Mike LaValliere Stats

Mike LaValliere was born on Thursday, August 18, 1960, in Charlotte, North Carolina. LaValliere was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 9, 1984, with the Philadelphia Phillies. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Mike LaValliere baseball stats page.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"The Pirates' Mike LaValliere was a short, stout catcher nicknamed Spanky. In his catching gear, he looked like Leonardo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles of '90s fame. He was made an honorary Ninja Turtle in a pregame ceremony at Three Rivers Stadium. 'Spanky loved it' said Pirates third-base coach Rich Donnelly. 'He got to the ballpark early and swam for two hours in the whirlpool, then ate a goldfish, just to get ready.' LaValliere received an honorary plaque at the induction. 'People send me stuff all the time,' LaValliere said, laughing. 'Some lady even sent me a picture of a real turtle.'" - Kurkjian, Tim. Author. Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod's Heart to Zim's Head--My 25 Years in Baseball. St. Martin's Griffin. 27 May 20008. Page 62.

Mike LaValliere

Mike 'Spanky' LaValliere Autograph on a 1992 Upper Deck Baseball Card (#113)

Mike 'Spanky' LaValliere Autograph on a 1992 Upper Deck Baseball Card (#113)

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Birth Name:   Michael Eugene LaValliere (Twitter: @spankycatches)
Nickname:   Mike or Spanky
Born On:   08-18-1960  (Leo)
Place of Birth Data Born In:   Charlotte, North Carolina
Year of Death Data Died On:   Still Living (1,000 Oldest Living)
Place of Death Data Died In:   Still Living
Cemetery:   n/a
High School:   Trinity High School (Manchester, NH)
College:   University of Massachusetts Lowell
Batting Stances Chart Bats:   Left   Throwing Arms Chart Throws:   Right
Player Height Chart Height:   5-09   Player Weight Chart Weight:   190
First Game:   09-09-1984 (Age 24)
Last Game:   09-22-1995
Draft:   Undrafted Free Agent

Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere Pitching Stats

- - Did Not Pitch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere Hitting Stats

1984 24 Phillies 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .000 .222 .000
1985 25 Cardinals 12 34 2 5 1 0 0 0 6 7 0 3 0 3 0 2 .147 .273 .176
1986 26 Cardinals 110 303 18 71 10 2 3 0 30 36 5 37 10 0 1 7 .234 .318 .310
1987 27 Pirates 121 340 33 102 19 0 1 0 36 43 9 32 3 3 1 4 .300 .377 .365
1988 28 Pirates 120 352 24 92 18 0 2 0 47 50 10 34 1 4 2 8 .261 .353 .330
1989 29 Pirates 68 190 15 60 10 0 2 0 23 29 7 24 4 0 0 4 .316 .406 .400
1990 30 Pirates 96 279 27 72 15 0 3 0 31 44 8 20 4 1 2 6 .258 .362 .344
1991 31 Pirates 108 336 25 97 11 2 3 1 41 33 4 27 1 5 2 10 .289 .351 .360
1992 32 Pirates 95 293 22 75 13 1 2 0 29 44 14 21 0 5 1 8 .256 .350 .328
1993 33 Pirates 1 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 .200 .200
1993 33 White Sox 37 97 6 25 2 0 0 0 8 4 0 14 7 2 0 1 .258 .282 .278
1994 34 White Sox 59 139 6 39 4 0 1 0 24 20 0 15 9 3 1 4 .281 .368 .331
1995 35 White Sox 46 98 7 24 6 0 1 0 19 9 0 15 0 2 0 3 .245 .303 .337
12 Years 879 2,473 185 663 109 5 18 1 294 321 57 244 39 28 10 57 .268 .351 .338

Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere Fielding Stats

1984 Phillies C 6 2 75 22 3.7 22 20 2 0 0 0 0 1 1.000 7.92
1985 Cardinals C 12 11 288 53 4.4 53 48 5 0 3 0 5 2 1.000 4.97
1986 Cardinals C 108 93 2,488 521 4.8 515 468 47 6 8 1 49 34 .988 5.59
1987 Pirates C 112 99 2,593 659 5.9 654 584 70 5 11 2 68 56 .992 6.81
1988 Pirates C 114 105 2,813 628 5.5 620 565 55 8 6 4 88 48 .987 5.95
1989 Pirates C 65 59 1,568 333 5.1 330 306 24 3 3 4 65 14 .991 5.68
1990 Pirates C 95 87 2,253 519 5.5 514 478 36 5 6 3 68 36 .990 6.16
1991 Pirates C 105 100 2,558 612 5.8 611 565 46 1 4 5 90 39 .998 6.45
1992 Pirates 3B 1 0 3 1 1.0 1 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 9.00
1992 Pirates C 92 87 2,301 486 5.3 483 421 62 3 6 4 71 44 .994 5.67
1993 Pirates C 1 1 27 12 12.0 12 12 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.000 12.00
1993 White Sox C 37 29 779 192 5.2 192 164 28 0 2 4 8 24 1.000 6.65
1994 White Sox C 57 44 1,150 329 5.8 326 305 21 3 3 5 39 16 .991 7.65
1995 White Sox C 46 30 804 223 4.8 222 202 20 1 1 1 30 16 .996 7.46
C Totals 850 747 19,697 4,589 5.4 4,554 4,138 416 35 53 34 582 330 .992 6.24
3B Totals 1 0 3 1 1.0 1 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1.000 9.00
12 Years 851 747 19,700 4,590 5.4 4,555 4,138 417 35 53 34 582 330 .992 6.24

Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere Miscellaneous Stats

1984 Phillies 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 3.5 0.0 - - -
1985 Cardinals 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 11.3 5.7 - - -
1986 Cardinals 0 1 .000 5 0 n/a 101.0 8.2 10.1 - - -
1987 Pirates 0 0 .000 16 0 n/a 340.0 10.6 9.4 - - -
1988 Pirates 3 2 .600 12 0 n/a 176.0 10.4 7.5 - - -
1989 Pirates 0 2 .000 4 0 n/a 95.0 7.9 8.3 - - -
1990 Pirates 0 3 .000 2 0 n/a 93.0 14.0 9.0 - - -
1991 Pirates 2 1 .667 4 0 n/a 112.0 12.4 8.2 - - -
1992 Pirates 0 3 .000 2 0 n/a 146.5 14.0 10.1 - - -
1993 Pirates 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - -
1993 White Sox 0 1 .000 0 1 0 0.0 6.9 12.1 - - -
1994 White Sox 0 2 .000 5 0 0 139.0 9.3 5.8 - - -
1995 White Sox 0 0 .000 1 1 0 98.0 6.5 5.2 - - -
12 Years 5 15 .250 51 2 0 137.4 10.1 8.4 - - -

Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere Miscellaneous Items of Interest

1984 Philadelphia Phillies 10 $40,000.00 - -
1985 St. Louis Cardinals 10 $60,000.00 - -
1986 St. Louis Cardinals 10 $70,000.00 - -
1987 Pittsburgh Pirates 4, 12 $120,000.00 - -
1988 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $215,000.00 - -
1989 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $482,500.00 - -
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $575,000.00 - -
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $1,035,000.00 - -
1992 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $1,850,000.00 - -
1993 Pittsburgh Pirates 12 $2,350,000.00 - -
1993 Chicago White Sox 10 "     "     - -
1994 Chicago White Sox 10 $2,100,000.00 - n/a
1995 Chicago White Sox 10 $750,000.00 - -

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Michael Eugene LaValliere was a Major League Baseball player with the Philadelphia Phillies (1984), St. Louis Cardinals (1985-1986), Pittsburgh Pirates (1987-1993), and Chicago White Sox (1993-1995). When Mike, his nickname, made his big league debut on September 9, 1984, he became the first former Trinity High School (Manchester, NH) student to play in the majors.

Mike LaValliere Rookie Card | Baseball Almanac

Mike LaValliere Rookie Card | 1987 Topps Baseball Card (#162 | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Research Library

In 1987, Mike LaValliere caught one-hundred twelve games, seventy-eight were complete games. He handled 659 total chances, collected a career high 584 putouts, took part in eleven double plays, and only had five errors. National League catchers caught baserunners stealing 29% of the time that season – LaValliere caught them 45% of the time, earning himself a well-deserved Gold Glove Award. Only one Pirate backstop had ever earned a Golden Glove before Mike. Who was it? [Answer]

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