All Mackey Sasser Team: Catcher - Mike LaValliere

For an explanation on what it takes to be a member of the All Mackey Sasser Team please go here. The first position we have selected to start filling out our squad will be the position of the legend himself, catcher.

All Mackey Sasser Team Catcher: Mike LaValliere

Mike "Spanky" LaValliere was a catcher in the major leagues from 1984-95. He was most notably a member of those early 1990's Pittsburgh Pirates teams who could not quite get over the hump. Ironically this fate followed Mike into the world of baseball card trading. He was even a throw in player in a real life MLB blockbuster trade, you know one of those times where real life imitates the art card trading. He and Andy Van Slyke (who became a Pirates legend) were traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Pirates for another catcher you might have heard of, Tony Pena.

What made LaValliere a most attractive baseball card trade option on my block was an infamous game winning home run he hit vs. the New York Mets. You see, one of my friends was at this game and he used LaValliere's one shining moment as a bow to put on trade proposals involving him, and sometimes it worked. When it did work the trader who received LaValliere would come up with a multitude of reasons for trading for the pudgy backstop. We call this acquisition justification, because no young kid wants the rep of getting ripped off in a trade.

Acquisition Justification:

* "His nickname is 'Spanky'" *

"The mustache and beer gut must mean he likes to party which makes him a good clubhouse guy." *

"He won a gold glove in '87."

* "Spanky is the slowest guy in the league from home to first and yet still is a starting catcher"

Example of a Baseball Card Trade Involving Spanky:

Terry Pendleton and Mike LaValliere FOR Benito Santiago