Mike LaValliere
I asked him if he ever thought, “Man, if I were just a step closer to the plate, maybe Sid’s out.” I asked him what it’s like knowing that play kicked off twenty straight losing seasons for the Pirates. I even brought up the fact that Sid Bream’s knee brace is in a display case in Atlanta. Through it all, Mike “Spanky” LaValliere stayed gracious, thoughtful, and real. We talked about that infamous Game 7, sure—but also about team, leadership, and Pittsburgh as a “happy place.” This one meant a lot. It’s history. And yeah, maybe the wrong team won.
Robby Incmikoski: Spanky, what was it like playing catcher in the big leagues? At this age now, looking back, how fortunate were you to have the career that you did?
Mike LaValliere: I was an undrafted free agent, already behind the eight ball. I signed as a third baseman and became a catcher thanks to great coaching. Just making it to the big leagues—then staying—was huge. I feel incredibly fortunate.
Robby Incmikoski: You were a key cog in turning the culture around with the Pirates in the late ’80s into the ’90s. What kind of pride do you take in that?
Mike LaValliere: We were a true team. We held each other accountable. We had so much talent—Barry, Andy, Chico, Jay. It was fun. The personal recognition never meant as much as what we did together.
Robby Incmikoski: Once you got good and made the playoffs, how confident were you?
Mike LaValliere: Getting there solidified that we belonged. Doing it three years in a row—that was special. And Jim Leyland deserves a huge chunk of the credit. He didn’t hit or catch, but he brought us together and let us be ourselves.
Robby Incmikoski: What made Leyland such a great manager?
Mike LaValliere: He made every guy feel important. He put each of us in a position to succeed. And we trusted him completely. That’s all you want as a player—to be trusted.
Robby Incmikoski: In Game Seven in ’92, Bob Walk said you guys knew it was your last hurrah. How crushing was it when Sid slid into home?
Mike LaValliere: We weren’t thinking beyond that moment. We knew the team would probably break up, but we were all-in, right there. That’s what hurts—because we were present. And we came up short.
Robby Incmikoski: Looking back now, how special was it to be part of those teams?
Mike LaValliere: Those six years in Pittsburgh—that’s what I think of when I think of my career. I played for four teams, but I’m a Pirate. I still love the city. It’s my happy place.
Robby Incmikoski: When Cabrera made contact, what was your read on that play?
Mike LaValliere: It was developing too slowly. You just know—it’s not unfolding fast enough. Barry had to move away from the ball; it wasn’t an easy play. People focus on the slide, but we had chances earlier to score more. It shouldn’t have come down to that.
Robby Incmikoski: Do you ever think, “If I were a step closer, maybe Sid’s out”?
Mike LaValliere: I still think he was out. I think I got his front foot. We’ve joked about it—I've signed photos that say “He was out,” and Sid writes “I was safe.” But he was called safe, and you live with that.
Robby Incmikoski: How wild is it that Sid—who wasn’t known for speed—scored that run, helped end that era for the Pirates, and now lives in Pittsburgh?
Mike LaValliere: Sid wanted to stay. The Pirates didn’t re-sign him. It’s just ironic. He’s almost apologetic for it, even though he was just doing his job. If someone had to do that to us, I’m glad it was him.
Robby Incmikoski: Why do you think nobody ever has a bad word to say about Sid?
Mike LaValliere: He’s a great man. Humble, faithful, a role model. A wonderful career, and he wanted to finish it in Pittsburgh. It’s just too bad he wasn’t scoring that run for us.
Robby Incmikoski: That play at the plate—how wild is it to think it marked the start of 20 losing seasons for the Pirates?
Mike LaValliere: They broke the team up. I was gone the first weekend of ’93. Barry left. The core dissolved. If you don’t reload, you pay the price. And they did.
Robby Incmikoski: Sid’s knee brace is in a display case at Truist Park. How surreal is that?
Mike LaValliere: Funny thing—Sid and I had knee surgeries the same day, same hospital, 1989. We both had braces. I stopped wearing mine. He kept his. And now it’s on display. Wild.
Robby Incmikoski: Why are you still so gracious when people ask about that play?
Mike LaValliere: It’s history. One of the greatest games ever played. Wrong team won, but that’s baseball. You leave everything on the field, then you live with what happens. I never felt like we cheated ourselves. That makes it easier.
Robby Incmikoski: How much of a life lesson is that?
Mike LaValliere: Failure is one of our best teachers. You learn, you grow, the sun comes up the next day. You can’t live in the past—but you can learn from it.
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More from Mike Lavalliere
NOTE: The above was edited for clarity and length.
You can read the full transcript here.