Brooks Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Brooks Ulysses Lawrence (January 30, 1925 – April 27, 2000) was a Major League Baseball
All-Star
pitcher
for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1954-1955), Cincinnati Redlegs (1956-1959), and Cincinnati Reds
(1960).
Lawrence was born in Springfield, Ohio
, and attended Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
. His career started in the Negro National League, where he earned the nickname "Bull".
His Major League debut came in 1954. As a 29-year-old rookie, Lawrence went 15-6 with a 3.74 ERA while starting and relieving for the 1954 St. Louis Cardinals
. Lawrence struggled in 1955 and he was demoted to Oakland (in the Pacific Coast League
), but he went 5-1 down the stretch and earned a second chance with the big-league club.
Lawrence's best season came in 1956. Prior to that year, St. Louis sent Lawrence and Sonny Senerchia to the Cincinnati Reds
in exchange for Jackie Collum. With the Reds that season, Lawrence posted a 19-10 record and a 3.99 ERA. He opened the season with 13 consecutive wins and earned a spot on the National League
All-Star
team. That year he led the Reds in wins, innings pitched and shutouts.
Lawrence's career came to a close in 1960, and he retired with an overall record of 69-62 with a 4.25 ERA in 1,040.7 innings pitched. Thanks largely to his 13-game winning streak and his association with the surprisingly successful 1956 Reds club, Lawrence earned induction into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1976.
After his retirement from baseball, Lawrence worked for International Harvester
in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio
. He later worked for the Cincinnati Reds
in scouting, minor league player development, and radio and television.
He died on April 27, 2000.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1954-1955), Cincinnati Redlegs (1956-1959), and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1960).
Lawrence was born in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
, and attended Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
. His career started in the Negro National League, where he earned the nickname "Bull".
His Major League debut came in 1954. As a 29-year-old rookie, Lawrence went 15-6 with a 3.74 ERA while starting and relieving for the 1954 St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Lawrence struggled in 1955 and he was demoted to Oakland (in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
), but he went 5-1 down the stretch and earned a second chance with the big-league club.
Lawrence's best season came in 1956. Prior to that year, St. Louis sent Lawrence and Sonny Senerchia to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in exchange for Jackie Collum. With the Reds that season, Lawrence posted a 19-10 record and a 3.99 ERA. He opened the season with 13 consecutive wins and earned a spot on the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team. That year he led the Reds in wins, innings pitched and shutouts.
Lawrence's career came to a close in 1960, and he retired with an overall record of 69-62 with a 4.25 ERA in 1,040.7 innings pitched. Thanks largely to his 13-game winning streak and his association with the surprisingly successful 1956 Reds club, Lawrence earned induction into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1976.
After his retirement from baseball, Lawrence worked for International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
. He later worked for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in scouting, minor league player development, and radio and television.
He died on April 27, 2000.
Trivia
- Lawrence made his major-league debut on June 24, 1954
- Lawrence's 13-game winning streak came to an end on July 21, 1956, when Roberto ClementeRoberto ClementeRoberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
’s three-run homer led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati. - The 1956 Reds tied a National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
record with 221 home runs, but none of Lawrence's 11 hits that season was a home run.