Mike LaValliere
A defensive mastermind behind the plate, his gritty play was a cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' early 1990s resurgence.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 18·Baby Boomers
Biography
Mike LaValliere carved out a twelve-year major league career not with a thunderous bat, but with a cerebral and tenacious approach to catching. Nicknamed 'Spanky' for his youthful looks, he was a pitcher's best friend, a master of framing pitches and handling a staff. His defining chapter came with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where from 1988 to 1993 he formed a vital part of the team's core, helping guide them to three consecutive National League Championship Series. LaValliere's value was in the details—blocking balls in the dirt, calling a shrewd game, and providing a steady, unflashy presence that winning teams require. While he earned a Gold Glove for his defensive excellence in 1987, his true legacy is as a quintessential baseball grinder whose contributions were celebrated by teammates and fans who appreciated the art of defense.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Mike was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1987 for his defensive excellence as a catcher.
- Was the starting catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates during their three straight NL East division titles from 1990 to 1992.
- Finished his career with a stellar .992 fielding percentage, committing only 34 errors in over 700 games behind the plate.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Spanky' was given to him by a minor league manager who thought he resembled Spanky McFarland from the 'Our Gang' comedies.
He was famously part of the 1987 trade that sent future Hall of Famer Tony Peña from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Despite being known for defense, he had a career-high .324 batting average during the 1990 season.
“My value wasn't in the box score; it was in handling that pitching staff.”
