Andre Dawson, Dan Gallagher’s choice as the Expos best homegrown Hall of Famer

August 14, 2023

Dawson gets nod as best homegrown tutored and mentored by Expos

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

One of my bosses at the Canadian Baseball Network, a mutual admirer since 1974, ran a story idea by me the other day.

“You know what might be a good column? Rank the Expos homegrown Hall of Famers in your opinion,’’ he asked.

So here I am telling you I’ve always thought Andre Dawson was the best homegrown player the Expos ever produced and he ended up in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Tutored, coached, mentored and pampered by the Expos from Day 1, Hawk was the best to put on a Montreal uniform.

That view has never changed, even though we have to render due credit to Gary Carter, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC), at least when it comes to position players.

Pitcher Randy Johnson was also spectacular but his time with the Expos was minimal.

Then there’s the great duo of Tim Wallach and Steve Rogers, who weren’t quite good enough for Cooperstown but made it to St. Marys, Ont. and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

I give the top spot to Dawson for many reasons but the main one is for sheer consistency in offensive production and excellent defence during his 10-plus seasons with the Expos.

He was a true five-tool player, who started in earnest in his first full season in 1977 and stayed with the Expos through the 1986 season when he became a free agent.

Dawson could run, he could field, he could throw, he could hit, he could hit for power. In an Expos uniform, Hawk fashioned his legacy with the Expos, often in pain as he suffered from knee problems caused by the gall-darn turf at Olympic Stadium.

He had his right knee taped up by the trainers and off he went to play. It took a lot to keep him out of the lineup. His courage and bravery in the face of pain were exemplary.

He was a warrior. His health problems make one so appreciative of his uncanny ability to execute.

Dawson led the Expos in many categories before he went to the Cubs and other teams before retiring.

Long before iPads became prevalent in dugouts, Dawson used a clipboard to pore over statistics of pitchers before he headed to the plate.

Guerrero supporters might question my choice of Dawson but Hawk excelled over a longer period of time than Guerrero for Montreal. Guerrero checked in with 7 1/2 seasons with the Expos.

I saw Dawson play a few games in person and I’ve seen enough highlight reels to realize how special a player he was. He was agile and fast with an excellent arm and potent bat.

And Hawk’s pleasant personality and willingness to deal with the media made him extra special. I’ve been texting and calling him on occasion for many years and he’s always accommodating. That says a lot about the man.

I always get a text message or a phone call if I try to get in touch with him. He’s a real professional.

It was a shame Dawson left for the Cubs in free agency but his longevity and service time with Montreal led to him taking the Expos logo on his plaque, even though he wanted to go in as a Cub.

After Dawson, I would have to go with Guerrero, Raines, Walker and Carter in that order.

As far as Blue Jays’ homegrown heroes in Cooperstown, there is one, Roy Halladay.

Period.

Danny Gallagher’s latest Expos book Around the Horn is available at Amazon.