show in the 32-year-old. The years spent playing outfield on Olympic Stadium’s artificial turf did no favors for his knee, making them even worse. Many thought that he was entering the downside of his playing days.

In 1986, he showed some signs of resurgence. He hit for a .284 average with 20 home runs in 130 games. After the season, he became a free agent and hoped to land a superstar contract. Unfortunately for Dawson, no such offers came..

Chicago Cubs: Turning insult to injury into a phenomenal mid-career run

Despite being the greatest player in Expos history and one of the game’s top outfielders, Dawson only received one offer from Montreal, which included a significant pay cut. Needless to say, he felt insulted, given what he’d done for the club.

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During that year, baseball owners were actually colluding with one another in order to stop free agency, which explained Dawson’s contractual dilemma. Stiffed by his former team, he set his sights elsewhere. After eight different knee surgeries, he expressed his desire to play on natural glass. After resistance from Cubs general manager Dallas Green and months of insistence that he would not sign Dawson, the two sides reached a deal and Wrigley Field became the perfect landing spot for The Hawk.

Playing at the Friendly Confines really showcased Dawson’s true talent and resurgence. His power numbers reached new heights and he managed to stay fully healthy for the first time in years. Cubs fans were immediately drawn to him and Dawson became a fan favorite, especially with the Bleacher Bums stationed near his patrol in right field.

1987 was a monstrous first season with the Cubs. He bashed 49 home runs (which tied Mark McGwire for the Major League lead), drove in 137 runs and had 353 total bases while hitting .287. Despite his gaudy production, the Cubs finished the season in last place.

At season’s end, Dawson was named the National League MVP, becoming the first player to be awarded the honor while playing for a last-place team.

Chicago Cubs: The Hawk will forever fly in the skies above Wrigley

At season’s end, Dawson became a free agent and signed with the Boston Red Sox. Playing in the American League for the first time in his career, he served as the designated hitter and give his knees a rest. After a two-year stint in Boston, he played two more seasons with the Florida Marlins, primarily as a pinch-hitter, before retiring after the 1996 season at the age of 41.

The Hawk finished his career with 438 home runs, 1,591 RBI, 2,774 hits, 314 stolen bases and 1,373 runs scored. At the time of his retirement, he joined Barry Bonds and Willie Mays as the only Major League players in history with more than 400 home runs and over 300 stolen bases (later achieved by Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran). He was an eight-time All-Star and, also, won the same number of Gold Gloves.

In 2010, after nine years on the ballot, the Veteran’s Committee inducted Dawson into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. His plaque in Cooperstown depicts him with an Expos logo, something that he publically expressed in disappointment with the decision. He called it “gut-wrenching” to not be going in as a Chicago Cub. During his speech, he would say, “Montreal was a platform but Chicago catapulted me in that status to get in.”

Andre Dawson played just six seasons with the Cubs but he will always consider himself a Cubbie. The Hawk’s unsurpassed determination and revitalization while playing in Chicago proved that he was worthy of being a Hall of Famer and a Chicago Cubs legend.