Andre Dawson

Lore & Background

Dawson grew up in Florida as the oldest of eight children. His father was a major general in the United States Army and often absent, leaving Dawson to look after his seven younger siblings while his mother worked. Dawson would pay his younger brothers in cookies to toss him rocks for him to hit with a broomstick as batting practice. His nickname, "The Hawk", was given to him by an uncle at a very early age. Dawson attended and graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School in 1972. He did not draw any attention from professional scouts or college recruiters and took out student loans in order to enroll at Florida A&M University, where he walked on to the Rattlers baseball team as a freshman.

In Their Own Story

Under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium, the air hung heavy with the scent of cut grass and grilled onions. Dawson adjusted his cap, the brim shadowing eyes that had witnessed decades of baseball wars. He stepped into the box not with a rookie's frantic energy, but with the lethal calm of a veteran who knew exactly where the ball was going before it left the pitcher's hand. The crack of the bat echoed like a gunshot through the canyon, sending the leather sphere soaring into the Los Angeles night—a final, thunderous testament to a career built on pure excellence.

Reader's Guide

Dawson was selected by the Expos in the 11th round of the 1975 MLB draft. He made his debut on September 11, 1976. He played for the Expos through 1986, then for the Chicago Cubs from 1987 to 1992. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in October 1992 and played there in 1993 and 1994. He played his last two years with the Florida Marlins in Miami, retiring after the 1996 season. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Did You Know?

• Andre Dawson played for four teams: Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.
• He never played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Dawson won the National League MVP in 1987 after leading the league with 49 home runs and 137 RBI.
• He is one of eight MLB players with at least 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.