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Andre Dawson was a fan favorite with the Cubs from 1987-1992. Warren Cromartie, one of Andre's teammates with the Expos, explained Andre's nickname in his autobiography: "Andre's nickname was the "Hawk" because his facial features resembled a hawk's. He had a body like one, too. We also called him "Cobra" because when he got mad, his shoulders would rise and spread out, just like a cobra, and he'd look even bigger than his 6' 2', 190 pounds."
The Cubs only got him because the owners were colluding to keep salaries down before the 1987 season, and Dawson said he would play for the Cubs for any amount they wanted to give him because he wanted to play on the natural grass of Wrigley Field. The Cubs got him for the bargain basement price of $500,000 (he later recovered the salary he should have earned when the Players Association won a significant judgment against the owners for collusion.)
Andre was MVP that year for a last place team; the first player ever to accomplish that feat. He was also an important part of the Cubs team that went to the playoffs in 1989, but he was hurt at the end of that year and had a horrendous playoff series…hitting only .105, and striking out six times.
On May 22, 1990, he set a major league record for intentional walks received in one game when he got five in a 16-inning contest. Dawson tied for the NL league in intentional walks that year with 21 -- half his walk total for the year.
At the end of the 1990 season he stole his 300th base, making him a member of the exclusive 300/300 club. His stats are comparable to guys like Billy Williams and Al Kaline, and he absolutely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
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