Mike LaCoss
Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1978-1991)
Mike LaCoss was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1991 for 4 teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, a span of 14 seasons. Across 415 career appearances, he went 98-103 with a 4.02 ERA and 783 strikeouts. He also batted .125 with 2 home runs. Mike LaCoss was an All-Star.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'5" / 185 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1978-07-18
- Last Game
- 1991-07-02
- Awards
- All-Star
Full name: Michael James LaCoss
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | CIN | NL | 4 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 96.0 | 104 | 48 | 46 | 31 | 4.50 | 3.69 (-22%) | -954.9 |
| 1979 | CIN | NL | 14 | 8 | 35 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 205.2 | 202 | 80 | 79 | 73 | 3.50 | 4.00 (+13%) | -120.8 |
| 1980 | CIN | NL | 10 | 12 | 34 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 169.1 | 207 | 87 | 68 | 59 | 4.62 | 3.84 (-20%) | -538.0 |
| 1981 | CIN | NL | 4 | 7 | 20 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 78.0 | 102 | 53 | 30 | 22 | 6.12 | 3.58 (-71%) | -1582.6 |
| 1982 | HOU | NL | 6 | 6 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 115.0 | 107 | 37 | 54 | 51 | 2.90 | 3.86 (+25%) | 533.1 |
| 1983 | HOU | NL | 5 | 7 | 38 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 138.0 | 142 | 68 | 56 | 53 | 4.43 | 3.87 (-15%) | -1095.2 |
| 1984 | HOU | NL | 7 | 5 | 39 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 132.0 | 132 | 59 | 55 | 86 | 4.02 | 3.81 (-6%) | 2712.9 |
| 1985 | KCA | AL | 1 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 40.2 | 49 | 23 | 29 | 26 | 5.09 | 3.89 (-31%) | -295.7 |
| 1986 | SFN | NL | 10 | 13 | 37 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 204.1 | 179 | 81 | 70 | 86 | 3.57 | 3.97 (+10%) | 195.4 |
| 1987 | SFN | NL | 13 | 10 | 39 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 171.0 | 184 | 70 | 63 | 79 | 3.68 | 4.29 (+14%) | -43.9 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | 7 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 114.1 | 99 | 46 | 47 | 70 | 3.62 | 3.73 (+3%) | 1056.6 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | 10 | 10 | 45 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 150.1 | 143 | 53 | 65 | 78 | 3.17 | 3.71 (+14%) | 1119.5 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | 6 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 77.2 | 75 | 34 | 39 | 39 | 3.94 | 3.86 (-2%) | -555.5 |
| 1991 | SFN | NL | 1 | 5 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47.1 | 61 | 38 | 24 | 30 | 7.23 | 3.91 (-85%) | -501.0 |
| Career · 14 seasons | 98 | 103 | 415 | 243 | 26 | 9 | 12 | 1,739.2 | 1,786 | 777 | 725 | 783 | 4.02 | — | -70 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 416 | 481 | 30 | 60 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 18 | 194 | .125 | .159 | .160 | .319 | -1,991 |
Career AVG .125 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 51.8% below league average.
Career OBP .159 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 50.8% below league average.
Career SLG .160 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — 58.7% below league average.
Career OPS .319 vs. league average .712 across their career seasons — 55.1% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | CIN | NL | 17 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .067 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1979 | CIN | NL | 35 | 70 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 25 | .129 | .265 (-52%) | .329 (-50%) | .397 (-64%) | .727 (-58%) | -644.4 |
| 1980 | CIN | NL | 34 | 55 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23 | .091 | .264 (-66%) | .326 (-62%) | .387 (-72%) | .714 (-68%) | -583.5 |
| 1981 | CIN | NL | 20 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1982 | HOU | NL | 41 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .250 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1983 | HOU | NL | 38 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .086 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1984 | HOU | NL | 39 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .129 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1985 | KCA | AL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1986 | SFN | NL | 37 | 61 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 24 | .230 | .257 (-11%) | .325 (-18%) | .395 (-9%) | .720 (-13%) | -135.9 |
| 1987 | SFN | NL | 39 | 50 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .060 | .262 (-77%) | .331 (-66%) | .415 (-86%) | .746 (-77%) | -626.6 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | 19 | 33 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .242 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | 45 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16 | .073 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | 13 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .043 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1991 | SFN | NL | 18 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .222 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 14 seasons | 416 | 481 | 30 | 60 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 18 | 194 | .125 | — | — | — | — | -1,991 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | NLCS | SFN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1989 | WS | SFN | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1987 | NLCS | SFN | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1979 | NLCS | CIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
Playoff Pitching by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (831 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 204 | 230 | 15 | 29 | 1 | 9 | .126 |
| Away | 212 | 251 | 15 | 31 | 1 | 10 | .124 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 203 | 877.0 | 864 | 350 | 333 | 412 | 3.59 |
| Away | 212 | 862.2 | 922 | 427 | 392 | 371 | 4.45 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-07-02 | SFG | HOU | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-30 | SFG | SDP | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-22 | SFG | CHC | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-18 | SFG | STL | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-12 | SFG | CHC | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-05 | SFG | PIT | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-05-30 | SFG | ATL | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-05-19 | SFG | WSN | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-05-17 | SFG | WSN | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-05-14 | SFG | PHI | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last 10 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-07-02 | SFG | HOU | — | 2.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-06-30 | SFG | SDP | — | 2.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991-06-22 | SFG | CHC | — | 2.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991-06-18 | SFG | STL | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991-06-12 | SFG | CHC | — | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991-06-05 | SFG | PIT | — | 3.1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991-05-30 | SFG | ATL | — | 2.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991-05-19 | SFG | WSN | L | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991-05-17 | SFG | WSN | L | 1.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991-05-14 | SFG | PHI | — | 1.1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | CIN | P | 16 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | CIN | P | 35 | 32 | 15 | 34 | 2 | 4 |
| 1980 | CIN | P | 34 | 29 | 9 | 34 | 3 | 4 |
| 1981 | CIN | P | 20 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | HOU | P | 41 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
| 1983 | HOU | P | 38 | 17 | 6 | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | HOU | P | 39 | 18 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
| 1985 | KCA | P | 21 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | SFN | P | 37 | 31 | 19 | 34 | 1 | 2 |
| 1987 | SFN | P | 39 | 26 | 15 | 43 | 2 | 4 |
| 1988 | SFN | P | 19 | 19 | 10 | 32 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | SFN | P | 45 | 18 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | SFN | P | 13 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | SFN | P | 18 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 415 |
Salary History
Mike LaCoss's recorded salaries total $4,725,000 over 6 seasons, 1986 to 1991. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and LaCoss's career ran from 1978 to 1991. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | SFN | NL | $1,450,000 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | $1,150,000 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | $500,000 |
| 1987 | SFN | NL | $300,000 |
| 1986 | SFN | NL | $225,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $4,725,000 | ||
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Mike LaCoss (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Mike LaCoss: the record in brief
July 18, 1978 and July 2, 1991 bracket Mike LaCoss's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. The team column moves through the Cincinnati Reds (1978 to 1981), the Houston Astros (1982 through 1984), the Kansas City Royals (1985), and the San Francisco Giants (1986 through 1991). LaCoss, born on May 30, 1956, in Glendale, CA, USA, is listed as a pitcher and batted and threw right-handed. The bio gives 6 feet, 5 inches and 185 pounds. Mike LaCoss was the playing name; the full given name is Michael James.
The pitching table credits LaCoss with a 98-103 record and a 4.02 ERA in 415 games. LaCoss had 783 strikeouts, 26 complete games, 9 shutouts, and 12 saves. LaCoss's 4.02 ERA was close to the 3.87 league figure for those seasons. The best win total was 14, in 1979. The strikeout high was 86 in 1984. 1989 was LaCoss's sharpest full season, a 3.17 ERA against the league's 3.71.
The bio's awards line reads All-Star.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mike LaCoss
- What years did Mike LaCoss play?
- Mike LaCoss played in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1991.
- Was Mike LaCoss a pitcher?
- Yes. Mike LaCoss pitched in the major leagues, recording 98 wins and 783 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Mike LaCoss hit?
- Mike LaCoss hit 2 career home runs with 60 hits.
- What teams did Mike LaCoss play for?
- Mike LaCoss played for 4 teams: the Cincinnati Reds (1978–1981), the Houston Astros (1982–1984), the Kansas City Royals (1985), and the San Francisco Giants (1986–1991).
- Did Mike LaCoss win a Cy Young Award?
- No. Mike LaCoss did not win the Cy Young Award.
- What awards did Mike LaCoss win?
- Mike LaCoss was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
- What were Mike LaCoss's career stats?
- In 415 games, Mike LaCoss went 98-103 with a 4.02 ERA, 783 strikeouts, 1,739.2 innings pitched, and 12 saves. At the plate he had 60 hits and 2 home runs.
- How much did Mike LaCoss earn in his career?
- Mike LaCoss's recorded salaries total $4,725,000 over 6 seasons, 1986 to 1991. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and LaCoss's career ran from 1978 to 1991. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985.
- What was Mike LaCoss's salary?
- Mike LaCoss's last recorded salary was $1,450,000, in 1991. His highest recorded salary was $1,450,000, in 1991, and his lowest was $225,000, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1991.
- What position did Mike LaCoss play?
- Mike LaCoss played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Mike LaCoss and how much did he weigh?
- Mike LaCoss was listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 185 pounds.
- What was Mike LaCoss's career ERA?
- Mike LaCoss finished with a 4.02 career ERA, going 98-103 with 783 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Mike LaCoss have?
- Mike LaCoss recorded 783 career strikeouts.
- Is Mike LaCoss in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Mike LaCoss has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.