Please welcome the newest member of the SC HOF, Loyalty32. Craig has perhaps the finest collection of Andre Dawson cards and memorabilia that you will find anywhere. Please take a few minutes to look at his collection, and to welcome him to the HOF.

Andre Dawson Collection: 1506/2502 (60%)
*1/1's: 12
*Autographs: 432 (172 Are IP/TTM)
*Game Used & Patches: 299
*Serial Numbered: 257

Here are links to my Free Webs Site and my Photobucket...
http://www.freewebs.com/loyalty32/

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k133/Loyalty32/Andre%20Dawson%20Collection/

-Autographed Chicago Cubs Jersey
-Autographed Montreal Expos Jersey
-Autographed 1991 Staline "The Hawk" Poster
-Pair of Autographed Batting Gloves (Marlins '96)
-Autographed/Game Used Sleeves (undershirt) Cubs
-PSA/DNA Certified Personal Check
-Numerous Autographed 8x10's
-(3) Full Size Game Used Bats
-Autographed Game Model Bat w/Pendleton & Arias
-Autographed Montreal Expos Ice Cream Helmet
-Autographed Chicago Cubs Ice Cream Helmet
-Autographed Baseballs with various inscriptions (Hawk, MVP, ROY)
-Numerous Packs with Dawson on front or back
-Wax Boxes and Factory Sealed Sets w/ Dawson shown on them
-200+ Baseball Checklists from various sets with Andre Dawson's name on them
-Andre Dawson's Autobiography (Soft cover and Hardback)
-Numerous Books and Magazines w/Dawson on the cover
-Numerous Magnets, Pins & Buttons
-All 4 SLU issues sealed
-All 4 SLU opened
-Unused All-Star Game Ballots from the years Dawson was eligible
-A couple Silk Cachets
-Commemorative Plate
-Full Size Facsimile Autographed 1989 Cubs Division Champions Bat

Scans of alot of the items listed above can be found in my Photobucket.

Now, why I collect Andre Dawson. If you ask my wife she says it's because he never smiles either. One day after showing her another one of my Dawson mail days, she says "Now I get it". I said get what? she says "Why you like Andre Dawson". I said, ok... she says "He never smiles either!".

The real reason I like Andre Dawson beside the fact he was an awesome player, is because of the way he carried himself. Quiet person who didn't just demand respect from people, he earned it. I love the fact that he played hurt. Never complained and always wanted to be in the lineup. Most people like watching him hit HR's. To me there was nothing like watching him throw a runner out at home! That stare he had at the plate was something else. Some of the things his former teammates said about him can bring tears to your eyes. When Sandberg lobbied for Dawson to be inducted into the HOF at his own induction, that said all anyone could ever need to know about how other players felt about The Hawk.

"Andre Dawson, the Hawk. No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's the best I've ever seen. Stand up Hawk. The Hawk. I watched him win MVP for a last place team in 1987 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 4 someday. We didn't get to a World Series together but we almost got there, Hawk. That's my regret, that we didn't get to a World Series for Cub fans. I was in the post season twice and I'm thankful for that. Twice we came close."

Quote from Shawon Dunston...

"When you hit a home run off Nolan Ryan, he meets you at third base," Dunston said of the Hall of Fame pitcher who intimidated hitters. "But when Andre hit one [off Ryan], he stayed near the mound and waited for the ball. That impressed me a lot. That's respect."

I hope I covered everything I was supposed to. I appreciate your consideration for this honor to represent my childhood hero!

I have a nice little Dawson collection and it doesnt compare to Craigs. He deserves to be recognized for it and is a great trader and an even better person.
Congrats: AJ

Very nice collection, and congrats on receiving this honor for it!

Darin

Awesome Collection!!!

Congrats Craig - you have one of the best collections I've seen, especially the non-card stuff.

Unbelievable collection. I'm a Cardinal fan and even I can respect this collection.

Very respectable Andre Dawson collection, shows some serious dedication. Keep on collecting & building!

I just wanted to thank you folks for the kind words! I really appreciate it!

Thanks again!
Craig

sweet collection!

Very nice collection, and I loved this quote by Shawon Dunston of Dawson.

When you hit a home run off Nolan Ryan, he meets you at third base," Dunston said of the Hall of Fame pitcher who intimidated hitters. "But when Andre hit one [off Ryan], he stayed near the mound and waited for the ball. That impressed me a lot. That's respect.

Let me know if you need this card.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/__8PLcImjy3U/SbQHIkWcpqI/AAAAAAAAAqY/INiNMdYORL8/s640/scan0002-1.jpg

TheRoseBull - Thank you!

pootshwan - Man, I'm so sorry I haven't got back with you before now. I guess I unsubscribed to this thread and didn't realize it. I appreciate the offer, but I do have that card.

Thanks again!
Craig

Craig,

It's ok no hard feelings. I kind of figured you had the card, but it was worth a shot.
Good luck in the future furthering your Dawson collection!

Craig,

It's ok no hard feelings. I kind of figured you had the card, but it was worth a shot.
Good luck in the future furthering your Dawson collection!


Thank you!
Craig

Craig,
As always, your collection amazes me, congrats on the honor here!
Scott

Thanks Scott! I appreciate that!

Thanks
Craig

"The Hawk" was awesome and I have a story for you. In 1976 or 1977 around about his first or second season he was playing rightfield for the Expos. I was 12 or 13 YO at the time. Went to an Astros game in the Dome and sat close to field level down the rightfield line. The Astros had a man on 1st base and someone hit a scorching grounder to righfield. The guy on first thought he was going to go to third. Dawson scooped up the ball and all in one motion came up and fired the ball on a line all the way to third base and threw the runner out. I'll never forget looking around at all the people in the section we were sitting in with thier jaws dropped and mouth open, including myself...That was the most unbelievable arm and throw that I have ever seen live..Just thought I'd share that with you, as it left an impression on me as a kid. One of those baseball moments you never forget!

That is awesome! I appreciate you sharing that with me! He did have one **** of an arm! I wish MLB would release more footage. They hold onto stuff like they have no desire to share it with us!

Thanks again!
Craig

That is awesome! I appreciate you sharing that with me! He did have one **** of an arm! I wish MLB would release more footage. They hold onto stuff like they have no desire to share it with us!

Thanks again!
Craig
In the 70's not every game was televised as they are today and the Astros had some pretty bad teams back then, plus this market here in Houston has never gotten any respect from national media, even when when they win. I doubt there is any footage of that particular game and throw, but I sure would love to see it again..Another player a lot of folks missed was Cesar Cedeno. Roberto Clemente type skills, but kept himself hurt all the time with his reckless style of play. He was great, but unless you lived in Houston and went to the games, you didn't see much Cedeno.

I forgot to add....Great collection you have going there!

I guess I'll just have to be happy with my Chicago Cubs DVD Set. It does have Dawson's 3 homer game. I would love to find more footage of the 1989 Cubs Team. That is my all time favorite team. Thats the team that made me fall in love with the game of baseball!

Thanks
Craig

all i gotta say is WOW!

awesome collection... go cubs!

Thank you!
Craig

That is one heck of a collection and of one of the real good guys as well as great all around players of the game. Keep up the great work. Dave

Dave - Thanks! I appreciate that!

Thanks
Craig