Matt Lawton
Born: 11/30/1971 in Gulfport, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1995-09-05 | Final Game: 2006-05-16
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Matthew Lawton
Biography
Matt Lawton, born in 1971, was a prominent professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1995 to 2006. Primarily serving as a position player, Lawton played in a total of 1,334 games over his eleven-season career. He made a significant impact in Major League Baseball, recording 1,273 hits, 138 home runs, and 631 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .267. Known for his speed on the bases, Lawton also stole 165 bases, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively in multiple ways.
A two-time All-Star, Lawton was recognized for his offensive prowess and solid defensive skills during a competitive era in baseball that included the rise of power hitters and the evolving dynamics of the game in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His ability to get on base and produce runs made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians, among others. Lawton’s career was marked by his versatility and durability, as he consistently performed at a high level across various positions, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1334 | 4763 | 756 | 1273 | 267 | 17 | 138 | 631 | 165 | 681 | 613 | 0.267 | 0.368 | 0.417 | 0.785 | 5493.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | MIN | AL | 21 | 60 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0.317 | 204.4 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | 79 | 252 | 34 | 65 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 42 | 4 | 28 | 28 | 0.258 | -336.0 |
| 1997 | MIN | AL | 142 | 460 | 74 | 114 | 29 | 3 | 14 | 60 | 7 | 76 | 81 | 0.248 | 551.6 |
| 1998 | MIN | AL | 152 | 557 | 91 | 155 | 36 | 6 | 21 | 77 | 16 | 86 | 64 | 0.278 | 1962.3 |
| 1999 | MIN | AL | 118 | 406 | 58 | 105 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 54 | 26 | 57 | 42 | 0.259 | -639.8 |
| 2000 | MIN | AL | 156 | 561 | 84 | 171 | 44 | 2 | 13 | 88 | 23 | 91 | 63 | 0.305 | 1613.9 |
| 2001 | MIN | AL | 103 | 376 | 71 | 110 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 51 | 19 | 63 | 46 | 0.293 | 997.2 |
| 2001 | NYN | NL | 48 | 183 | 24 | 45 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 22 | 34 | 0.246 | 997.2 |
| 2002 | CLE | AL | 114 | 416 | 71 | 98 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 57 | 8 | 59 | 34 | 0.236 | 76.2 |
| 2003 | CLE | AL | 99 | 374 | 57 | 93 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 53 | 10 | 47 | 47 | 0.249 | 178.8 |
| 2004 | CLE | AL | 150 | 591 | 109 | 164 | 25 | 0 | 20 | 70 | 23 | 74 | 84 | 0.277 | 660.9 |
| 2005 | CHC | NL | 19 | 78 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0.244 | -258.3 |
| 2005 | NYY | AL | 21 | 48 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0.125 | -258.3 |
| 2005 | PIT | NL | 101 | 374 | 53 | 102 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 44 | 16 | 58 | 61 | 0.273 | -258.3 |
| 2006 | SEA | AL | 11 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.259 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1244 | 1191 | 2595 | 59 | 42 | 19 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | MIN | OF | 19 | 14 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | MIN | OF | 75 | 65 | 196 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 | MIN | OF | 138 | 126 | 278 | 9 | 7 | 3 |
| 1998 | MIN | OF | 151 | 147 | 398 | 12 | 4 | 5 |
| 1999 | MIN | OF | 109 | 103 | 213 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 | MIN | OF | 143 | 141 | 278 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2001 | MIN | OF | 94 | 90 | 193 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2001 | NYN | OF | 48 | 46 | 96 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | CLE | OF | 108 | 107 | 229 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 2003 | CLE | OF | 74 | 73 | 133 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | CLE | OF | 142 | 142 | 266 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 2005 | CHN | OF | 19 | 19 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | NYA | OF | 19 | 14 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | PIT | OF | 98 | 98 | 206 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 | SEA | OF | 7 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 385 |
| Center Field | 115 |
| Right Field | 794 |
| Designated Hitter | 53 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Player of the Week | Week of 2001-07-06 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | SEA | AL | $400,000 |
| 2005 | PIT | NL | $7,750,000 |
| 2004 | CLE | AL | $7,250,000 |
| 2003 | CLE | AL | $6,750,000 |
| 2002 | CLE | AL | $5,250,000 |
| 2001 | MIN | AL | $3,900,000 |
| 2000 | MIN | AL | $2,000,000 |
| 1999 | MIN | AL | $1,700,000 |
| 1998 | MIN | AL | $215,000 |
| 1997 | MIN | AL | $150,000 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | $115,000 |
| 1995 | MIN | AL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $35,589,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | MS | 1990, 1991 |