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Andre Dawson with the Montreal Expos in the '80s. Source: https://flasportshof.org/fshofmember/andre-dawson/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Andre Dawson was one of my favourite baseball players of all time, so I was a little sad to hear he recently contacted the Baseball Hall of Fame to request the hat he was inducted wearing be changed from an Expos hat to a Chicago Cubs hat.
It reminded me of his career in the 1980s, and why he left the Expos in the first place.
Our own backyard
Andre Dawson began his major league career playing rookie ball in the Pioneer League for – the Lethbridge Expos in 1975. As kids, we would collect baseball cards at school, and at various times one or another of us marveled at the fact the guy we were watching on TV, actually used to play just a few miles away in Lethbridge.
Andre Dawson began his major league career playing rookie ball in the Pioneer League for – the Lethbridge Expos in 1975. As kids, we would collect baseball cards at school, and at various times one or another of us marveled at the fact the guy we were watching on TV, actually used to play just a few miles away in Lethbridge.
If I am not mistaken, my brother actually saw him play in Lethbridge.
Dawson wouldn’t stay in Southern Alberta long.
He was destined for much bigger things.
The years before
Dawson cruised through the minor-league system and made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1976, playing in 24 games after being called up in September. He batted .235 with 20 hits including four doubles, a triple and seven runs batted in.
Dawson cruised through the minor-league system and made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1976, playing in 24 games after being called up in September. He batted .235 with 20 hits including four doubles, a triple and seven runs batted in.
The next year, the 1977 season, Dawson became an every day player in centre field for the Expos He batted .282 with 148 hits, including 19 home runs, nine triples and 26 doubles, drove in 65 runs and had 21 stolen bases. For his efforts, he was named the National League rookie of the year. The Expos, playing the first season in Olympic Stadium, finished fifth in the National League East with a 75-87 record.
In 1978, Dawson batted .253 with 154 hits, including 25 home runs, eight triples, and 24 doubles, drove in 72 runs, and stole 28 bases. The Expos finished with a record of 76-86, good enough for fourth in the National League East.
In 1979, he batted .275 with 176 hits, including 25 home runs, 12 triples, 24 doubles, had 92 runs batted in, and 35 stolen bases. The Expos had their first winning season, and best record as the Expos, finishing 95-65. They finished second in the National League East, two games behind the eventual World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
As the 1980s dawned, it seemed Andre Dawson was poised to break out and become a star for the Montreal Expos.
Off to stardom
The Expos built on their success of 1979 by challenging for the National League East Division title again. This time they battled the Philadelphia Phillies down to the wire, before finishing second with a 90-72 record, one game behind the Phillies.
The Expos built on their success of 1979 by challenging for the National League East Division title again. This time they battled the Philadelphia Phillies down to the wire, before finishing second with a 90-72 record, one game behind the Phillies.
Dawson batted .308 with 178 hits, including 17 home runs, seven triples, 41 doubles, and 87 runs batted in. He also stole 34 bases, and he won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards.
Blue Monday
The 1981 season would be the most successful for the Expos, with Andre Dawson helping lead the way. There was a strike part way through the season. When play resumed, Major League Baseball decided to have a unique playoff system. The season would start all over. However, the teams leading their divisions when the season ended would play the teams who led their divisions before the strike.
The 1981 season would be the most successful for the Expos, with Andre Dawson helping lead the way. There was a strike part way through the season. When play resumed, Major League Baseball decided to have a unique playoff system. The season would start all over. However, the teams leading their divisions when the season ended would play the teams who led their divisions before the strike.
The Expos won the second half National League East division title and would play the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-five divisional playoff. The Expos won that and faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-five National League Championship Series. The teams battled back and forth. In the fifth and deciding game, the Dodgers got a late home run by Rick Monday to win the series. They advanced to the World Series where they defeated the New York Yankees for the championship. The game has forever been called “Blue Monday”.
Dawson batted .302 and had 119 hits, including 24 home runs, three triples, 21 doubles and 64 runs batted in. He also stole 26 bases. For his efforts he was named to his first all-star game, won his second Glove Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and was runner up for National League Most Valuable Player behind Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sustained success
Once again in 1982, Andre Dawson was an all star and won another Gold Glove. He batted .301 with 183 hit, including 23 home runs, seven triples, 37 doubles, and 83 runs batted in. He also stole 39 bases. The Expos went 86-76, finishing in third place, six games behind St. Louis who would gone on to win the World Series.
Once again in 1982, Andre Dawson was an all star and won another Gold Glove. He batted .301 with 183 hit, including 23 home runs, seven triples, 37 doubles, and 83 runs batted in. He also stole 39 bases. The Expos went 86-76, finishing in third place, six games behind St. Louis who would gone on to win the World Series.
Dawson had another excellent season in 1983, earning his third straight all-star selection, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards again, and was runner up for National League Most Valuable Player behind Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves. He led the league with 189 hits, and batted .299 with 32 home runs, 10 triples, 36 doubles and 113 runs batted in. He also stole 25 bases. Montreal finished 82-80, good enough for third place, eight games back of Philadelphia.
In 1984, Dawson won his fifth straight Gold Glove, while batting .248, with 132 hits, including 17 home runs, six triples, 23 doubles, and 86 runs batted in. He also had 13 stolen bases. Injuries were already beginning to affect him, as he appeared in just 138 games. The Expos finished 78-83 and fifth in the National League East.
The 1985 season saw Dawson win his sixth straight Gold Glove, as he batted .255, with 135 hits, including 23 home runs, two triples, 27 doubles, and 91 runs batted in. He again stole 13 bases, and again missed a lot of games due to injury, appearing in just 139 games. Montreal finished 84-77 and third in the National League East.
The next year, 1986, would be the end of the line for Andre Dawson in Montreal. He appeared in a career-low 130 games, where he batted a solid .284, recording 141 hits, including 20 home runs, two triples, 32 doubles, and 78 runs batted in. Montreal finished 78-83, fourth in the National League East Division.
His contract was up and Dawson was not returning to Montreal. The concrete hard outfield had contributed significantly to Dawson’s knee injuries, so he realized he had to play on natural grass.
Interestingly, teams weren’t beating down the door to sign Andre Dawson. Ultimately, he had his agent take around an open contract to the teams that played on natural grass. I remember thinking Andre Dawson was done.
Boy was I wrong.
Most Valuable Player
Dawson signed with the Chicago Cubs, and rejuvenated his career. In fact, he had a career season in 1987, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. He also earned another all-star selection, won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and led the National League in home runs with 49 and runs batted in with 137. He batted .287 with 178 hits including two triples and 24 doubles, and stole 11 bases.
Dawson signed with the Chicago Cubs, and rejuvenated his career. In fact, he had a career season in 1987, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. He also earned another all-star selection, won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and led the National League in home runs with 49 and runs batted in with 137. He batted .287 with 178 hits including two triples and 24 doubles, and stole 11 bases.
The rest of the decade
In 1988, Dawson followed up his most valuable player season with another all-star, Gold Glove season as he batted .303 with 179 hits, including 24 home runs, eight triples, 31 doubles, 79 runs batted in, and he stole eight bases.
In 1988, Dawson followed up his most valuable player season with another all-star, Gold Glove season as he batted .303 with 179 hits, including 24 home runs, eight triples, 31 doubles, 79 runs batted in, and he stole eight bases.
The 1989 season saw the Chicago Cubs win the National League East Division title. They faced the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series, who beat the Cubs four games to one. Dawson was again named an all star, as he batted .252 with 105 hits, including 21 home runs, six triples, 18 doubles, and 77 runs batted in.
The years after
Andre Dawson would play for Chicago until the end of the 1992 season, moving on to Boston for two seasons, and the Florida Marlins for two more, retiring after the 1996 season. He was an eight-time all star; eight-time Gold Glover; four-time Silver Slugger; and won most valuable player and rookie-of-the year awards.
Andre Dawson would play for Chicago until the end of the 1992 season, moving on to Boston for two seasons, and the Florida Marlins for two more, retiring after the 1996 season. He was an eight-time all star; eight-time Gold Glover; four-time Silver Slugger; and won most valuable player and rookie-of-the year awards.
He finished his career appearing in 2,627 games, with a .279 batting average; 2,774 hits; 438 home runs; 98 triples; 503 doubles; and 1,591 runs batted in.
Andre Dawson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Parting thoughts
Several images of Andre Dawson come to mind when I hear his name. One is that loping stride that covered so much ground in the outfield and on the base paths. Another is that same stride, only much more laboured, in his last years in Montreal as he was already hobbled by injury. A third is that look of concentration and focus every time he came to the plate. Finally, there was this look of defiance that first year in Chicago where he played with fierce determination. You could tell he thought he had something to prove.
Several images of Andre Dawson come to mind when I hear his name. One is that loping stride that covered so much ground in the outfield and on the base paths. Another is that same stride, only much more laboured, in his last years in Montreal as he was already hobbled by injury. A third is that look of concentration and focus every time he came to the plate. Finally, there was this look of defiance that first year in Chicago where he played with fierce determination. You could tell he thought he had something to prove.
I can appreciate how he may wish to change caps in the Hall of Fame, because it was in Montreal where he sustained those injuries, and it seemed nothing was done to change the situation.
Whether that happens or not, it was a pleasure to watch “The Hawk” soar throughout the ‘80s.
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