Babe Ankiel?

jtur88 · 05-05-2008, 06:33 PM

Is Babe Ruth the only player (so far) ever to start post-season games as both a pitcher and as a position player?

jtur88 · 07-11-2008, 07:59 PM

I searched a little more, and found three more players who had a chance to appear in the post season both as a pitcher and a position player, but didn't.

Reb Russell pitched in the WS for the 1917 White Sox. Later, he played the outfield for the Pirates into 1924, but retired before the Pirates played in the series in '25

Johnny Lindell was a Yankee pitcher when the Yankees won the pennant in 1942, but did not appear in the WS. He did play in the series as an outfielder the following year, and two more subsquent years.

Lefty O'Doul was a Yankee pitcher in 1922, but did not appear in the series. He appared listed as a position player for the 1933 Giants, but only pinch hit in the series.

Hal Jeffcoat was an OF for 6 years, then a P for 6 years, but the closest he came to the series was with the '56 Reds, finishing two games out. Jeffcoat's season highs were 132 hits as an OF and 12 wins as a P, so would probably rank fourth behind Ruth, Ankiel, and Russell for proficiency at both positions. Russell is the only one (besides Ruth and Ankiel) to win ten games and hit ten homers.

One of my favorite names deserves mention for that fact alone. Erv "Four-sack" Dusak reached a career high of 9 four-baggers, before appearing in 23 games as a pitcher, starting 3 but winning none. Dusak played in the WS as an outfielder in 46, but pitched only for second-divison teams. Dusak and Lindell were team-mates with the '50 Cards.

05-05-2008, 06:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,849	Babe Ankiel? Is Babe Ruth the only player (so far) ever to start post-season games as both a pitcher and as a position player? __________________ ------------------ When people ask what I hope to see before I die, I answer that I've already seen too much.

07-11-2008, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,849	I searched a little more, and found three more players who had a chance to appear in the post season both as a pitcher and a position player, but didn't. Reb Russell pitched in the WS for the 1917 White Sox. Later, he played the outfield for the Pirates into 1924, but retired before the Pirates played in the series in '25 Johnny Lindell was a Yankee pitcher when the Yankees won the pennant in 1942, but did not appear in the WS. He did play in the series as an outfielder the following year, and two more subsquent years. Lefty O'Doul was a Yankee pitcher in 1922, but did not appear in the series. He appared listed as a position player for the 1933 Giants, but only pinch hit in the series. Hal Jeffcoat was an OF for 6 years, then a P for 6 years, but the closest he came to the series was with the '56 Reds, finishing two games out. Jeffcoat's season highs were 132 hits as an OF and 12 wins as a P, so would probably rank fourth behind Ruth, Ankiel, and Russell for proficiency at both positions. Russell is the only one (besides Ruth and Ankiel) to win ten games and hit ten homers. One of my favorite names deserves mention for that fact alone. Erv "Four-sack" Dusak reached a career high of 9 four-baggers, before appearing in 23 games as a pitcher, starting 3 but winning none. Dusak played in the WS as an outfielder in 46, but pitched only for second-divison teams. Dusak and Lindell were team-mates with the '50 Cards. __________________ ------------------ When people ask what I hope to see before I die, I answer that I've already seen too much. Last edited by jtur88; 07-11-2008 at 08:04 PM.