The Canadian connection: No. 55 OF Scott Mann (Oshawa, Ont.), No. 44 1B Andy Lawrence (Mississauga, Ont.) and No. 33, OF Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC)

In this, the 22nd article in our Hall of Fame series, 1B Andy Lawrence (Mississauga, Ont.) recalls playing at class-A West Palm Beach with 2020 Hall of Famer Larry Walker. Walker will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on September 8, alongside Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller.

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Steve Rogers on Marvin Miller ||||| Mario Ziino on Ted Simmons ||||| Buck Showalter on Derek Jeter ||||| “The Legend” Dick Groch signed Jeter, plus scouting report ||||| Captain Jeter was Mr. November ||||| Jeter held in high regard by baseball brethren

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September 7, 2021

By Andy Lawrence

Former West Palm Expo

I first met Larry Walker with the class-A West Palm Beach Expos playing for manager Felipe Alou in 1986. The Montreal Expos sent me down from double-A Jacksonville and Felipe asked me to assist the young players in getting to the playoffs and help them prepare for what was ahead of us.

I immediately knew that two players with very different personalities on that team, Larry and Randy Johnson, were great players. I was 24, Randy was two years younger and Larry was only 19.

The first time I saw Larry in batting practice I was amazed at how quickly the ball jumped off his bat. The scout (Bob “Whitey” Rogers) who signed Larry saw what I had seen in batting practice in the next two seasons.

When Larry was in the batting cage, I would analyze Larry’s every swing. He had a very unique wrist action that was so fast. I would compare it to Wayne Gretzky taking a wrist shot.

During batting practice, Larry would flip his hat around like a hockey player. Crazy Larry at times with that dry sense of humour made it so much fun to play with him.

Larry had a great positive attitude and a witty sense of humour, along with Canadian OF Scott Mann (Oshawa, Ont.).

The next year the Expos moved all their top prospects to double-A Jacksonville. Larry had a breakout season and we both made the all-star team. He worked so hard in practice to learn the game and elevated his play in the outfield by throwing out runners at home.

Larry hit third in the lineup getting on base, driving in runs and hitting some long home runs. I was the clean-up hitter backing up Larry. It was a great Canadian connection. Scott Mann in left, Larry in right and I was at first.

One night I’ll never forget came from one of those long bus trips. It was around 2 a.m. and everyone was sleeping. Randy Johnson was sleeping on the upper baggage shelf. All of a sudden the back of the bus hit the ground hard, sparks and smoke everywhere. The bus lost the back right wheel and axle.

If it weren’t for our two bus drivers holding the wheel at the same time -- to keep us from ending up in the ditch on the side of the road -- who knows. We all quickly got off the bus and thanked God. We walked a mile on the line in the road.

Thank God we’re all here today.

Jim Fanning, the Montreal Expos general manager, farm director, scouting director and everything else, took a chance on three young Canadians players and eventually 20 players on that double-A team got the call to the majors.

That year at West Palm we went 80-55, playing almost .600 ball (.593) during the regular season before losing to the St. Petersburg Cardinals in the league final.

Knowing Larry from West Palm when he was a former hockey goalie and a raw ball player, I can confidently say that Larry is a true Canadian player, a family man and a great athlete who could hit a baseball.

If anyone says to you “you are odd, quirky or have a dry sense of humour,” remember Larry Walker and Randy Johnson two teammates who each shared an odd, quirky and dry sense of humour.

They both have plaques in the Hall of Fame, just as my good friend Bob Elliott has his picture on display at Cooperstown.

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Andy Lawrence was the best hitter in the province of Ontario in 1981 when he won the gold medal. The New York Mets recognized his abilities and Lawrence was signed by scout Ron Roncetti (Toronto, Ont.) that year. Lawrence always gave credit to his Erindale Cardinals coach Ron Cabot, who also worked as Blue Jays scout, for teaching him how to play.

In 1982, he was sent to rookie-class Kingsport Mets (hitting .323 with eight homers, 43 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 66 games) in the Appalachian League.

The next season Lawrence was at class-A Little Falls and class-A Columbia (combining for 12 homers and 66 RBIs in 122 games). The 1984 season saw him in Columbia again (batting .269 with 11 homers, 83 RBIs and an .783 OPS in 138 games) then in 1985 it was on to class-A Lynchburg (.281 with three homers, 50 RBIs and .716 OPS in 113 contests).

After starting 1986 at double-A Jackson in the Mets system he was moved to the Expos system at double-A Jacksonville and class-A West Palm Beach. Despite making three stops, Lawrence managed to adjust (batting .253 with 14 homers, 65 RBIs and a .732 OPS in 119 games). Lawrence played at Jacksonville in 1987 (batting .290 with 12 homers, 76 RBIs and a .760 OPS in 131 games) and 1988 (hitting .242 with three homers, 18 RBIs and a .638 OPS in 45 games) before retiring.

In his seven seasons in the minors, Lawrence played 734 games, hitting .276 with 133 doubles, 15 triples, 63 homers, 401 RBIs and a .745 OPS.

George Farelli, keeper of the all things Canadian in the minors, tells us where Lawrence ranks among the 170 Canucks with more 2,000 career at-bats. Lawrence sits tied for 36th in average (.276), 52nd in RBIs (401), 55th in home runs (63), tied for 58th in triples (15), 77th in doubles (133), tied for 81st in runs scored (350), is 100th in games played (734th), 118th in hits (709) and 121st in at-bats (2,565),

Upon returning home, Lawrence scouted Canada for the New York Mets and then became one of the more highly respected coaches with Mississauga North Tigers, managing his son Jason.

CBN HOF Series: Ex-teammate Andy Lawrence on Larry Walker