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May 09, 2006
Three Of A Rare Kind
What do Dave Collins, J.T. Snow, and Melky Cabrera have in common?
They're the only switch-hitters who also throw left-handed to play for the Yankees. (And, Snow later in his career stopped switch-hitting.)
There have only been 46 "Bats Both, Throws Left" non-pitchers in baseball history. That's a small group. Most of them have been inferior players. Lance Berkman is by far the best of the bunch.
Hopefully, Melky can be the exception - like Berkman - instead of being like most of the forty-six. (See: Rich Becker, John Cangelosi, Doug Dascenzo, or Mitch Webster for an example.)
Posted by Steve Lombardi at May 9, 2006 01:39 PM
Comments
Is it fair to say that Rickey was the best throws left, bats right in the history of the game? What other legends did that?
Posted by: Nick from Washington Heights ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 9, 2006 01:58 PM
Nick - Rickey was the best, by far, BR/TL guy. Jimmy Ryan, Hal Chase, and Cleon Jones did it as well. Dave McCarty and Mark Carreon were recent guys to do it. The BR/TL is pretty rare in basbeall too. I think just 54 non-pitchers did it.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 9, 2006 02:16 PM
the story I've always heard about why Rickey batted righty was that he saw all the other kids doing it and thought he had to. So he basically taught himself to bat righty, even though he was a natural lefty. Another part of the legend. Anyone else here the same story?
Posted by: Nick from Washington Heights at May 9, 2006 02:59 PM
First, I want some proof that Rickey knows the difference between his right and left. [wink]
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 9, 2006 03:08 PM
the story I've always heard about why Rickey batted righty was that he saw all the other kids doing it and thought he had to. So he basically taught himself to bat righty, even though he was a natural lefty. Another part of the legend. Anyone else here the same story?
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I haven't, but that's the reason I batted RH. My LH swing is more fluid, but I've always got results batting RH.
I also BR/TL, but I'm far from a legend :)
Posted by: Raf at May 9, 2006 03:16 PM