The Number 54

Marty Noble at Mets.com writes about Brian Lawrence, the number he was assigned and the significance of it:

Lawrence was assigned No. 54, which has been assigned almost exclusively to coaches in Mets history. Rube Walker, Gil Hodges' pitching coach who served through Joe Torre's time as manager, is the primary No. 54 in Mets history. Rick Down, dismissed as batting coach last month, also wore 54.

The only player other than Lawrence to wear 54 was Mark Clark, who won 22 times for the Mets in 1996 and 1997.