#54 Mike LaValliere

About the Front: Here's our first photo showing a catcher wearing all of the tools of ignorance. The brick facade behind Mike LaValliere and the headless umpire tells us that we're in Wrigley Field.

About the Back: I wouldn't have expected a player with Mike's...physique to have been a four-sport athlete in high school. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover.

Triple Play:

1. His father, Guy LaValliere, was a minor league catcher in 1952 and from 1955-1961. He hit .296 with 50 home runs in eight seasons.

2. LaValliere won a Gold Glove at catcher in 1987, when he led the National League with a 45% caught stealing percentage and committed only five errors and two passed balls in 112 games for the Pirates.

3. After joining the White Sox during the 1993 season, Mike threw out an astounding 24 of 32 potential base stealers - a 75% success rate.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I was greatly amused by LaValliere's nickname. Come to think of it, "Spanky" is still a funny moniker for a grown man.

Bill James Said: "Released by the Pirates because he, and his paychecks, had grown too fat." He went on to mention that Mike got into better shape after being signed by Chicago, but that's just cold.

On This Date in 1993: August 10. Billy Joel releases the album "River of Dreams". Now that the song is stuck in your head, I apologize.