Interview with Mike Laga

First baseman Mike Laga played nine years in the major leagues for the Tigers, Cardinals and Giants. In 188 major league games he hit .199 with 16 HR and 55 RBI. Now a mortgage loan originator with Freedom Credit Union in Enfield, MA, he kindly spoke with me about his baseball card experiences.

Do you have any stories about cards of yourself or of other players?
I get lots of cards in the mail every day. There are some error cards that are interesting or cool. Topps airbrushed one of mine when I was in a Tigers uniform and I got traded to the Cardinals. Looks like a pink hat and pink uniform. At the beginning I was like "what?" Now it's a talking point.

There's also one I don't see that much, a reverse negative Smokey Bear card with the Cardinals, where it looks like I'm playing third base.

 
- Do you have a favorite card of yourself, or of another player?
I don't really pay attention to others. I like the Cardinal one where I have a nice dark red top. 

 

Also I like the 84 Donruss with the Tigers. 

 

I also like the ones from when I played in Japan, they had nice quality.

 
- Do you collect baseball cards?
I don't collect myself. Most of them I just gave to my kids and grandkids. I had a stack I'd give out when I coached little league or my grandson's baseball games. I do have some baseballs and bats in my basement. I don't even remember whose I had. I didn't really collect as a kid, they just went into my bike spokes!

Thanks!