Lawrence was born in Springfield, Ohio, and served in the US Army during World War II.

He enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1947, and played two seasons of college baseball before being signed to a professional contract by the Cleveland Indians.

He struggled in 1955 and was demoted to Oakland (in the Pacific Coast League),[3] but he went 5–1 down the stretch and earned a second chance with the big-league club.

Before that year, St. Louis sent Lawrence and Sonny Senerchia to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Jackie Collum.

He opened the season with 13 consecutive wins and earned a spot on the National League All-Star team.