Mike Lawlor

Michael H. Lawlor

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut May 27, 1880
• Final Game July 23, 1884
• Born March 11, 1854 in Troy, NY USA
• Died August 3, 1918 in Troy, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Mike Lawlor, who was born in Troy, NY, played catcher in four games for the Troy Trojans in 1880. He later was in a couple games for the Washington Nationals in 1884.

The regular catcher for the Trojans was Bill Holbert, who hit .189 and had a reputation as a defensive whiz. Many other players appeared in at least one game at catcher, with the 20-year-old Buck Ewing getting 10 games there. At the time, Lawlor was already 26, older than most of the players on the team.

He came back in 1884 at age 30 to play a couple of games for a team whose average age was 24.9. In between his two playing stints, he umpired one National League game in 1882.

The Baseball Library chronology says that Lawlor was an amateur originally recruited when both Troy catchers were injured. However, he had played at least some semi-pro ball in the past (with Guelph in 1877).