[1] Hawkins stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88 kg).

Hawkins was perhaps best known for giving up Ted Williams's 500th home run (June 17, 1960).

During his career, Hawkins gave up 99 walks in just 2022⁄3 innings pitched, for a BB/9IP of 4.40, higher than the American League average at that time.

Career highlights for Hawkins include pitching the first 11 innings of a 12-inning game, giving up one unearned run and defeating the Detroit Tigers 2–1 (April 26, 1960), a five-hit, complete-game victory over the Boston Red Sox, winning 10–1 (April 30, 1961), and a two-hit, complete-game shutout against the Minnesota Twins (May 21, 1961).

After his pitching career, Hawkins was a scout for the Indians, and served as the team's traveling secretary[1] as well as in sales.