James P. Dawson Award --
Outstanding Yankee Spring Training Rookie
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Note: I could not find any photos of Bill Robinson accepting his 1967 Dawson Award
James P. Dawson Award
The annual James P. Dawson award has been presented to the top rookie in the Yankees' training camp since 1956, as voted by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The award is an engraved wrist watch.
James P. Dawson (1895-1953) was a sports writer and columnist for the New York Times. He began what would eventually become a 44-year career as a copy boy in 1908, eventually becoming the Times Boxing Editor in 1915. From 1919 on he covered every major boxing event held in New York City. He served as President of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association in 1936 and 1937.
Dawson, who covered all three New York baseball teams, died from a heart attack while covering the Yankees in St. Petersburg, Florida, during spring training in 1953.
Bill Robinson's Detailed Biography
(by Alan Cohen - Society for American Baseball Research)