Andre Dawson: The Hawk – 5 Tool Star
July 5, 1997 — Prior to their game with Atlanta at Olympic Stadium, the Montreal Expos retire Andre Dawson’s uniform number 10. During his 11-year tenure with Montreal, the future Hall of Fame outfielder once set the single-season club records for home runs (32), RBIs (113), extra base hits (78), and sacrifice flies (18). Braves defeat Montreal, 5 – 3, with Chipper Jones’ 3rd-inning grand slam the big blow.
More on the Hawk
The 1987 National League Most Valuable Player, stoic Andre Dawson clubbed 49 homers and drove in 137 runs for the last-place Chicago Cubs, becoming the first player on a cellar-dweller to earn the award. He hit 174 homers in a Cubs’ uniform, but that was just the second act in his fine career. Earlier, “The Hawk” starred as a five-tool center fielder for the Expos, hitting 225 homers and stealing 253 bases for Montreal in ten full seasons. With Ellis Valentine and Warren Cromartie, and later Tim Raines, he formed one of the most talented outfields of the era. He finished his career with two seasons for his hometown Florida Marlins
Best Season, 1987
Though Dawson was a more well-rounded player from 1979-1983, he was a monster in ’87. I can’t agree with his selection as Most Valuable Player, but he had a fabulous season for a very mediocre team. — Dan Holmes
Several sources claim Dawson signed a blank major league contract with the Chicago Cubs in 1987. This is not completely true. Dawson was one of several free agents that off-season who did not receive any offers from teams. Lance Parrish, Tim Raines, Bob Boone, Bob Horner and Rich Gedman were a few of the others. These free agents were later awarded compensation because it was found owners’ had agreed to ignore high-price free agents in an effort to drive down the price of players. Dawson eventually signed with the Cubs, his first choice because he had always had success at Wrigley Field. In his years with Montreal he had hit .346 (122-for-353) with 16 homers and a .598 slugging percentage in Wrigley. Dawson originally told the Cubs he would sign a blank contract and allow the team to fill in any salary they saw fit, just so he could get to play 81 games in Chicago. The Cubs refused and settled on a $650,000 contract – still far less than Dawson would have commanded in a “collusion-free” fair market. After his MVP campaign in 1987, the Cubs tore up the contract and re-signed him for $1.8 million.
ALSO:
July 5 1924 Babe Ruth unconscious at Griffith Stadium in Washington during a game against the Senators. The Babe was out for 5 minutes after colliding with the wall going for a ball. Once he came to, Miller Huggins wanted to take him out, but Ruth wouldn’t hear of it. He finished playing and had 2 more hits.
TRIVIA:
Who hit the first home run of the 1983 World Series?
Hint: #1 Less than two weeks after being traded to the Expos. He was named National League Player of the Week.
Hint: #2 He played with or for twenty-eight Hall of Famers in his eighteen seasons in the majors.
July 5, 1929, at the Polo Grounds, the New York Giants become the first team to use a public address system.
July 5, 1934, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees hits an inside-the-park grand slam at Yankee Stadium in an 8-3 win over the Washington Senators. It’s the 17th grand slam of Gehrig’s career, Gehrig and Babe Ruth’s had shared the record at 16. Gehrig finishes the game with two home runs and seven RBIs.
The “Blast” came off Senators starter Lefty Stewart and scoring on the play just ahead of Gehrig ironically was Ruth.
Gehrig will eventually set a career record of 23 grand slams. Gehrig now has 321 career home runs to Ruth’s 698.
July 5 1947 – Larry Doby becomes the first black to appear in the American League. Striking out as a pinch hitter in an Indian 6 – 5 loss to the White Sox, the 22-year old and The former Newark Eagles standout will play in the major leagues for 13 years, amassing 1,515 hits, just three less than Jackie Robinson.
July 5, 1951 At Ebbets Field, Gil Hodges hits his 27th homer of the year to lead the Dodgers to a 8 – 4 win over the Giants. Andy Pafko also homers, off Larry Jansen. Don Newcombe notches his 12th win, giving up seven hits. After sweeping the Giants in the 3-game series, Dodger manager Chuck Dressen declares, “We knocked ’em out. They won’t bother us anymore.” The Dodgers now lead the Giants by 7 1/2 games but will be surpassed by season’s end.
July 5, 1953 Blanking the Pirates at Forbes Field, 2 – 0, Robin Roberts hurls his 28th consecutive complete game. The Phillies right-hander has finished every game he started since beating the Cardinals on August 28, 1952.
July 5, 1970 At Fenway Park, Boston’s John Kennedy makes his first at bat for the BoSox a memorable one when he pinch hits an inside-the-park homer. Kennedy bats for Pitcher Mike Nagy in the 5th inning of the 8 – 4 Boston win over the Cleveland Indians.
July 5, 1987, Mark McGwire of the Oakland A’s becomes the first rookie to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break. McGwire’s latest long ball helps the A’s to a 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. McGwire’s teammate, Jose Canseco, adds a pair of home runs. The Oakland infielder will finish the season with 49 round-trippers, establishing a new freshman mark.
