Andre Dawson's Hall Of Fame acceptance Speech

7/25/10: Andre Dawson talks about entering the Baseball Hall of Fame
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Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League Club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball's Internet operations into an independent technology company. Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the Internet. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live full length MLB game over the Internet when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to MLB.TV, the live video streaming product that airs every game in HD to nearly 400 different devices. MLB.com also provides an array of mobile apps for fans to choose from, including At Bat, the highest-grossing iOS sports app of all-time. MLB.com also provides fans with a stable of Club beat reporters and award-winning national columnists, the largest contingent of baseball reporters under one roof, that deliver over 100 original articles every day. MLB.com also offers extensive historical information and footage, online ticket sales, official baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles and fantasy games.
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[@Super-om8cm]

Beautiful and eloquent speech. I am originally from Montreal, and the Hawk always seemed like the kind of man you aspire to be. Upright, dependable, and competent.

[@rudeboy178]

Andre is a class act!! That era with the Cubs was the most fun era in baseball!! Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg, Shawon Dunston, Vance Law, Greg Maddux, Rafael Palmero, Rick Suttcliffe, Jody Davis, Dave Martinez were my heros!!!

[@Wesimm23]

Throw in Harry Carray on the mic 🎤 What a squad ❤❤

[@tributevocalist]

The most eloquent speech I've seen of any of the HOF inductees that I've watched.

[@Belle23923]

He is such a class act, always was. So enjoyed watching him as a Cub. Go Hawk!

[@folalde]

Mr. Dawson was such a fantastic player. My dad and I enjoyed watching him play for the Cubbies when I was a kid. Mr. Dawson is a gifted orator as well. This honor is well deserved and well earned.

[@Liam_Maddog]

I thank WGN for making this So Cal boy a diehard Cubs fan in the 80s. And I can tell you this - whenever The Hawk came up to bat, I would drop whatever I was doing in the other room to stand in front of the TV and watch this magnificent ball player, athlete, and human being stand at the plate and do battle with the opposing pitcher. Thanks for the memories, Andre.

[@TheShinobidog]

he and sandburg were my sports heroes as a kid...go cubs!

[@chrisc2131]

Found this searching for the Eric Show incident….was wondering if he was my favorite…..then saw this note 😂

[@kingmoomoo4207]

I wore #8 as a kid little league on the cubs for seveval years left field Dawson was and always will be my favorite player ever...and im from l.a... ima dodger fan but the hawk is my guy

[@lkhbaity]

The Hawk was my hero. Great Slugger, strong arm and great speed

[@firepower782]

I was lucky enough to be there with my 11 year old son. Just spur of the moment decided to make the 11.5 hour drive from middle Tennessee. Got there the afternoon before just in time to see the parade of HOF'ers through town and got the last motel room available in Cooperstown(allegedly) at the Red Cap Inn. So glad we did it. Wouldn't trade it for nothing, The Hawk is my all time favorite. My son is 21 now and I know he will remember it for a lifetime.

[@ConcertKing]

What an incredible speech, if that didn't bring a tear in your eye you are not human!

[@crazyzee81]

Shocked to only see 2 comments on this great speech by one of the greatest Ball players. I was lucky enough to spend part of my childhood in Chicago and a few years in southern WI. I was there for the Bulls 91,92,93 champs, plus my favorite Raider Bo Jackson play with the Sox,I was able to go to games at both Old and New Comiskey Park, watch my Blackhawks win many games on the ice, froze my butt off watching Da Bears, but one of the most memorial days from my childhood was my dad pulling me out of school to go to a Cubbies game. He had done it many times before but on this day I had a broken arm and he decided it would be just me and him instead of taking my older brother along too. We got to Wrigley early for BP and I caught a glimpse of this giant man from behind waiting to hit next. I had scene Dawson before but never as close as I was this time. He was so massive and after he cracked a few homers, he walked by and he signed some autographs for fans but he missed me. Seconds later Harry Caray was walking up to through the crowd and my dad got him to autograph my cast and ball for me. He noticed I wanted Mr. Dawson's sign too so he called over and Andre Dawson came over and signed my arm cast and a game ball for me and ended it with a firm hand shake. I know I am rambling here but It made me so happy to see him get his rightful spot in the HOF.

[@michaelbates350]

awesome story! I grew up in Michigan as a cubbies fan and The Hawk was my favorite player. Thanks for sharing!!

[@JoshCantrell214]

Great story- I'm more than a little jealous. I grew up in southern New Mexico in the late 80s and, for whatever reason, we got WGN on cable, so I kind of randomly became a pretty dedicated Cub fan for about 10 years... Hawk was THE BEST. Still remember when he gave that blank contract to the the Cubs before the '87 season... whenever the Cubs played the Expos I had always thought "damn, I wish that guy Dawson played for us". The day he signed with Chicago he became my all time favorite, bar none. I've never enjoyed following any baseball player as much as Hawk Dawson.

[@kne2323]

That guy was always one of my faves. Always a class act and came to play every single game. One of the best swings in the business. Well deserved recognition for a quiet and humble player. What a guy....

[@LSUguru420]

I'm 41 now. One of the greatest joys of my life were meeting Andre Dawson and Mark Grace at a card show here. I bought Dawson's rookie card & I still have it.

[@mikeshoe74]

2 greats. I'm a Yankees fan, but a true baseball fan. When the Yankees lost to the D-backs in '01, I turned the TV off right away in disgust, but turned it back on a few seconds later to watch Mark Grace celebrate.

[@m.t.fisher4655]

What a sense of humor he has. This is one of the best HOF speeches I've heard. Check out Dawson's autobiography, which is a super read.

[@jsabaseball]

LOVE THE HAWK!!! THANX FOR BEING MY HERO AND INSPIRATION!!!

[@traviswoodall6547]

He is one of the unique talents that would be a hall of farmer in any era because he had ALL the tools.

[@JimmyJam1125]

Im 43. Hawk will always be my favorite baseball player of all time

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

What a big hearted guy - thanked so many people even his phys therapists and doctors! Love ya Hawk.

[@jude999]

As a student of the game in the 80s, I don't think there was a better all around ball player than Dawson. I was suprised to read that Ryan Sandburg felt the same way.

[@Abr022575]

Imagine if he'd had good knees

[@oliverhawkdoesitagain2323]

Great man, great player. "From one Hawk to another."

[@Buddycoop1]

My life was pretty dull back then and the Hawk and that '87 last place team really made that year good.

[@jrod1986]

How is your life now?

[@generalmoxie2413]

Got him in my 45 Jersey collection what a honor to add him to my hall of fame collection. I wear him with pride. 8 golden glove's three of them back to back from '81 to '83.

[@benbrown2292]

Love the Hawk, favorite player growing up

[@ShermanMike1]

Very eloquent and excellent speech by the HAWK!

[@jerrylaw788]

I like when Andre Dawson said Warren Cromartie gave Gary Carter the nickname Teeths because when the cameras came on that's all you saw from him

[@herbhouston5378]

A very well said thank you... I think it's a shame that we never know very about people like him before that time in their lives that they say goodbye and thank you to so many people who helped to get them to this day... I know now, that not only was he a great player... he was also a good man... Thank you Mr. Dawson... It's been a pleasure...

[@ceciljustice7283]

hat's what the Hall of Fame is truly about.

[@greensombrero3641]

one of the greats! I loved watching this great player. what a talent!

[@mattmarshall569]

He will always be my favorite Chicago Cub.

[@SweetMercy]

The Hawk was the reason I started watching baseball.

[@thedude3065]

I'm surprised that any Cub can still wear number 8

[@filmaker256]

Lets see A-rod accomplish even half of what "The HawK" has lol

[@samclosetech]

We love you too Hawk

[@johnlee5046]

Awesome Speech Hawk👍

[@cubswin3838]

He wanted to be inducted as a Cub.

[@hoochdini]

Best Expo ever.

[@talksmoke1190]

Not even close to the best. Carter, vladie and walker were far better

[@santanderuberalles2229]

Love this dude!!!

[@therealbyrdmanjrJR]

My favorite of all time

[@greensombrero3641]

billy williams!

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

My hero.

[@m.t.fisher4655]

Good choice. Great ballplayer and great person.

[@kevinpayton2664]

The Hawk

[@RA-pb4gl]

If he thinks the Cubs organization loves and values him and his contributions, why haven’t they retired his number yet😅 The Expos did when they existed 😉

[@JoshCantrell214]

Hawk.

[@isaacdonnelly20]

THE HAWK

[@mchamp7765]

Expos!!!!!!

[@talksmoke1190]

Andre dawson was a huge choke. If you needed a clutch hit he would in-field fly, pop-up, foul-out, strike-out. He was also a rally killer grinding into countless double plays ruining the inning. Terrible at moving runners along, bunting and sacrificing. the king of meaningless rbi's and useless one run home runs.

[@stevenmiller1416]

Dude. Honestly your comments are not even worth a reply so I'll be quick. You are clueless. You make Homer Simpson look like Einstein.

[@talksmoke1190]

@@stevenmiller1416 dude I'm glad someone else posted so I could see your stupid comment. You obviously know nothing about baseball. Dawson was a choke

[@talksmoke1190]

@Joe Griffin it wasn't dawson with the great arm, it was valentine, learn some baseball before you comment. And I don't believe I ever said he was bad defensively

[@talksmoke1190]

BTW chumps to prove my point even more...87 his best offensive season with the cubs, who I imagine youre creaming about, with these comments. Dawson helped them to a scintillating 9 game under 500 performance, finishing in last place,18.5 games behind. As I said king of useless ribbies and homers. Unless you mean without him the cubs would have finished 30 gbl. Lol.

[@bryantrammell2406]

He's a Hall of Famer. I'm gonna assume that you are not..

[@GooffuX]

This guy should be in the HOF