Andre Dawson vs Ozzie Smith: The battle for the 1987 NL MVP
The battle for the 1987 NL MVP
Where Andre Dawson Fit On His Team
Andre Dawson set out to prove he was worth more than the contract he ultimately signed and began a one-man barnstorming tour through the National League. The Cubs offense was actually good in 1987 leading the league in home runs, topped by Dawson’s 49. They just couldn’t win games.
The hitters were third to last in the league in walks drawn. They were third in the league in strikeouts by hitters. They ranked in the bottom half of the league in runs scored. The 1987 Cubs were all or nothing, feast or famine before that’s what baseball players were paid to do.
Keith Moreland and Leon Durham provided some power and Jerry Mumphrey hit .333. A young Rafael Palmeiro was just getting his bearings about himself and Ryan Sandberg had a down year by Ryan Sandberg standards.
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The lack of production helped lead to a 76-85 finish, worst in the six-team National League East. The hitters weren’t the only ones to blame, however. The Cubs pitchers walked the most hitters in the league, gave up the second-most hits in the league, and had the second-worst earned run average.
Added all up the Cubs were bad, and their record stated as much. Andre Dawson was not bad, and his stats that year stated as much as well. Dawson led the league in home runs and runs batted in while hitting .287. The All-Star would win a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award later in the year.