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Baseballers of Lesser Note: Tom Lawless
Topic Started: Oct 14 2010, 10:16 AM (680 Views)
Erick Von Erich
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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Hallo there, and welcome to the fifth installment of (Professional) Baseballers of Lesser Note. In which we spotlight some of the distinguished gentlemen who have partaken in the professional gentleman's sport of baseball throughout the various eras encompassing the aforementioned sport.

This week we look at Tom Lawless.

Posted Image

What'd He Do?
Career Stat Totals:
8 Seasons / .207 AVG / 2 HR / 24 RBI

What Can You Tell Us About Him?
No relation to Blackie or Lucy, Lawless was the quintessential 80's "Quadruple A" player. He got his start as a speedy infielder in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Projected as a top-of-the-lineup and base stealer, he had the proverbial "cup of coffee", but was never a fit for the Reds and not a regular starter. He was usually used in late innings or to give a regular the day off.

What Happened to Him?
In April 1984, the Reds dealt Lawless to the Expos, straight-up, for PETE ROSE. Pete had outlived his usefulness to Les Expo and they were set to release him, outright. As a concession to Pete's ego and to avoid any nastiness, they agreed to trade him to the Reds for essentially nothing-- Tom Lawless. The Reds didn't mind, as they wanted to bring Pete back into their fold as a player/manager.

Montreal was crowded at their infield positions, so Lawless had the same role he filled in Cincinnati--hanging n' bangin' at Triple A and occasionally making an appearance in the bigs. Less than one year into his Montreal tenure, he was traded to the Cardinals, as a throw-in to complete a deal for Mickey Mahler.

More of the same awaited Lawless in St. Louis, although he did begin to play in the outfield more. Until the end of the 1987 season, when Cardinals third baseman Terry Pendleton went on the shelf with an injury. Lawless began to see more time in the field and the plate for the Cards' postseason run--- despite being 31 and having a total of ONE career homer.

In Game 4 of the 1987 World Series against the Twins, Lawless surprised everyone when he hit a 3-run homer to key a Cards win. It was his only hit of the 7 game series, yet a memorable one: a random journeyman hits a big homer to help his team win a World Series game. Thus, Lawless could officially be called a "one-hit wonder" and one of those surprise heroes of the postseason.

Despite his projected increase in playing time and remaining in the majors, the 1988 season was more of the same for Lawless. He left the Cardinals as a free agent at the end of the season and signed with the Blue Jays. One again, he didn't factor into his team's plans. After two uneventful years with the Jays, he retired at the end of the 1990 season.

He soon began coaching and eventually managing minor league teams. It was the start of a long career for Lawless-- one he continues today, as he's currently managing the Astros' Single A team. When we ran into Lawless at Spring Training this year, we asked him about the Series homer. Lawless smirked and playfully said "it was ONE game".

In the tight pantsed 80's, the game was not the slugfest that we're used to today. Thus, a player like Lawless could stick around for 8 seasons as an insurance policy or a "just in case" guy. Today, if a guy doesn't fulfill his potential by his mid-20's, he's discarded as a bust and forced to toil in the independent leagues or Japan. Tom Lawless was the type of player that simply doesn't exist anymore.
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torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
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I popped for the no relation to Blackie Lawless remark

I'm a Wild Child come and love me, I want You

I do remember Tom Lawless also
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Erick Von Erich
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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Blackie had a great quote after accidentally lighting his crotch on fire: "if we played good music, I wouldn't have to do stupid shit like this!"

I'd always try to work the "hey, wonder if she's Blackie's sister" joke whenever Xena was on. Nobody ever got it.

Trying to find out which Twins pitcher gave up Lawless's homer. C'mon JimBob and Metrdome! Where are you when we need you?!
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