Joe Lawrence

Joe Lawrence was born on February 13, 1977 in Lake Charles, LA to Will and Sally Lawrence. He has two sisters, Robin and Mandi, who both graduated from LSU. Joe played baseball, basketball, and football throughout junior high and in high school continued to play football and baseball.

Joe finished his high school football career as Barbe High School's all-time leading receiver. He was a four-time first-team All State selection in baseball and a three-time All State pick in football. He led his football team to a pair of district titles and the baseball squad to four district championships.

He was named Louisiana's Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball, selected as "Mr. Baseball of Louisiana" and to USA Today’s All American first team his senior year with a batting average of .449. He was selected 16th overall in the 1996 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1999, he played in the Major League Baseball Futures Game in Boston. On Father’s Day of 2000, Joe hit his way to become Homerun Champion of the Florida State League All-Star Game.

Joe realized his dream when he broke into the Majors in 2002 as a second baseman after five years in the Minors. He played 55 games with the Blue Jays. He delivered an RBI single in his first at-bat against the Texas Rangers on May 1, 2002. Joe signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2003 season, playing 43 games in Triple A. He retired from baseball in 2003 after playing shortstop, third base, and second base.

Joe joined the LSU Football Team in 2004 but was sidelined by a non-contact injury, a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, in the spring game. He returned in August and became the oldest player on the current team and perhaps the oldest player to ever put on a LSU uniform at 27.

Joe enjoyed his travels from coast to coast in the United States and Canada but is happiest living in Baton Rouge, and near his birthplace, Lake Charles. He is currently attending LSU and plans to get his degree in Business Administration.