If You Love This Game . . .: An MVP's Life in Baseball

by Andre Dawson, Alan Maimon

Reflecting on his accomplishments, his colleagues, and the future of baseball, Andre Dawson tells the story of his four-decade career as a player and executive in this intimate memoir. Seriously injured at a young age, Dawson struggled with chronic pain throughout his career and was only seriously scouted by the Montreal Expos during college. Overcoming these odds, he went on to be named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1977, earn eight All-Star appearances, seven Gold Gloves, and a Most Valuable Player Award. This behind-the-scenes look at a dedicated player's journey from a segregated Miami neighborhood to the fabled halls of Cooperstown offers fans a window into the psyche of a fan favorite.

Genres: Baseball, Sports

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jay French · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a short hiatus during my Dungeons & Dragons years, I came back to be a fan of baseball and my home team, the Cubs, about a year before Andre Dawson joined the team. Dawson was the big hitter, quick in the field, and silent. I remember him as being brooding when WGN's cameras caught him in close-up, always glowering, pissed at the world. Almost always. There were rare times when he seemed pleased, like when the bleacher bums were salaaming him.

And in this autobiography, his second and first post-playing-career, you see that Dawson is predominately serious. He’s in pain from knee injuries from high school football, pain that he bears his entire career. No wonder he’s got that look. The book is quite serious throughout, and after a few dozen pages you get the feeling that this is going to be a kind of a baseball monk’s story. Thankfully, he does inject some other emotions into his story, and you hear about his marriage, his straying from his marriage, his kids. And how he enjoys the game. It’s very clear he enjoys the game. In some baseball autobiographies, you learn a bit unexpected about a player and that’s that. Here, you more get your understanding about Dawson validated.

I enjoyed the book. It’s relatively short – that usually is a good thing. And you get an idea of Dawson’s normal playing days, as well as the big events in his life and his ongoing growth as a person. He talks about baseball as well as family, and those topics in this proportion seem to make a good story. My surprise: ends up Dawson lived in an apartment building that my apartment in Chicago had as my view for my first two years in the city. According to various (not-so-believable) guides on tour buses, I had heard Oprah and Valerie Bertinelli lived there, but Dawson! That’s cool!

[Sylvester Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though we lived in Washington state, my family was part of the national Cubs fandom that watched WGN religiously in the late 80's and early 90's. Every time we traveled east to visit family during summer vacations, we'd arrive first in Chicago and spend a few days there. Trips to Wrigley Field were a priority. Needless to say, Andre Dawson was my baseball hero growing up, and it was great to read this book. A few years ago, I was overjoyed to see that the Hawk had been selected for the Hall of Fame, and furious when the news broke that he had to go in as an Expo. But in his book, Mr. Dawson seems to center most of his retelling on the years he spent in Chicago, and it was fun to read about that era from his perspective. He was a terrific ballplayer with an amazing story, and seems like a genuinely nice guy in real life.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better than average autobiography on MLB Hall of Famer and 1987 MVP Andre Dawson. Really enjoyed this quick read on Dawson's career and his time spent with the Expos, Cubs, Red Sox and Marlins. You'll hear stories about the 1981 season with Montreal, Dawson playing for blank contract basically due to collusion, his 1987 MVP year, making the playoffs again with the 1989 Cubs and a brief resurgance with the Red Sox as well as his twilight years with the Marlins. He also talks about teammates such as Greg Maddux, Ryne Sandberg, Tim Raines, Ellis Valentine, Shawon Dunston, Gary Carter, Warren Cromartie, and others. I guess I had forgotten that Dawson not only won the MVP in 87 but finished in second place twice in the 1980s. Dawson doesn't leave anything out and even talks briefly about controversial stuff with himself and he owns up to it. Good stuff.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading this book about my favorite baseball player. My childhood was filled with weekends watching Dawson crush baseballs for the Cubs. This is a really authentic look at what made Andre Dawson a great baseball player.

[Edward Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, book it gave insight to Andre Dawson Career. Andre Dawson was one the most underrated superstar of all time.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! I was a big fan of Andre back in the day!! Loved reading his perspective! I liked his attitude off the field. He rarely got too riled up. I was saddened by a couple of his confessions. But life takes twists and turns. It isn't perfect for anyone. Thanks to my son-in-law, this book I read is signed by Andre to me!!!!!!!

[Pedro Castro Amaré · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book because it also portraits in a very light way how racism was still a factor when The Hawk was playing and how Dawson wasn't infuenced at all by racist remarks or situation's other than baseball.