Florida Governor Ron DeSantis presented Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson with the Governor’s Medal of Freedom on Monday, October 19, honoring the outfielder’s MLB career, his impact on the state, and his commitments to Florida A&M University.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Andre Dawson Classic: The Andre Dawson Classic highlights players who attend historically Black colleges and universities like FAMU, supporting student-athletes in baseball.
- Legacy Indexing: Historical achievements of 300 home run and 300 stolen base club members continue to feature prominently in the career of Andre Dawson.
From Southwest Miami to the Hall of Fame
Before earning baseball’s accolades, Dawson carved out a path through South Florida athletics. WPBF 25 News reported that the right-handed powerhouse starred at Southwest Miami Senior High School before facing an initial hurdle of going unrecruited. Refusing to let his trajectory stall, Dawson financed his education through student loans and walked onto the baseball squad at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. His performances on the Rattlers diamond quickly caught the eye of Major League Baseball scouts.
The Montreal Expos selected Dawson in the 1975 MLB draft, setting the stage for a professional career. He made his big-league debut in 1976 and captured the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1977. Across 21 major league seasons spanning stints with the Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and his hometown Florida Marlins, Dawson compiled statistics. He slugged 438 home runs, drove in 1,591 runs, and swiped 314 bases, cementing his status in the exclusive 300-300 club.
HONORING A LEGEND: Gov. Ron DeSantis presented the Governor’s Medal of Freedom to MLB Hall of Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson in recognition of his baseball career and contributions to FAMU@GovRonDeSantis: “His generous support of FAMU and its baseball program has helped…”
Cementing a Statewide Legacy in Tallahassee
Governor DeSantis highlighted Dawson’s ongoing ties to the state during the Monday presentation ceremony in Tallahassee. “His distinguished career in Major League Baseball, his contributions to the sport, and his lasting impact on our state have earned him this award,” DeSantis stated. The governor specifically pointed to Dawson’s generous backing of FAMU and its baseball program, noting how his support creates pathways for generations of student-athletes.
That commitment to historically Black colleges and universities expanded past traditional philanthropy. In 2018, Major League Baseball renamed its HBCU showcase event to the Andre Dawson Classic, placing a spotlight on collegiate talent from institutions like FAMU. Dawson was subsequently enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2010, rounding out a resume that bridges grassroots development with professional sport.
Today, I was proud to present the Governor’s Medal of Freedom to Baseball Hall of Famer and great Floridian Andre Dawson. His distinguished career in Major League Baseball, his contributions to the sport, and his lasting impact on our state have earned him this award.From his… pic.twitter.com/g69uvddHWk
| Category | Career Statistic / Milestone | Team / Context |
|---|---|---|
| MLB Debut | 1976 | Montreal Expos |
| Rookie Honor | 1977 NL Rookie of the Year | Montreal Expos |
| MVP Campaign | 1987 NL MVP | Chicago Cubs |
| Power-Speed | 438 HR / 314 SB | 300-300 Club Member |
| Hall of Fame | Class of 2010 | Cooperstown, NY |
More on Medal of Freedom
A Hall of Famer. A Rattler. A legacy still growing. 🐍⚾FAMU alumnus Andre “The Hawk” Dawson received the Governor’s Medal of Freedom today from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Congratulations to a legend on and beyond the diamond!Read all about it: https://t.co/Qt6Erpwkbq pic.twitter.com/d3Q7FQlbze
Governor DeSantis Presents Florida Governor’s Medal of Freedom to Andre Dawson https://t.co/tCKSi9gfrx
JUST NOW: Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson receives a Medal of Freedom from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.“The Hawk” went to college at FAMU and also played for the Florida Marlins. pic.twitter.com/nlz3Kc1VYL
