UMass Lowell Athletics

(1996) - Mike LaValliere, a member of the Class of 1982 and a three-year letterwinner for Coach Jim Stone, played on two NCAA Division II tournament squads in 1979 and 1981 and was elected to play in the New England College All-Star Game both in 1980 and 1980. He was an All-District and All-New England first team selection as a designated hitter in 1981 and earned first-team All-New England honors in 1980.

LaValliere ranks fourth in career batting average (.379), fifth in career home runs (15) and slugging percentage (.603) and ninth in career total bases (202). He is ranked in seven other categories in the baseball record book.

Mainly a shortstop during his career at Lowell, Mike played at third base and shortstop and was the captain-elect for the 1982 season before signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

A top defensive catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox, he helped lead Pittsburgh to National League Eastern Division titles in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He also won a Gold Glove as the top defensive backstop in the National League with the Pirates in 1987.