Mike Laga, a premier power hitter in the minor leagues, produced a long ball that became part of Cardinals lore.
On Aug. 10, 1986, the Cardinals traded catcher Mike Heath to the Tigers for pitcher Ken Hill and a player to be named. Three weeks later, on Sept. 2, the Tigers sent Laga, a first baseman, to the Cardinals, completing the trade.
Laga, 26, was chosen by the Tigers in the first round of the 1980 draft. A left-handed slugger, Laga three times hit 30 or more home runs in a season in the Tigers’ minor-league system, including 34 for Class AAA Evansville in 1982. However, in parts of five seasons (1982-86) with the Tigers, Laga hit just eight home runs.
The Cardinals, who won the National League pennant in 1985, were out of contention in September 1986. With first baseman Jack Clark injured, manager Whitey Herzog put Laga into the Cardinals’ lineup.
High riser
On Sept. 15, 1986, Laga was the first baseman when the Cardinals played the first-place Mets at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Laga hit a double off Ron Darling in the second inning.
In the third, Laga was batting against Darling for the second time when he swung at a pitch and lofted it high and foul on the first-base side. The ball carried about 150 feet into the air and landed outside the stadium.
Laga became the first player to hit a ball out of Busch Stadium since it opened in May 1966. Video
“A Cardinals official said that the distance of the stadium roof from the field was 130 feet and that the ball was found in a flower bed near the employees parking lot,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Fans gave Laga a standing ovation.
Said Laga: “It was pretty funny … I really didn’t think about it until the people got louder and louder. I said, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ I didn’t know it was the first one.”
After the ovation, Darling struck out Laga.
“Last year, the cheering was for a pennant winner,” wrote columnist Kevin Horrigan of the Post-Dispatch. “This year, it’s for foul balls. Lo, how the mighty have fallen.” Boxscore
Coleman challenged
Later, Herzog teasingly told Cardinals speedster Vince Coleman, “If you ever hit one out (of Busch Stadium), even behind home plate, fair or foul, I’ll buy you a Rolls-Royce.”
Teammate Ozzie Smith, overhearing Herzog’s challenge, told Coleman, “And I’ll pay for the chauffeur.”
Laga added, “If I hit it right and get it up in the air, I can hit it out of any ballpark.”
Laga hit three home runs for the Cardinals in 1986 and one each in 1987 and 1988. He spent most of the Cardinals’ 1987 championship season with Louisville, hitting .304 with 29 home runs and 91 RBI for the Class AAA club.
After the 1988 season, Laga was released by the Cardinals and was signed by the Giants. He hit three home runs in parts of two seasons with the Giants, giving him a total of 16 in the major leagues.
Previously: Why Cardinals pounced on offer for Joaquin Andujar
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