Tom Lawless is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for six seasons. He was primarily a utility player, playing multiple positions including third base, second base, and outfield. Lawless began his professional career in 1978 when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut with the Reds in 1982.
After playing for the Reds for two seasons, Lawless was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1984. He played for the Expos for one season before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. It was with the Cardinals that Lawless had his most memorable moment in baseball. In 1987, he was a member of the Cardinals team that won the World Series. Lawless played a key role in the championship run, hitting a home run in Game 4 of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins. The home run was Lawless' only home run of the season and one of only four he hit in his entire Major League career.
After the World Series win, Lawless continued to play for the Cardinals for two more seasons before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. He played for the Blue Jays for one season before being released and signing with the Houston Astros in 1990. Lawless played for the Astros for one season before retiring from baseball in 1991.
After his playing career, Lawless remained involved in baseball as a coach and manager. He began his coaching career in the minor leagues, working as a hitting coach for several teams. In 2002, he was hired as the first base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He remained with the Cardinals for several seasons before being hired as the bench coach for the Houston Astros in 2012.
In 2014, Lawless was named the interim manager of the Houston Astros after the team fired their previous manager. He managed the team for the final 29 games of the season, leading them to a 15-14 record. Despite the winning record, Lawless was not retained as the team's manager for the following season.
Overall, Tom Lawless had a modest Major League career as a utility player, but he will always be remembered for his role in the St. Louis Cardinals' 1987 World Series championship. He has continued to be involved in baseball as a coach and manager, and his brief stint as the interim manager of the Houston Astros in 2014 was a highlight of his post-playing career.
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