The first thing that comes to mind when Hall of Famer Andre Dawson’s name is mentioned would have to be his spectacular 1987 season with the Chicago Cubs. After signing a blank check with the Cubs as a free agent prior to the 1987 season Dawson went on to post a season for the books reaching career highs and leading the National League with 49 home runs and 137 RBI. The man they called “The Hawk,” developed a mutually affectionate relationship with the Wrigleyville faithful the likes of which few players have enjoyed. Dawson was continually greeted by fans in the right field bleachers with a bowing salaam salute upon returning to his position in the field after hitting a home run or providing some other form of offensive heroics in the bottom of the previous inning throughout the season, and became one of only four Major League MVP award winners to play for a losing team (Ernie Banks also did it twice with the Cubs).

     From Dawson’s own exclusive personal collection this spectacular testament to his career-defining year with the Cubs; the Babe Ruth “Sultan of Swat” Crown was presented to Dawson by the Maryland Professional Baseball Players Association after the 1987 season. Created in 1956 in honor of Maryland’s favorite son, Babe Ruth, it was originally called the “Sultan of Swat Award” to honor the player with the greatest “slugging average”—combining home runs and runs batted in, it has been presented to some of the greatest hitters in the game’s history including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt and Johnny Bench. This majestic looking piece of royal hardware is truly fit for a king with six be-jeweled baseball diamonds circling the golden metal headband and crushed red velvet center head covering.

     The Maryland Professional Baseball Association’s diamond shaped logo is affixed to the golden diamond on the front of the crown just above the engraved raised text reading: “Babe Ruth Crown Presented to Andre Dawson for Outstanding Batting Achievement 1987 Maryland Professional Baseball Players Association.” There are three sections of engraved text on the back of the crown reading: “1987 Major League Player of the Year Sporting News All Star Team,” “1987 B. A. 287 H.R. 49 R.B.I. 137 Runs 89 Hits 178” “1987 National League All-Star Team.” This is the actual award given to Andre Dawson, it is not a replica and no duplicates were ever authorized by Schmidt. This piece de resistance from Dawson’s private collection comes with a notarized letter of authenticity from Andre Dawson.

Auction Notepad