Florida Marlins

Andre Dawson, Special Assistant to the President
Andre Dawson concluded his 11th season with the Marlins and ninth as Special Assistant to the President. “Hawk” joined the organization on January 5, 2000, as Special Assistant to the General Manager. The 2010 campaign saw Dawson inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, on July 25. Dawson was the only player to earn entry into the Hall in ‘10, and was joined by former manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey. Dawson appeared on 420 of the ballots cast (77.9%) by members of the BBWAA to become the 292nd member of the Hall. He is the 203rd player and 68th outfielder to gain acceptance.

Dawson played 21 seasons for Montreal, Chicago (NL) and Boston, before finishing his career with Florida in 1995-96. He ranks 15th all-time in National League history with 1,476 RBI and ranks among the top 40 in baseball history in home runs (36th with 438), RBI (34th with 1,591) and at-bats (25th with 9,927). He became the 11th player in Major League history to hit 400 National League home runs when he homered off of Dave West on June 16, 1995, at Veterans Stadium. Dawson hit a three-run home run in his next-to-last game played at Pro Player Stadium on September 22, 1996, vs. Houston. His 438 career home runs are the third-most by a Florida native, behind Fred McGriff (493) and Gary Sheffield (499).

Dawson won the 1987 National League Most Valuable Player Award in his first season with the Chicago Cubs when he set career highs with 49 home runs and 137 RBI. He became the first player in MLB history to win an MVP Award while playing for a last-place team. He finished second in voting for the 1981 MVP.

An eight-time National League All-Star and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, Dawson totaled 2,774 hits and 314 stolen bases. He was also the first player in Major League history to reach double digits in home runs and stolen bases for 12 consecutive seasons. He tied a Major League record by hitting two home runs in one inning in 1978 and 1985. He won the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1977.

Dawson, 54, his wife, Vanessa, and their children Darius (8/12/89) and Amber (9/5/90), reside in Pinecrest, Fla. Dawson graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School in Miami and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Following the 1987 season, South Miami honored him by renaming a street “Andre Dawson Drive.”

Jeff Conine, Special Assistant to the President
Conine, who enjoyed a 17-year Major League career, concluded his second season as Special Assistant to the President after joining the front office on December 8, 2008. He was a valuable member of both Marlins World Series Championships during two separate stints with Florida, from 1993-1997 and 2003-2005. After retiring from baseball, Conine trained for and completed the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship, becoming the first former Major Leaguer to finish the endurance race.

A two-time All-Star (1994-95), Conine was twice named the Marlins MVP by the South Florida Chapter of the BBWAA (1994-95) and was the MVP of the 1995 MLB All-Star Game. For his Marlins career, Conine hit .290 and ranks among the all-time Marlins leaders in games (1,014 –2nd), hits (1,005 –2nd), RBI (553 –2nd), at bats (3,471 –3rd) and home runs (120 –5th). He also hit six grand slams as a Marlin, more than any other player. He was the Opening Day left fielder in their Inaugural Game in 1993, going 4x4 with the first stolen base in Club history, and was in the Marlins Opening Day line-up six times.

He was originally acquired by Florida in the 1992 Expansion Draft from the Kansas City Royals, and after stops in Kansas City and Baltimore, returned to the Marlins at the trade deadline in 2003 for the team’s playoff run. Conine re-signed with Baltimore prior to the 2006 season and was traded three times in two years (to Philadelphia, to Cincinnati, to New York), before finishing his ML career after 2,024 games. His career totals include 1,982 hits, 385 doubles, 214 home runs, 1,071 RBI and a .285 average.

Among his career highlights, he carried a .304 average in 32 postseason games, all with Florida. In addition to his MVP honors with the Marlins, he also earned the award with the Baltimore Orioles in 2001. He garnered AL Player of the Week honors for May 27-June 2, 2002, after posting a .375 average with five home runs, nine RBI and 26 total bases. In 1995, he earned the NL Player of the Month for June, batting .340 with six doubles, nine home runs and 24 RBI. Conine was named to TOPPS and Baseball America’s All-Rookie teams in 1993 and was the 1990 Southern League Most Valuable Player, the Royals’ Minor League Player of the Year and a double-A All-Star as voted by TOPPS and Baseball America.

Born in Tacoma, WA, Conine and his family, wife Cindy, daughter Sierra and sons Griffin and Tucker, reside in South Florida. The family has been active in the South Florida community since his arrival in 1993, including founding the Conine All-Star Classic, an annual golf tournament to raise money for the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, FL. He also provides analysis for 'Marlins Live' pre- and post-game shows on FOX Sports Florida/Sun Sports.

John Buck
Johnathan Buck attended Taylorsville High School (Utah) and won a state championship hosted the 2005 Baseball Activity C.A.M.P. for kids ages 6-18 with physical or developmental disabilities in Kansas City. He and his wife Brooke were named ambassadors for the 2008 Blue Jean Ball and raised money for the March of Dimes nominated in 2007 and 2008 by peers as the Royals representative for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Logan Morrison
Logan Morrison...graduated from Northshore HS (LA) and attended Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, the same college as St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols.

Kim
Years on Squad:
Rookie - One

Favorite Movie:
It pretty much changes every week so for now, it'd have to be Hot Rod (definitely makes me laugh every time) or Push.

Favorite Actor:
Brad Pitt or George Clooney

Favorite Music:
I literally like everything even Spanish music!

Favorite Artist:
There are way too many great artists in the world right now to pick just one! I do love the group Sugarland and Carrie Underwood. Sugarland is fun and energetic and Carrie just has the most amazing voice.

Favorite Song:
Down by Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne STILL makes me want to dance

Favorite Book I’m Reading:
I fell into the Twilight book series craze.

Favorite TV Show:
Chelsea Lately. That woman is hilarious!

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Cabo San Lucas or Hawaii

Favorite Childhood memory:
We had a piano and a coffee table in our living room at home and my dad would play the piano and my sister, my brother, and I would run around the coffee table and play freeze when we were little. I just remember laughing hysterically with the family. It was adorable.

Favorite car:
I just saw white Bentley coupe convertible with tan leather interior for the first time and I fell in love!

First Job:
Twisting pretzels at Auntie Annes

Fun Facts:
I've always wanted to learn how to surf.

Dream Vacation/Place you’d like to visit:
California, Australia, then backpacking through Europe

Always wanted to meet:
Either Obama to pick his brain, the Heat "dynasty" to ask what in the world is going on, or Chelsea Handler just because she is absolutely hilarious

Three words to describe yourself:
Free-spirited, determined, strong

Favorite Quote:
It would have to be either "fear is temporary, regret is forever" or "the cost of a thing is the amount of life exchanged for it" -Henry Thoreau

Naty
Years on Squad:
2 years

Favorite Movie:
The Notebook and The Hangover

Favorite Actor:
Cameron Diaz

Favorite Music:
I like all types of music. Basically anything you can dance to =)

Favorite Artist:
Beyonce, Britney Spears and Daddy Yankee

Favorite Song:
“The only girl in the world� -Rihanna

Favorite Book/Book I’m Reading:
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo� by: Stieg Larsson

Favorite TV Show:
Bones, True Blood and Spartacus

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Key West, Fl. The Keys is a little getaway close to home, so I love going there for a weekend to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Favorite Childhood memory:
When my younger brother, Alex, was born in 1999. He is what makes me smile everyday! No words can express how much he means to me.

Favorite car:
Mercedes

First Job:
Sales representative at Bakers shoe outlet

Fun Facts:
I rather play sports then watch them. I must say I am very competitive and a great team player!

Dream Vacation/Place you’d like to visit:
Europe and Hawaii

Short-term goals:
Finish my college degree

Long-term goals:
Have my own family and pursue a great career

Always wanted to meet:
Beyonce

Three words to describe yourself:
Smart, adventurous and caring

Favorite Quote:
“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.�

Ashley
Years on Squad:
2 years

Favorite Movie:
Dirty Dancing

Favorite Actor:
Julia Roberts

Favorite Music:
I love all music

Favorite Artist:
Lady Gaga

Favorite Song:
"Drops of Jupiter" by Train

Favorite Book/Book I’m Reading:
Eat Pray Love

Favorite TV Show:
"TrueBlood"

Favorite Vacation Spot:
so far, Walt Disney World

Favorite Childhood memory:
being accepted in 8th grade into New World School of the Arts for high school.

Favorite car:
RangeRover

First Job:
desk associate at 'Hollister & Co.' Clothing store

Fun Facts:
I write my own songs, and I can write hebrew, my second cousin is the biker in " The Village People" group (ymca, machoman)

Dream Vacation/Place you’d like to visit:
Breckenridge, Colorado and Australia

Always wanted to meet:
Jennifer Grey, Lady Gaga, Natalie Portman

Three words to describe yourself:
social, determined, humorous

Favorite Quote:
"Live each day like it's your last."