Who Are We?

> Mike LaValliere > Don Robinson

Mike LaValliere

Michael Eugene "Mike" LaValliere (born August 18, 1960 in Charlotte, North Carolina), nicknamed Spanky, is a former catcher in Major League Baseball whose 12-year Major league career included tenures in both the National and American Leagues. He batted left-handed but threw right-handed.

Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1981, LaValliere started out as a third baseman but was converted to catcher in 1982. He was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1984 season as part of a conditional deal. He ultimately signed with the Cards as a free agent in 1985.

In spring training of the 1987 season, LaValliere was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates alongside Andy Van Slyke and Mike Dunne in exchange for fellow catcher Tony Pena. Excellent at throwing out potential base stealers, he won a Gold Glove award in 1987. Spanky and Van Slyke would later become stalwarts on the hugely successful Pirates teams of the early 1990s, when Pittsburgh went to three consecutive National League Championship Series from 1990-1992. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they lost in all three of their NLCS appearances, in 1990 to the eventual World champion Cincinnati Reds and in 1991 and 1992 to the Atlanta Braves. In the 1992 NLCS, LaValliere was involved in the famous final play of Game 7, as Atlanta first baseman Sid Bream Slid beneath his tag to score the Series-winning run for the Braves.

During the 1993 season, LaValliere signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox won the American League West division title, but lost in the ALCS to the eventual World champion Toronto Blue Jays. Spanky would spend two more seasons in Chicago before retiring. Mike was invited to Major League Spring Training by Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon as a special catching instructor from 2001-2005.

Along with pitching Coach Don Robinson, Mike is currently the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton, Florida. He also coaches the Manatee Hammerheads, under 11 AAU baseball team.

Don Robinson

Don Allen Robinson (born June 8, 1957 in Ashland, Kentucky), is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, California Angels, and Philadelphia Phillies from 1978 to 1992. Nicknamed "The Caveman," Robinson's career record in the Majors was 109-106 with a 3.64 ERA. Besides pitching, Robinson was one of best hitting pitchers during his time, winning three Silver Slugger Awards in 1982, 1989, and 1990. He hit 13 home runs in his career. He was also awarded the Hutch Award in 1984. The Hutch Award is a Major League Baseball award given to an active player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire to win. The award was created in 1965 in honor of Fred Hutchinson, the former major league baseball player and manager, who died of cancer at the age of 45.

One year after his death, the Hutch Award was created by Hutch's longtime friends Bob Prince, broadcaster of the Pittsburgh Pirates; Jim Enright, Chicago sportswriter; and Ritter Collett, sports editor of the Dayton Journal Herald. They also created a scholarship fund for medical students engaged in cancer research to honor Hutch's memory.

The award is now presented each January in Seattle, Hutch's hometown and the site of the renowned cancer center that bears his name. The award is hosted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and is bestowed at the annual Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Star of the Year Banquet. Recipients traveling to Seattle to accept the award have visited and lifted the spirits of patients at the Hutchinson Center.

The permanent display of the Hutch Award trophy remains in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, where it has been since 1979, with the list of winners updated yearly. A replica is on display in Seattle.

Highlights

On June 19, 1990, Robinson became the first pitcher to hit a pinch-hit home run since 1971 against the San Diego Padres.

On April 18, 1987, Mike Schmidt hit his 500th career home run off Robinson, a three-run shot to give the Phillies a 8-6 win over the Pirates.

Don is currently the pitching Coach for St. Stephen’s Episcopal School of Bradenton Florida. He has held this position for the past 4 years. Prior to coaching at the High School level, Don was the Head Coach for the Manatee Titans AAU Baseball Team.