Chicago Cubs History: Regaling the top five MVPs in franchise history

Chicago Cubs: Andre Dawson, OF, 1987

There is controversy surrounding this time in Cubs history. Nothing egregious, mind you, but still, quite a lot was happening in the summer, and even months before, of 1987. The January before, following the break of a new year, the Cubs presented a blank check for a contract for Andre Dawson in the amount of the team’s choice.

An unprecedented move, to say the least especially considering Dawson’s track record with the Montreal Expos, however, it was there, and Dawson agreed to play for the Cubs. Chicago gave Dawson a base salary of $500,000, along with bonuses for avoiding injuries and making the all-star team, both of which Dawson completed.

Interestingly too about this season was the Cubs dismal performance on the field as they finished in dead last in the N.L. East. Dawson did not let it hold him back, however, as he hit a career-high 49 home runs alongside 137 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 24 doubles.

Dawson slashed .287/.328/.568 with a 124 wRC+ and worth a 3.5 WAR. Similar too to Sandberg, Dawson also managed to win a Gold Glove in the same year as his MVP, his seventh in eight years during the 80s. Dawson never reached those numbers again, but man, for one year, it was magnificently Goliath-esque.