ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607150150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder News Service
ANDRE DAWSON, one of four players to accumulate more than 300 homers and 300 steals, will retire at the end of the season.
One of the most spectacular baseball careers of our time, which began on the fields of Southwest High in Miami and had stops at Montreal, Chicago, Boston and Florida, will end after this season when Marlins outfielder Andre Dawson retires and readies himself for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Dawson, the 1987 National League MVP with the Cubs, has hinted at retiring the past two seasons. He made it official for the first time Friday before the Marlins' game at Atlanta.
``This is it. I'm done,'' said Dawson, who turned 42 on Wednesday. ``It's been a lot of fun, I feel I've had a good career, but this is definitely my last season. I guess I just feel ready to say it now.''
Dawson doesn't want a farewell tour like the Cardinals' Ozzie Smith, another likely first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. ``I want to go out the way I came in,'' Dawson said. ``Quietly.''
He hasn't considered leaving in the middle of the season, after a particularly satisfying moment. ``That would have to be spontaneous,'' said Dawson, hitting .281 with one home run and 10 RBI in 32 at-bats.
After 12 surgeries, his ravaged knees will have to be replaced, but Dawson's career is a testament to power and speed. He has 437 career home runs, 22nd on the all-time list, and 314 stolen bases, making him one of four players with more than 300 of each. The others are Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays.
Dawson, a graduate of Florida A&M, was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1977. He has won six Gold Gloves and has season highs of 49 home runs (1987), 39 steals ('82), 137 RBI ('87) and 12 triples ('79).
``He's had a great career. Just fantastic,'' said Tony Perez, who played with Dawson briefly in Montreal. ``He had so much power and so much speed, and he could throw and do everything.
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Dawsonby CNB