Weakened while treating a bleeding ulcer, Cardinals pitcher Brooks Lawrence was ineffective in 1955. He went from being the Opening Day starter to getting demoted to the minor leagues that season.
Though the Cardinals needed pitching, they decided Lawrence wouldn’t regain the effectiveness he showed as a rookie in 1954.
On Jan. 31, 1956, St. Louis traded Lawrence and minor-league pitcher Sonny Senerchia to the Reds for reliever Jackie Collum.
It turned out the Cardinals gave up on Lawrence too soon.
With his strength back and his ulcer under control, Lawrence pitched for the Reds in 1956 the way he had as a Cardinals rookie.
It was yet another example of Lawrence’s ability to persevere.
Long road to majors
Lawrence served in the Pacific with the Army during World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star for using a machine gun to fight off an enemy plane that was firing on U.S. soldiers. He attended Miami University in Ohio and began his professional pitching career in the Indians organization in 1949.
By 1953, he was discouraged still to be at the Class B level.
Mickey Owen, the former Cardinals catcher, had managed Lawrence in the winter league at Puerto Rico and suggested to the Reds that they acquire Lawrence. They did, but they left him exposed in the December 1953 minor-league draft and the Cardinals claimed him.
Lawrence opened the 1954 season with the Cardinals’ Class AAA club at Columbus, Ohio. He was 6-4 with a 5.53 ERA when the Cardinals, desperate for pitching, promoted him to the big leagues in June 1954.
Milestone performance
In his debut against the Pirates at Pittsburgh, Lawrence, 29, started and pitched a four-hitter. He became the first African-American pitcher to earn a win for the Cardinals. Boxscore
From there, Lawrence established himself as a valuable, versatile pitcher. In 35 appearances, including 18 starts, he was 15-6 with a 3.74 ERA for the 1954 Cardinals. He ranked second on the club in wins and complete games (eight).
Lawrence was adept at starting (9-2, 3.85 ERA) and relieving (6-4, 3.25 ERA) for the 1954 Cardinals.
Against the Cubs that season, Lawrence was 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA.
Medical emergency
Shortly after the 1954 season, Lawrence was home in Springfield, Ohio, when he collapsed.
“I was coming out of the bathroom and passed out from loss of blood,” he told The Sporting News.
Lawrence was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. He needed eight transfusions and spent 10 days in a hospital. “The doctor told me that if they had waited a half hour longer to bring me to the hospital it would have been too late,” Lawrence said.
According to The Sporting News, Lawrence was placed on a strict diet of milk, cream and baby food.
“I reported for spring training in 1955 weighing 217 pounds,” Lawrence said. “That’s about 12 pounds more than I usually weigh. I was healthy and looked it, but I wasn’t strong.”
Shaky season
Lawrence was the choice of manager Eddie Stanky to be the 1955 Cardinals’ Opening Day starter at Chicago against the Cubs. He was shelled for five runs and lifted before he could complete the first inning. Boxscore
The poor start foreshadowed his season. In 46 games, including 10 starts, for the 1955 Cardinals, Lawrence was 3-8 with a 6.56 ERA.
He was equally bad as a starter (2-5, 6.58 ERA) as he was a reliever (1-3, 6.55 ERA).
Against the Cubs that season, Lawrence was 0-3 with an 11.37 ERA.
After Lawrence was demoted to Class AAA Oakland in August, Cardinals manager Harry Walker said, “He’s a good man and I hope he proves again that he’s a good pitcher.”
In less than three weeks with Oakland, Lawrence was 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA.
Change environment
Frank Lane became Cardinals general manager after the 1955 season and was tasked with rebuilding a club that had finished 68-86.
Lane contacted his Reds counterpart, Gabe Paul, and inquired about a pair of former Cardinals, Collum and third baseman Ray Jablonski. “When I heard what he wanted in return,” Lane said, “I told him he must have been the key man in the Brink’s holdup.”
Paul countered by saying Lane “was too much in love with St. Louis major and minor leaguers” to strike a deal.
Columnist Dick Young reported that Paul called Lawrence “to ascertain that the pitcher’s ulcers have not been kicking up.”
Cardinals doctors declared Lawrence cured of ulcers, The Sporting News reported.
Said Lawrence: “There was nothing wrong with my arm last year. That ulcer was the trouble.”
Make a deal
The trade was made when Lane agreed to take only Collum and package a minor leaguer of the Reds’ choice with Lawrence.
“It’s not earth-shaking,” Lane said to United Press about the trade, “but it’s a start.”
Surprised, Lawrence said he thought the Cardinals “would have at least given me a good look” in spring training.
Lawrence said he had worked for the water department in Springfield that winter. “I operated an air hammer,” he said. “That takes the fat off you.”
Collum, who had pitched for the Cardinals from 1951-53 and was 9-8 with a 3.63 ERA for the 1955 Reds, “is not a great pitcher, but he’s a great competitor,” Lane said.
Used mostly in relief with the 1956 Cardinals, Collum was 6-2 with seven saves and a 4.20 ERA.
Lawrence won his first 13 decisions with the 1956 Reds and finished the season 19-10 with a 3.99 ERA.
Previously: The debut of Bill Greason, first black Cardinals pitcher
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