My son Michael is right-handed. He did everything right-handed except batting in baseball and swinging a golf club. When he was quite young, he used either hand interchangeably. We tried the different “tests” to see which hand dominant he was, but it just seemed, whatever was convenient, he would use. He would throw the ball to me with one hand, then the other, but he always picked up and swung his whiffle ball bat lefty. I assumed it was him watching me and lining up the same way, but who knows. When he went to kindergarten, he pretty much was using his right hand for his schoolwork, so when it came time to buy his first “real” glove, we made the decision, he’d throw righty. He still batted lefty and I figured he’d be a step or two nearer to first base and if he inherited my speed, or lack thereof, he’d be better off. Plus, his swing just seemed fluid even at an early age from the left side. Later we tried the switch-hitting route, but it was just awkward for Michael from the right-side and we abandon that experiment pretty quickly.
I didn’t find the situation strange. I had known a few guys that threw righty and batted lefty, so we went with it. Michael did well and it didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, one of his friends, Cameron played the same way.
Somewhere over the years, I noticed some successful players had thrown righty and batted lefty. In fact, in the Top 10 Career Batting Average List there are four players that fall into that category:
1. Ty Cobb .3664 Batted: Left / Threw: Right
2. Rogers Hornsby .3585 Batted: Right / Threw: Right
3. Shoeless Joe Jackson .3558 Batted: Left / Threw: Right
4. Lefty O’Doul .3493 Batted: Left / Threw: Left
5. Ed Delahanty .3458 Batted: Right / Threw: Right
6. Tris Speaker .3447 Batted: Right / Threw: Right
7. Billy Hamilton .3444 Batted: Left / Threw: Right
Ted Williams .3444 Batted: Left / Threw: Right
9. Dan Brouthers .3424 Batted: Right / Threw: Right
10. Babe Ruth .3421 Batted: Left / Threw: Left
So today, here is an all-Right-Handed Throwing / Left-Handed Batting Team, just for the heck of it.
Starting Pitchers:
Mike Mussina (1991-2008) *HoF Career Batting Avg .173
Tim Lincecum (2007-2016) +Not on the ballot yet Career Batting Avg .112
Charles “Babe” Adams (1906-1926) Career Batting Avg .212
Julian Tavares (1993-2009) Career Batting Avg .114
Bullpen:
Fred Gladding (1961-1973) Career Batting Avg .016
Ryan Madson (2003-2018) Career Batting Avg .122
Todd Jones (1993-2008) Career Batting Avg .211
Addison Reed (2011-2018) Career Batting Avg .000
Ricky Bottalico (1994-2005) Career Batting Avg .118
Kirby Yates (2014-Present) Career Batting Avg .000
Catchers:
Yogi Berra (1946-1965) *HoF Career Batting Avg .285
Mickey Cochrane (1925-1937) *HoF Career Batting Avg .320
Infielders:
Wade Boggs (1982-1999) 3rd Base *HoF Career Batting Avg .328
Rod Carew (1967-1985) 2nd / 1st Base *HoF Career Batting Avg .328
Eddie Mathews (1952-1968) 3rd Base *HoF Career Batting Avg .271
Arky Vaughn (1932-1948) Short Stop *Hof Career Batting Avg .318
Eddie Collins (1906-1930) 2nd Base *HoF Career Batting Avg .333
Johnny Mize (1936-1953) 1st Base *HoF Career Batting Avg .312
Outfield:
Ty Cobb (1905-1928) Center Field *HoF Career Batting Avg .366
Ted Williams (1939-1960) Left Field *HoF Career Batting Avg .344
Shoeless Joe Jackson (1908-1920) Left Field ++Not Eligible for HoF Consideration Career Batting Avg .356
Ichiro Suzuki (2001-2019) Right Field +Not on the ballot yet Career Batting Avg .311
Mel Ott (1926-1947) Right Field *HoF Career Batting Avg .304
Duke Snider (1947-1964) Center Field *HoF Career Batting Avg .295
Carl Yastrzemski (1961-1983) Left Field / 1st Base *Hof Career Batting Avg .285
Now, obviously this would be a fun to team to see play, but the pitching staff and bullpen would be at a disadvantage without any lefthanded pitchers, but I am pretty confident the position players would hit consistently. I’ve often wondered if having your dominant hand at the bottom of the bat added more speed and power to your swing? Any thoughts or opinions?
Thanks for reading!
~ Coach Mike
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Sorry but George Brett has to make this team. (Coming from a Kansas City native)
Very interesting Mike! I think Phil Mickelson is only a lefty when golfing. Are there any switch hitters in baseball today? Don’t hear about them much if there are. Seems there were several of them in our youth. (Back in the “olden days.😉😆)