Rich Scarcella: Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson says he's grateful for his career, life

Jan. 21—Jamie Moyer was in his mid-20s and learning the game of baseball when he spent two seasons as Andre Dawson's teammate with the Chicago Cubs in the 1980s.

Moyer closely watched how Dawson carried himself, how he kept an even keel throughout 162-game seasons and how he committed himself to being great.

"The guy was just the consummate professional," Moyer said. "You didn't see him this way (high). You didn't see him this way (low). You always saw him right here (level). He was all business, but very relaxed. He was dedicated.

"He's an unbelievable human being. I was fortunate to be his teammate. The person you see is the person I played with."

The 67-year-old Dawson shared the dais with former Philadelphia Phillies pitchers Moyer and Ricky Bottalico at the 60th annual Reading Hot Stovers Banquet Thursday night at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading.

Dawson, an eight-time All-Star, was an outfielder for 21 seasons with the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Despite undergoing 12 knee surgeries, Dawson became the second player in Major League Baseball history to reach 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases in his career.

"I just kept challenging myself," he said when asked if he ever considered retiring because of his knee problems. "I just continued to challenge myself to see how far I could go. Do I regret it now? Well, I've had three knee replacements."

Dawson grew up in Miami and played football and baseball at Florida A&M before Montreal drafted him in 1975 in the 11th round. He played 10 seasons with the Expos, quickly establishing a reputation as a player who could hit, hit with power, run, throw and catch.

He was named the 1977 National League Rookie of the Year, twice finished second in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player and won six consecutive Gold Glove awards. He learned from such mentors as Tony Perez, Dave Cash, Al Oliver and Pete Rose.

But the artificial turf at Montreal's Olympic Stadium took a heavy toll on his knees. When the Expos showed indifference in keeping him after the 1986 season, he went to the Cubs and told them he'd sign a blank contract to play for them.

"I had really grown tired of what was going on with the Expos and my (contract) negotiations," Dawson recalled. "The writing was on the wall. It was time for me to move on.

"I liked the Cubs (who played only day games then) because I was always a better daytime hitter. I saw the ball better in the natural light. They had a huge national following. It was a no-brainer."

Dawson more than earned his $500,000 base salary in his first season with the Cubs. He dominated the National League, batting .287 with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs. He was voted the MVP despite Chicago finishing last in the NL East.

"They can't come to an agreement so he tells the club, 'OK, I'll sign the contract and you fill in the salary,' " Moyer said. "Who does that? Who has done that? Who will do that? And then he goes out and has an MVP year."

Dawson became one of the most beloved players in Cubs history, playing six seasons for them and making five All-Star teams. He went on to play two seasons with Boston and parts of two with the Marlins before he retired with 438 home runs, 1,591 RBIs and 314 stolen bases.

"He really worked hard at what he did," Moyer said. "He had a great arm, an unbelievable arm. He could run when he needed to. He had power. He was a good teammate. I don't know what more you could ask for."

These days Dawson lives in South Florida, where since 2009 he and his wife, Vanessa, have owned Paradise Memorial Funeral Home in Richmond Heights in Miami-Dade County.

Dawson said the last two years have been difficult since COVID-19 spread to the United States. Funeral homes and crematoriums have been swamped. Caskets are sometimes difficult to find. Last fall, Paradise conducted six funerals every Saturday for three weeks, he said.

He sometimes pauses and wonders how he became a funeral director.

"I was an investor in two funeral homes and the one I own sort of fell into my lap," Dawson said. "I could have sold it. There were potential suitors. I saw how cutthroat that business could be. I knew it was a service the community needed.

"It's not about me. It's about families during the worst times of their life and being there and helping them get through the process. This is my calling. God has blessed me immensely. This is what he wants me to do."

Dawson also has been active in relief efforts for Haiti and in promoting Historically Black Colleges and Universities with MLB. The 2022 Dawson Classic will take place next month in New Orleans with seven HBCU schools taking part.

He shows no signs of retiring. He feels fortunate for the life he's had.

"I was able to chase a childhood dream," Dawson said. "To go through all the knee issues during my playing career and still play 20 years, I've been blessed immensely. That's what I'm grateful for. The good Lord was looking out for me."