CHICAGO — In a move that sent shockwaves through Wrigleyville, the Chicago Cubs have announced a $1.4 million project to build a new statue honoring the legendary Andre Dawson — the immortal symbol of the “Cubs Never Die” spirit.
The statue, announced this morning, will be placed at the west main entrance of Wrigley Field, where the sunset shines directly into Chicago’s classic bleachers. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Dawson’s MLB debut.
“Andre Dawson was more than just a player,” Cubs President Tom Ricketts said at a press conference. “He is a testament to the loyalty and unyielding spirit that every Cubs fan carries in their hearts.”
The new statue was designed by artist Lou Cella, who also worked on Ernie Banks and Fergie Jenkins. Unlike the original, which debuted in 2010, this version will be 12 feet tall and depict Dawson in the same pose after hitting his legendary home run in 1987, when he won NL MVP despite the Cubs not making the playoffs.
The Cubs said the project was funded by a legacy fund and voluntary donations from fans, including more than 40,000 who donated online in the first three days after the news broke.
“I don’t talk much, but my heart is in Chicago,” Dawson said via video from Miami. “Knowing that the younger generation will walk through Wrigley, see that statue, and know our story — that’s worth more than any trophy.”
The new statue is not only a tribute to the past, but also a statement about the Cubs’ legacy as it moves into the future. The team plans to turn the area around the statue into “Legacy Plaza,” where fans can hear Dawson’s real voice through a motion-sensing sound system and watch rare digitized footage.
The event is considered one of the largest player tributes in Cubs history, on par with the Ernie Banks statue in 2008. A host of former players, including Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams, are expected to attend the dedication.
“If you grew up in Chicago, you remember Dawson throwing his hat in the air after his 49th home run. It wasn’t just baseball. It was love, it was hope, it was Cubs,” said one fan outside Wrigley Field, where hundreds gathered to celebrate the news.
Although Andre Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, the Cubs seemed to want to say one more time: “We never forgot him.”
And with a $1.4 million monument about to rise in the heart of Wrigley, Chicago is proving — the legend may fade, but the faith remains.
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