Andre Dawson is the first Cub since 1984 to be named National League Player of the Month.
Dawson hit .309 with 15 homers (two shy of the NL record for a month), 28 RBIs and 23 runs scored in August. He was previously named Player of the Month in June of 1983 when he was with Montreal.
In August of 1984, the Cubs` Rick Sutcliffe was named NL Pitcher of the Month and Keith Moreland was named Player of the Month.
Houston outfielder Billy Hatcher, suspended 10 days Thursday for using a corked bat, said he has learned his lesson about using other players` bats.
”I`ll use nothing but a Hatcher model from now on.”
The seven players recalled from Iowa worked at Wrigley Field while the rest of the team took the day off after returning from Houston at 2:30 a.m. The seven are catcher Damon Berryhill, infielders Wade Rowdon, Mike Brumley and Paul Noce, outfielders Chico Walker and Darrin Jackson and pitcher Greg Maddux.
The Cubs (67-65) didn`t win their 67th game last season until Sept. 27. They are 38-30 vs. the West after going 30-42 last season. They open a three-game series here with the Reds at 3:05 p.m. Friday.
Lee Smith ranks 14th on the all-time save list with 177, one behind Kent Tekulve of the Phillies.
