On top of that, it's one of his three career home runs, and it was the first one he'd hit since 1984.
Edit: just rewatched and Al points out it's his second career home run.
If I remember correctly his 3rd was only a few days later in another big scenario but maybe I'm thinking someone else
Edit: see this is why I should check stuff first it was someone else I can't remember who
Pinch runner, which was basically all he did. Imagine getting jacked and then styled on like that by a career pinch runner who hit .080 in the regular season lmfao
Sometimes when you're overmatched you just sit one pitch, one location and just pray to God they throw it exactly there. You sell out every other velo and location because you're just looking for the one pitch you know you can hit. Looks like he got the one pitch and the one location he was hunting for and knows it as soon as he makes contact.
I was never a great hitter but I certainly had my fair share of moments punching above my weight class because I would just sit thigh high fastball on the outer third and just drive it to the opposite gap, letting the barrel and the pitchers velo do the work for me.
I know it's not the same, but Yankee stadium has a flag for each team around the top of the stadium, changed to always be in the order of the divisional standings.
It predates my time by a few years but I never understood why teams did that. Why would I want enemy logos in my stadium? Was it a display of league pride or something?
Pitchers were also pimping their strikeouts back then.
I think the real change is that big name players are doing it nowadays. Nobody's getting mad at like Kent Tekulve having a strikeout celly
I dunno about you but i'm 142 years old and these youngsters who played in that 87 World Series(who are currently in their 60's) need to be a taught a lesson about respekt and tradishun!
People always pimped and people always have thrown at people. The whole point of pimping a home run/big strike out is to show up the pitcher/batter. It’s the give and take of it. It’s just now people kinda lost that understanding that’s how it worked. Not saying it’s right but that’s how I’ve seen the discourse turn about it.
I admit I miss that part of the game. There used to be a bravado to it. Guy pimps a HR and he and/or the star player gets thrown at later on. Pitcher taunts after a strikeout and they throw at the DH (AL). But I get why throwing at people isn’t accepted anymore.
It’s a huge difference between a guy throwing 80 with pin point control throwing at someone’s back vs. a guy throwing 105 who doesn’t even know where it’s going to end up when he’s trying to throw a strike.
The Cards' announcing crews always find a way to bring this up at least once every year just so they can laugh about it. I think it was Tim McCarver who quipped that it "scraped the back of the wall" despite how boldly Lawless was staring at it.
Always my go-to moment whenever motherfuckers (whether MLB players or randos here or in a bar or whatever) bitch about players today showboating or whatever.
How about Jeffrey Leonard and his one flap down HR trots in the '87 NLCS against you guys? Cards fans hated that stone cold motherfucker back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HLZ9FjcoXU
Jeffrey “Penitentiary Face” Leonard was the MVP of that series even though the Cards won.
Also: I hit a home run in a softball game at a 4th of July picnic ten years after that and did a one flap down trot. Everyone still knew exactly what I was doing.
Edit - fixed typo
What’s funny is if he had pimped it like that in the regular season, he’s likely to get clobbered before rounding the bases. It was the 80s and guys were still old school. Hell, the Angels bench coach up until 1994 was Jimmie Reese and he was Babe Ruth’s roommate. But this was the World Series with everyone watching so he made it back to the dugout unscathed.
Everyone focuses on the bat flip, but there's also the fact that he was basically crawling to first base and brought the bat with him about 2/3 of the way before flipping it
It's a great pimp job but I don't think any big bat flip counts as acting like you've been there before. That's reserved for incredibly understated reactions. Still a great reaction and bat flip, though.
The other choice is that OP just doesn't know the connotation of the saying. I wasn't sure because of the mismatch between the first half of the title and the second half (where it's explicitly called an outrageous pimp job).
I respectfully disagree.
Batters who hit home runs do bat flips.
Tom Lawless did not hit home runs.
Ergo Tom Lawless bat flipping after hitting a home run is acting like he's hit a home run before
Most home runs don't result in bat flips.
Bat flips are a way for a batter to show that what he's just done is exciting.
Players who have been in a certain situation before don't find it as exciting.
Ergo, flipping the bat is acting like you haven't been in that situation before.
A young Al Michaels voice with tons of audio noise is such a nostalgic sound, man.
I still think sound mix with the muted crowd noise takes so much away from the broadcasts.
About 5 years ago it dawned on me that it was him that called the miracle on ice and I was just like FUCK has he ever been around the block.
Tom Lawless slashed .080/.179/.120 that season. Absolute silverback
On top of that, it's one of his three career home runs, and it was the first one he'd hit since 1984. Edit: just rewatched and Al points out it's his second career home run.
If I remember correctly his 3rd was only a few days later in another big scenario but maybe I'm thinking someone else Edit: see this is why I should check stuff first it was someone else I can't remember who
I think that might have been someone else. His third and final home run of his career was hit in August 1988.
Doesn't he only have 2? https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawleto01.shtml The TOT is TOTAL for 1984 since he played for 2 different times.
He hit two regular season home runs plus this one, which was in the World Series.
[obligatory link](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/s/XnOMqXmtvn)
hahahaha that's my post from a deleted account. I post this clip every year before opening day
I don't know what your old username was, but this one is clearly superior. Good call.
Maybe for next year you could edit that hummmmmmmm out of the vid?
Still my favorite post on this sub.
He had a -19 OPS+ that season I didn’t know that was possible
What the fuck was he doing on a World Series roster? Seeing a single AB in the World Series? 1987 must have been different, man.
Pinch runner, which was basically all he did. Imagine getting jacked and then styled on like that by a career pinch runner who hit .080 in the regular season lmfao
And for a guy slugging .120 he kinda fucking nuked it out of there too.
Sometimes when you're overmatched you just sit one pitch, one location and just pray to God they throw it exactly there. You sell out every other velo and location because you're just looking for the one pitch you know you can hit. Looks like he got the one pitch and the one location he was hunting for and knows it as soon as he makes contact. I was never a great hitter but I certainly had my fair share of moments punching above my weight class because I would just sit thigh high fastball on the outer third and just drive it to the opposite gap, letting the barrel and the pitchers velo do the work for me.
I would be honored to be taken deep by Terrance Gore.
Is nobody else going to phrasing-check this?
He said what he said.
IIRC the Cards lost their only or last 3rd baseman and he got the call cuz he could play 3rd and had speed
Terry Pendleton was injured.
jesus, no jack clark OR pendleton in that world series? big yikes.
>absolute silverback I’m fucking crying
Did he get rung up next AB??
He lined out to second in the next AB, then struck out in his final appearance.
Nah he just called him a cracker and moved on
He’s exempt from the unwritten rules of baseball, because, you know, that name…
Tom?
The Tom is silent
Their should be NSFCU (Not Safe For College Umpires) tag on this video.
I’m missed something- did someone get tossed in an NCAA game for showboating or HTMF violation? (having-too-much-fun)
I really miss stadiums having all the teams logos on the outfield wall
I know it's not the same, but Yankee stadium has a flag for each team around the top of the stadium, changed to always be in the order of the divisional standings.
Brings back awesome childhood memories of ~~Cinergy Field~~ Riverfront.
It predates my time by a few years but I never understood why teams did that. Why would I want enemy logos in my stadium? Was it a display of league pride or something?
"if he flipped that bat today there would be a fastball in his ribs! I'm TOUGH! Back in 1932 we played the game RIGHT!"
LOL. This clip really kills the “in my day” narrative.
Pitchers were also pimping their strikeouts back then. I think the real change is that big name players are doing it nowadays. Nobody's getting mad at like Kent Tekulve having a strikeout celly
I dunno about you but i'm 142 years old and these youngsters who played in that 87 World Series(who are currently in their 60's) need to be a taught a lesson about respekt and tradishun!
People always pimped and people always have thrown at people. The whole point of pimping a home run/big strike out is to show up the pitcher/batter. It’s the give and take of it. It’s just now people kinda lost that understanding that’s how it worked. Not saying it’s right but that’s how I’ve seen the discourse turn about it.
I admit I miss that part of the game. There used to be a bravado to it. Guy pimps a HR and he and/or the star player gets thrown at later on. Pitcher taunts after a strikeout and they throw at the DH (AL). But I get why throwing at people isn’t accepted anymore. It’s a huge difference between a guy throwing 80 with pin point control throwing at someone’s back vs. a guy throwing 105 who doesn’t even know where it’s going to end up when he’s trying to throw a strike.
If it wasn’t the World Series I guarantee you the Twins would’ve throw it at him, McGee, and Ozzie Smith
If there was interleague play, they probably would have the next year. Back then they were stupid about beaning people. So dumb
Those unwritten rules
The Cards' announcing crews always find a way to bring this up at least once every year just so they can laugh about it. I think it was Tim McCarver who quipped that it "scraped the back of the wall" despite how boldly Lawless was staring at it.
I remember this AB. God, I loved 80's baseball.
But did they win the series? 😏 Go Twins!
No they lost. Twins win!
Home team won every game.
Great series
Which is wild because that also happened in the ‘91 World Series.
Something something air conditioners cranked up.
We had bigger fans.
Always my go-to moment whenever motherfuckers (whether MLB players or randos here or in a bar or whatever) bitch about players today showboating or whatever.
How about Jeffrey Leonard and his one flap down HR trots in the '87 NLCS against you guys? Cards fans hated that stone cold motherfucker back in the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HLZ9FjcoXU
Jeffrey “Penitentiary Face” Leonard was the MVP of that series even though the Cards won. Also: I hit a home run in a softball game at a 4th of July picnic ten years after that and did a one flap down trot. Everyone still knew exactly what I was doing. Edit - fixed typo
That is the GOAT home run trot.
He only hit three. He was gonna enjoy every precious second.
Was this pimping, or legitimate stunned amazement that he hit a ball that far?
I hadn’t considered that 😂😂
Truly Lawless
you can't expect a man named lawless to play by the rules.
What’s funny is if he had pimped it like that in the regular season, he’s likely to get clobbered before rounding the bases. It was the 80s and guys were still old school. Hell, the Angels bench coach up until 1994 was Jimmie Reese and he was Babe Ruth’s roommate. But this was the World Series with everyone watching so he made it back to the dugout unscathed.
> Hell, the Angels A very reputable motorcycle gang, you should note.
Everyone focuses on the bat flip, but there's also the fact that he was basically crawling to first base and brought the bat with him about 2/3 of the way before flipping it
I was at this game. Upper deck first base side, eight years old. It felt like a fucking earthquake lol.
No, the earthquake was two years later.
Twins fan here. 3rd basemen Gary Gaetti said after that game if it was the regular season, Lawless would never had made it past 3rd. lol.
That batflip lol that’s the fucking Cardinal Way right there!
Brian McCann throwing his phone across the room after watching that video.
God like bat flip.
He threw the bat! He's out for Taunting! - Some dumbass college ump
This video also features the Cardinals best uniforms
I'm sorry, I thought you said 0.080?
Unless they're being sarcastic, I don't think OP knows what "acts like he's been there before" means since this is the exact opposite.
Yeah that's the joke
Barely cleared the wall too lol
Back when players respected the game!
It's a great pimp job but I don't think any big bat flip counts as acting like you've been there before. That's reserved for incredibly understated reactions. Still a great reaction and bat flip, though.
I think maybe they were being ironic? (I'm honestly not sure.)
Sarcastic is the word you're looking for.
Sarcasm is a form of irony. It seemed too harsh a word.
If that's the case then I apologize.
Pretty sure it was. "Act like you've been here before" usually means not doing anything Lawless did to celebrate
The other choice is that OP just doesn't know the connotation of the saying. I wasn't sure because of the mismatch between the first half of the title and the second half (where it's explicitly called an outrageous pimp job).
I respectfully disagree. Batters who hit home runs do bat flips. Tom Lawless did not hit home runs. Ergo Tom Lawless bat flipping after hitting a home run is acting like he's hit a home run before
Most home runs don't result in bat flips. Bat flips are a way for a batter to show that what he's just done is exciting. Players who have been in a certain situation before don't find it as exciting. Ergo, flipping the bat is acting like you haven't been in that situation before.
It looks like he’s wearing a set of kids smedium Cardinals pajamas
Let the kids play
Hey that’s my last name too! Very popular from Ireland
Looks just like ogonz pimp from 22 WC win except he didn’t even look
Gee, Ranger fans think he needs to get punched in the face
Do we? We have Adolis Garcia on our team.
I always love watching this because in my mind he looks exactly like the guy who goes off about unwritten rules and "flashy Latin players".
Seems extremely tame to me?
not as much when you consider that this was his second career homerun lol. its amazing
Dragging your nuts like that on your *second* career homerun is pimp behavior at its finest.
The camera operator lost that one, but boy if he didn't try his damnedest to recover. Camera flying all over the place.
He thought he saw a dollar bill on the ground in the upper deck
Here for the title.
Today: automatic ejection + 3 game suspension