Tom Lawless

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Thomas Edward Lawless (born June 17, 1956 in Erie, Pennsylvania) was a Major League Baseball player between 1982 and 1990, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Although just a fringe, part-time player throughout his career, Lawless was involved in a number of dramatic and historic moments. Lawless became famous in 1984 when he became the only player ever traded for the great Pete Rose. Lawless, who only hit two regular-season home runs his entire career, is also remembered for his dramatic game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 1987 World Series (he had hit .080 in 25 at bats during the regular season.) "When I hit it I knew I hit it good, but I wasn't sure it was out," Lawless told reporters at the time. "'Holy cow,' I said to myself. The ball went out and I went blank for a second. Then I flipped the bat. I knew if it wasn't out, it would have been caught."

Then, in 1989, while with the Toronto Blue Jays, Lawless' ninth inning single prevented Mark Langston from pitching a no-hitter.

A fast and highly skilled baserunner, Lawless struggled to hit major league pitching and retired in 1990. He entered the coaching ranks and has become a successful minor league manager, most recently with the Frederick Keys in 2004. He is known for an aggressive managing style, calling for many stolen bases and sacrifice bunts. He most recently served as minor league infield/baserunning instructor for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2007, he served as a coach for the China national baseball team during its participation in Major League Baseball's Instructional League program and in the Arizona Fall League.

Lawless was a career .207 hitter with two home runs and 24 RBI in 343 games.

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