Sunday will mark the 81st year that inductions were held for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and 2010 will see Andre Dawson, manager Whitey Herzog, and umpire Doug Harvey eternally enshrined in Cooperstown.
Andre Dawson, nicknamed “The Hawk,” was known for his meticulous work ethic, positive attitude, and strong personal character both on and off the diamond.
His 1987 NL MVP Award, eight All-Star selections, eight Gold Glove Awards, and four Silver Slugger Awards are just several examples of his legendary accomplishments, which solidified him a spot in Cooperstown in his ninth year of eligibility.
Former teammate Ryne Sandberg described Dawson best during his own induction speech in 2005: “No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. I watched him win an MVP for a last-place team in 1987 [with the Cubs], and it was the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen in baseball. He did it the right way, the natural way, and he did it in the field and on the bases and in every way, and I hope he will stand up here someday.”
The following slides illustrate ten rarely known truths about The Hawk that the average baseball fan may be surprised to read.