Andre Dawson’s last swing in the majors came in a Marlins uniform, and it left no doubt.
Thirty years ago, on Sept. 22, 1996, the Hall of Famer launched the final home run of his career in Florida’s 6-0 win over the Houston Astros at Joe Robbie Stadium. It was the 438th homer of Dawson’s 21-year Major League Baseball run, and it came in classic late-inning fashion: with the Marlins already in front, a pitcher’s spot due up, and an interim manager willing to hand the bat to a legend.
Rick Helling had been brilliant through eight innings, giving up just one hit and two walks. Then Kurt Abbott singled and Charles Johnson walked with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and John Boles had to decide whether to let the pitcher hit.
He didn’t. Boles sent Dawson up.
Facing Xavier Hernandez, Dawson worked himself into a 3-1 count. The next pitch was a fastball left up, and he didn’t waste it. Dawson drove it into the left-field seats for a three-run shot, one that stayed just to the right of the foul pole and pushed Florida’s lead to 6-0.
The Marlins had already done all their scoring in the first inning. Gary Sheffield’s sacrifice fly brought home Luis Castillo for the opening run, Greg Colbrunn singled in Édgar Rentería, and Colbrunn later scored on Joe Orsulak’s RBI triple to make it 3-0.
Houston starter Darryl Kile settled in after that, holding Florida scoreless over the next five innings while striking out 10. Helling struck out five, and Chris Hammond finished off the ninth with a scoreless frame.
Dawson, an eight-time All-Star, the 1977 National League Rookie of the Year and the 1987 National League MVP, ended his career with nearly 2,800 hits. “The Hawk” later became the first Marlins player inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
But on this day, the lasting image was the one from Sept. 22, 1996: Dawson’s final home run, hit as a Marlin.
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