44-589: The Vermont Lake Monsters are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Burlington, Vermont , United States, who were founded in 1994 as the Vermont Expos. They were members of Minor League Baseball , in the New York–Penn League (NYPL), until 2020. Since their founding in 1994, they have played their home games at Centennial Field , one of the oldest minor league stadiums, on the campus of
88-600: A center and right fielder , spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs . An 8-time National League (NL) All-Star , he was named the league's Rookie of the Year in 1977 after batting .282 with 19 home runs and 65 runs batted in (RBI), and won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1987 after leading the league with 49 homers and 137 RBI; he had been runner-up for
132-564: A free agent . While Dawson played only six years with the Cubs, five of his eight All-Star appearances were as a Cub, and his only MVP award came in his first year with the team in 1987. The Hall noted that "Dawson had 1,575 of his 2,774 hits as an Expo, won six of his eight Gold Glove awards in Montreal and led the Expos to their only postseason series win" (incidentally, the win in the 1981 NLDS
176-466: A 71–91 team a 91–71 team. When the Cubs opened camp in Mesa, Arizona , that spring, Dawson and his agent Dick Moss arrived with a signed blank contract in an attempt to secure a contract with the Cubs. Dawson and Moss' stunt was derided as a " dog and pony show " by Green. After reviewing the contract, Green reached an agreement with Moss on a salary of $ 500,000 ($ 1,340,949 in today's dollars), second-lowest on
220-926: A Burlington team in the Northeastern League (1887), a Burlington team in the Northern New York League (1903–1905), the Burlington Burlingtons of the Vermont State League / New Hampshire State League (1907), and Burlington A's of the Provincial League during 1955. After a nearly 30 year gap in between hosting minor league teams, the Vermont Reds and Vermont Mariners of the Eastern League (1984–1988), who directly preceded
264-581: A knee injury early in the 1993 season in a game against the Texas Rangers which limited him to only 121 games in his first year with the Red Sox: "I got caught between sliding and standing up on a passed ball. I was on second base, and I took a chop step between strides and hit the corner of the third-base bag. I had knee surgery and [Boston] decided to use me in the DH role." Dawson would have knee surgery
308-722: A new player development contract (a working relationship between Major and Minor League teams) with the Oakland Athletics . This marked the first new MLB affiliation in the Lake Monsters' 17-year history. Vermont began its first year as an affiliate of the Oakland A's in June 2011. Ahead of the 2021 season, the Oakland Athletics ended their affiliation with the Lake Monsters, ending the 10-season affiliation with
352-455: A team which played on grass. He led the NL in outfield putouts three consecutive years (1981–1983), and won eight Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence. Dawson was known for his incredible work ethic and study of the game. He was often seen in the dugout with a clipboard in-hand documenting pitches and pitcher tendencies. This was long before such practices were common-place and such information
396-463: Is one of only eight players in major league history to record over 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases in his career (300-300 club); the other players to accomplish this are Barry Bonds , Willie Mays , Bobby Bonds , Reggie Sanders , Steve Finley , Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltrán . Dawson is also one of only five members of the 400 HR-300 SB club, along with Barry Bonds , Willie Mays , Alex Rodriguez , and Carlos Beltrán . In 1997, Dawson's #10
440-596: The National College Baseball Hall of Fame . Dawson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, his ninth year of eligibility, rising from an initial vote total of 45.3% in 2002 to 77.9% in 2010. Dawson's Hall of Fame plaque depicts him with a Montreal Expos cap. Dawson objected to the choice of the Expos logo at the time and in 2023 he petitioned for the Hall of Fame to change
484-534: The Pittsfield Mets . The Montreal Expos announced on September 29, 2004, that they would move to Washington, D.C. , after the 2004 season. They would rename themselves the Washington Nationals . Minor League Baseball gives clubs 60 days after the end of the season to change their names and logos. Vermont did not have enough time for an identity change and retained the Expos nickname for
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#1732800864821528-878: The Pittsfield Suns in the 3-game championship series 2-1. Pitchers Catchers Infielders Outfielders Manager Coaches [REDACTED] Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list updated June 16, 2023 Collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operate from early June to early August. In contrast to college baseball , which allow aluminum or other composite baseball bats , players in these leagues use only wooden bats, hence
572-516: The Rattlers baseball team as a freshman. He spent three years at Florida A&M which he later said paved the way for his future. Dawson was selected by the Expos in the 11th round (pick #250) of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft . He played in 24 major league games in 1976 after making his debut on September 11. His stardom rose in 1977 when he became an everyday outfielder for the Expos, and batted .282 with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He
616-671: The University of Vermont . The team was previously located in Jamestown, New York , (as the Jamestown Expos ) from 1977 to 1993. With Major League Baseball 's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Vermont was not selected to continue in the minor leagues. Instead, the team joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in 2021. The Vermont Lake Monsters were preceded by
660-470: The 2005 season. During the 2005 season, the club announced its plan to change the nickname and solicited suggestions from its fans. The team received 30,000 fan suggestions for the new name via a name-the-team contest. The New York Times reported that the two leading contenders were "Green Mountain Boys" and "Lakemonsters". At the end of the contest, the winning name was "Champs", but as the team had not made
704-482: The Cubs held first place for nearly half of May and remained in contention through July, the team finished the 1987 season 76–85, last in the National League East. Dawson was the first player to win a league MVP trophy from a last place team. Dawson played five more seasons with the Cubs, and was one of the franchise's most popular players during that time. His worst individual season came in 1989 when
748-621: The Cubs won the National League East title. During the NL Championship Series that year, Dawson batted .105 as the San Francisco Giants beat the Cubs 4 games to 1. Dawson's .507 career slugging percentage with the Cubs is fourth highest in team history. In October 1992 the Red Sox signed Dawson as a free agent. Dawson hit his 400th career home run with the Red Sox on April 15 at Fenway Park. Dawson sustained
792-658: The Expos career record for sacrifice flies (71), and is the only player to hit 200 home runs and steal 200 bases with Montreal. During his Expos days, Dawson hit two home runs in the same inning twice: at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium against the Atlanta Braves on July 30, 1978 and at Wrigley Field against his future team, the Chicago Cubs, on September 24, 1985. As of 2021, Dawson, Willie McCovey , Jeff King , Alex Rodriguez , and Edwin Encarnación are
836-548: The NLCS or World Series MVP. He became the Cubs' starting right fielder, and hit an MLB-leading 49 home runs (equal with Oakland Athletics rookie Mark McGwire ), the most a player had hit since George Foster in 1977 and Willie Mays in 1965. He was named the league's MVP, finally winning after the two years as runner-up in Montreal. He also earned his fourth All-Star nod and won the Home Run Derby that year. Although
880-787: The Paradise Memorial Funeral Home in Richmond Heights, Florida . He writes left-handed, although he batted and threw right-handed. He entered the funeral business in 2003, investing in a funeral home his younger brother owned, and became the owner and operator of Paradise Memorial in 2008. In an April 2020 Associated Press story on how he and his business were having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic , he noted, "It’s very sad. Because people mourn and grieve differently, and they’re not getting through that process as they would under normal circumstances. You see
924-409: The Red Sox, New York Mets, or New York Yankees , Montreal was the closest Major League Baseball team until moving to Washington, D.C., 2005. Fans along the border towns rooted for the Expos until the move. On July 22, 2005, the Vermont Expos held their first "Tribute to the Expos" promotion and honored Andre Dawson at Centennial Field. While the club changed its name to the "Lake Monsters" in 2006,
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#1732800864821968-560: The Vermont Expos and eventually the Lake Monsters. In 1993, Burlington businessman Ray Pecor, Jr., the owner of Lake Champlain Transportation Company in Burlington since 1976, purchased the Jamestown Expos and moved the franchise to Burlington, retaining the Expos name. The Vermont Expos played their first game at Centennial Field on June 16, 1994. More than 5,000 people attended the home opener—a 6-5 loss to
1012-471: The award in both 1981 and 1983. He batted .300 five times, drove in 100 runs four times and had 13 seasons of 20 home runs. A strong base-runner early in his career, he also stole 30 bases three times. He is one of eight MLB players with at least 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases during his career. Dawson was a center fielder until knee problems – worsened by the artificial surface at Olympic Stadium – forced his shift to right field, followed by his move to
1056-506: The best I've ever seen. I watched him win an MVP for a last-place team in 1987 [with the Cubs], 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 someday." Dawson was the second player in the Hall of Fame whose plaque depicts him with an Expos logo, after Gary Carter . Although Dawson had played
1100-496: The collegiate summer season. These draftees can remain with their collegiate summer team until they sign a professional contract. During the season, players are housed by volunteer host families and bussed to and from road games. The leagues vary greatly in their attendances, quality of play, and ability to attract scouts. The Alaska Baseball League (ABL) and the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) are considered
1144-701: The common nickname of these leagues as "wood-bat leagues". Collegiate summer leagues allow college baseball players the ability to compete using professional rules and equipment, giving them experience and allowing professional scouts the opportunity to observe players under such conditions. To find a collegiate summer team, players work with their college coaches and prospective teams' general managers. They report to summer leagues after completing their spring collegiate season with their NCAA , NAIA , NJCAA , CCCAA , and NWAC teams. Some players arrive late due to their college team's postseason play, which sometimes runs into early June. In some cases, players are drafted during
1188-553: The following year as well, and only managed to play 75 games in his second and final season with Boston. Dawson played his last two years with the Florida Marlins, where he played sparingly, retiring after the 1996 season. In his final game, Dawson was removed from the field as a final farewell to the fans and the game. The fans gave him a standing ovation as Dawson walked off the field. Dawson finished his career with 2,774 hits, 438 home runs, 314 stolen bases, and 1,591 RBI. He
1232-650: The logo on his cap to a Chicago Cubs logo. The major impediments to Dawson's election to the Hall had been his ordinary career .323 on-base percentage (albeit accumulated before OBP was even a statistic, and many multi-time All-Stars and even Hall of Famers had even lower), his statistics being diminished in stature by sluggers who played after him in the steroid era, and never playing in a World Series . Cubs teammate Ryne Sandberg campaigned for Dawson's induction during his speech at his own Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2005: "No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's
1276-477: The majority of his 21-year career with Montreal, he publicly expressed his disappointment with the decision, saying it was "a little gut-wrenching" to find out he would not go in as a Chicago Cub. Dawson's reluctance to be enshrined as an Expo stemmed, in part, from the breakdown of his relationship with the team during MLB's collusion scandal of 1986–87, when he claimed the team not only "threw him out" of Montreal, but tried to prevent other teams from signing him as
1320-496: The only five players to hit two home runs in one inning twice. In 1984, Dawson appeared in The Cap , a short film about a young boy living in Montreal who was given a baseball cap by Dawson. Dawson played for the Expos until after the 1986 season when he became a free agent and sought a team whose home field had natural grass, as his knee injuries were aggravated by Olympic Stadium's artificial turf. However, due to collusion on
1364-480: The organization held its second "tribute to the Expos". The club honored pitcher Dennis Martínez and wore powder-blue Expos uniforms with the Expos name on the front and a Lake Monsters patch on the left sleeve. On August 5, 2007, the Lake Monsters honored the Expos again and brought Tim Wallach to Burlington. Following the 2010 season, the Lake Monsters ended their affiliation with the Nationals and entered into
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1408-493: The part of the Major League Baseball owners, he was unable to attract offers. Dawson campaigned for the Cubs to sign him during the off-season, however general manager Dallas Green resisted, insisting the Cubs would start Brian Dayett in right field (Dawson had moved from center field to right field in his final two seasons with the Expos, due to the condition of his knees), and that one player could not make
1452-472: The playoffs at that point since 1995, management did not think it was appropriate. They announced the new name, "Lake Monsters", and revealed the new team colors and uniforms on November 15, 2005. The Expos colors of red, white, and blue were replaced with the Lake Monster colors of navy blue, Columbia blue, and lime green. The name references Champ , the legendary Lake Champlain monster which had been
1496-669: The team among regulars, and added bonuses of $ 150,000 if he did not go on the disabled list by the All-Star Game break and $ 50,000 if he made the All-Star team. He earned both. The team also wrote in $ 100,000 bonuses if Dawson was MVP of either the league championship series or the World Series, but did not add a clause for National League MVP. While he won the NL MVP, the Cubs did not make the playoffs, so he had no chance to earn
1540-665: The team's mascot since 1994. The club's last game as the Vermont Expos was on September 8, 2005. They opened the 2006 season as the Vermont Lake Monsters. The franchise was the last professional ball club to carry the Expos name. The team's home ballpark, Centennial Field, is 100 miles (160 km) from the Montreal Expos' last home ballpark Olympic Stadium —closer than the Boston Red Sox ' Fenway Park . While baseball fans in Burlington tend to root for
1584-455: The team. Following the 2020 season, the whole of Minor League baseball was re-organized and many teams were eliminated. The entire single-A short season New York–Penn League was eliminated. Three league teams moved to the new High A level. The Lake Monsters joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League , a wooden bat college league. In their inaugural season, the Lake Monsters won the 2021 Futures Collegiate Baseball League championship, defeating
1628-523: The two premier collegiate summer leagues. This list is organized by federation. Source: Chicago Suburban Baseball League Andre Dawson Andre Nolan Dawson (born July 10, 1954), nicknamed " the Hawk " and " Awesome Dawson ", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for four different teams as
1672-611: Was awarded the 1977 Rookie of the Year in the National League, narrowly beating out Steve Henderson of the New York Mets . Dawson had a blend of power and speed, hitting at least 20 home runs in seven seasons with the Expos, and stealing at least 20 bases in his first seven seasons. Dawson, playing primarily center field for the Expos, also became an excellent defensive player, gaining his first of eight Gold Glove Awards in 1980. Based on his all-around excellence, Dawson
1716-636: Was given to him by an uncle at a very early age. Dawson used to work out with a men's team that would hit him ground balls at practice. Dawson's uncle told him that most kids his age would shy away from the ball, but Dawson attacked the ball like a hawk. Dawson attended and graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School in 1972. In high school, he suffered multiple knee injuries which hampered his athletic development. He did not draw any attention from professional scouts or college recruiters and took out student loans in order to enroll at Florida A&M University . At Florida A&M, Dawson walked on to
1760-550: Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame . Dawson grew up in Florida as the oldest of eight children. His father was a major general in the United States Army and often absent, leaving Dawson to look after his seven younger siblings while his mother worked. Dawson would pay his younger brothers in cookies to toss him rocks for him to hit with a broomstick as batting practice . Dawson's nickname, "The Hawk",
1804-578: Was readily available. Upon his retirement, his NL totals of 409 home runs and 962 extra base hits both ranked tenth in league history; he also ranked seventh in NL history in games as an outfielder (2,303), and sixth in both outfield putouts (5,116) and total chances (5,366). He set Expos franchise records for career games, at bats , runs scored , hits , doubles , triples , home runs, runs batted in, extra base hits, total bases , and steals, all of which have since been broken variously by Tim Raines , Tim Wallach and Vladimir Guerrero . In 2010 , Dawson
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1848-542: Was retired by the Montreal Expos in his honor (the number had been previously retired for Rusty Staub ). After the franchise moved to Washington, the Montreal Canadiens raised a banner in the Bell Centre to commemorate all of the retired Expos numbers, including Dawson's. In 2010 the Washington Nationals franchise placed Dawson in its "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park . In 2019, Dawson was inducted into
1892-601: Was second in the National League MVP voting in 1981 (won by Mike Schmidt ) and second again in 1983 (won by Dale Murphy ). He was voted the Montreal Expos Player of the Year in 1981 and 1983. Dawson played 1,443 games with the Expos, fourth highest in franchise history, and set single-season club records for home runs (32, now seventh), RBI (113, now fourth), extra base hits (78, now seventh), and sacrifice flies (18, still first). He still holds
1936-659: Was the only postseason win on Dawson's career). Dawson married the former Vanessa Turner and had two children, Darius in August 1989 and Amber in September 1990. Shortly after retiring as a player, Dawson returned to the Marlins to accept a position in the team's front office, where he got his first World Series ring in 2003 . Dawson also owns The Mahogany Grille, a soul food restaurant in Miami Gardens , Florida, and
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