217+1⁄3 innings pitched, and 29 games started. He ranked among the American League leaders in 1937 with 18 wins (third), a .720 winning percentage (sixth), and 15 complete games (tenth). In 1937, he also had a .259 batting average with five RBIs. He ranked 19th in the voting for the 1937 American League Most Valuable Player award. [2] Sportswriter Clifford Bloodgood in Baseball Magazine described Lawson in 1937 as "a pitcher who has a variety of stuff, the most baffling of which perhaps is an excellent change of pace" and noted that Lawson's delivery of his change of pace pitch "masks his intentions completely." [15]
In 1938, Lawson appeared in 27 games, 16 as a starter, and compiled an 8–9 record and 5.46 ERA. The following year, he appeared in two games for the Tigers early in the year, winning one and losing the other. [2]
On May 13, 1939, Lawson was sent to the St. Louis Browns as part of a 10-player trade that sent Bobo Newsom to the Tigers. [16] After the trade, Lawson appeared in 36 games, 14 as a starter, for the 1939 Browns, compiling a 3–7 record with a 5.32 ERA. [2] In 1940, Lawson's second season with the Browns, Lawson appeared in 30 games, two as a starter, and compiled a 5–3 record with a 5.13 ERA. He also ranked eighth in the American League with four saves. [2]
During the 1941 season, Lawson was affiliated with five different team. He began the season with the Browns, but was traded to the Montreal Royals of the international League in April. [17] After compiling a 0–3 record at Montreal, [5] he was traded in June to the Atlanta Crackers. However, he refused to report to the Crackers. Upon being returned to Montreal, he was next traded to the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in July. [18] He compiled a 1–2 record in five games for Milwaukee, [5] and he then finished the 1941 season with the Nashville Vols with whom he compiled a 5–3 record and a 4.11 ERA. [5] Lawson concluded his playing career in 1942 with the Milwaukee Brewers, compiling a 6–6 record and a 5.54 ERA. [5]
Military service and managerial career
In November 1942, Lawson enlisted in the United States Navy. [19] After his wartime service was concluded, Lawson was hired in January 1947 as the manager of the Meridian Peps, a Southeastern League team in Meridian, Mississippi. [20] He spent only one season with Meridian and was hired in January 1948 as the manager of the Green Bay Bluejays. [21] The Bluejays compiled a 37–35 record under Lawson before he resigned on July 16, 1948. [22]
After his managerial career ended, Lawson worked as an umpire in the Three-Eye League. [23]
Family and later years
Lawson was married to Blanche Klise, and they had a son, Roxie Lee. [3] During Lawson's playing career, he and his wife lived on a farm in Iowa during the off-season. [1] Lawson's wife died in an automobile accident near Marquette, Michigan, in 1957. [24] Lawson died in 1977 at his home in Stockport, Iowa, at age 70. [25]
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References
- 1 2 3 Damon Kerby (August 31, 1935). "Roxie Lawson, Tigers' Latest Pitching Find, Won 14 Games For Lowly Toledo This Season". Detroit Free Press. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Roxie Lawson Major League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Roxie Lawson a Standout – Carries Iowa Prestige". The Des Moines Register. November 3, 1937. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Lawson Quits Iowa School in Study Protest". The Des Moines Register. October 6, 1935. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Roxie Lawson Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ↑ "A's Take Third From Indians". The Wilkes-Barre Record. August 14, 1930. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Cleveland Sends Eight to Toledo". The Indianapolis Star. March 27, 1932. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Toledo Sells Lawson To Detroit Tigers". The Des Moines Register. September 5, 1933. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Detroit Returns Roxie Lawson to Toledo Mud Hens". The Des Moines Register. January 3, 1934. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Charles P. Ward (August 25, 1935). "Lawson Blanks Boston and Tigers Gain Game". Detroit Free Press. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Charles P. Ward (August 29, 1935). "Lawson Gains His Second Shutout Victory: Four Singles All Macks Obtain Off Rookie Star". Detroit Free Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Even Grove Bows to Roxie Lawson: Toledo Hurler Wins 3 of First 5". Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1935. p. Sport–8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "1935 World Series (4–2): Detroit Tigers (93–58) over Chicago Cubs (100–54)". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson Back in Iowa". The Des Moines Register. October 18, 1935. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ↑ W. J. McGoogan (May 14, 1939). "Buck Newsom Is Traded By The Browns In Ten-Player Deal: Four Pitchers and Two Others Obtained From Detroit". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson Is Sold to Montreal". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 4, 1941. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Brews Buy Lawson". The Courier-Journal (Louisville). July 11, 1941. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Hub Walker, Roxie Lawson Sign – but with Navy This Time". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1942. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson Minor Pilot". The Des Moines Register. January 27, 1947. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson To Green Bay". The Des Moines Register. February 1, 1948. p. 3S – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Lawson Resigns Green Bay Post". Janesville Daily Gazette. July 17, 1948. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson and Cox Umpires Today". The Terre Haute Tribune-Star. April 22, 1951. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Roxie Lawson's Wife Killed in Accident". Ironwood Daily Globe. April 4, 1957. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Services for Former Tiger Standout Held". News-Herald, Panama City, Florida. April 14, 1977. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
| Roxie Lawson | |
|---|---|
 Lawson, circa 1933–39 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:April 13, 1906 Donnellson, Iowa, U.S. | |
| Died: April 9, 1977 (aged 70) Stockport, Iowa, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 3, 1930, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 28, 1940, for the St. Louis Browns |
Detroit Tigers 1935 World Series champions | |
|---|---|
| |
| |