Occurrences of Ambidextrous Pitching

[Brian McKenna]

Background: Occurrences of Ambidextrous Pitching
Tony Mullane July 18, 1882 4th-9th innings
Larry Corcoran June 16, 1884 four innings
Elton Chamberlain May 9, 1888 8th & 9th inning
Tony Mullane July 14, 1893 ninth inning
Greg A. Harris September 28, 1995 ninth inning
Mullane is said to have pitch with both hands periodically. The first and last dates are listed above. Other dates include: July 5, 1892.

[HDH]

I understand that Don Mattingly and Billy Wagner are ambidexterous. In fact, Wagner's primary hand is his right.

[Cucamongadan]

Wagner started throwing lefty after he broke his right arm as a kid.

Campy Campaneris, who is remembered for playing all 9 positions in a game against the Angels 5/14/1965, pitched a few ambidextrous minor league innings in 1962.

[SABR Matt]

Why is it that switch hitting is fairly common but switch pitching is not?

[RGreener26]

It's so much harder to do effectively. Even if you started at an early age and could do good throwing a basic fastball, by the time you get into your late teens and start throwing other pitches it would probably be too much to bear.

If you could do it effectively, though, I can't see why you wouldn't be a MLB pitcher some day.

[Brian McKenna]

Wagner started throwing lefty after he broke his right arm as a kid.

Campy Campaneris, who is remembered for playing all 9 positions in a game against the Angels 5/14/1965, pitched a few ambidextrous minor league innings in 1962.

harry truman would throw ceremonial first pitches with either hand

[brett]

George Brett was well known for pitching both left and right handed in batting practice. He also threw both left and right handed in the field-right as a 3rd baseman and left as a 1st baseman.

What about a guy throwing knuckleballs both left and right. He could rack up 500 innings!

[RuthMayBond]

He also threw both left and right handed in the field-right as a 3rd baseman and left as a 1st baseman.Any documentation for this?

[KCGHOST]

George Brett was well known for pitching both left and right handed in batting practice. He also threw both left and right handed in the field-right as a 3rd baseman and left as a 1st baseman.


I saw an awful lot of Brett playing and never, ever saw him throw lefthanded in a game.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

It's so much harder to do effectively. Even if you started at an early age and could do good throwing a basic fastball, by the time you get into your late teens and start throwing other pitches it would probably be too much to bear.

If you could do it effectively, though, I can't see why you wouldn't be a MLB pitcher some day.
This got me thinking. Say some pitcher could pitch effectively in the majors with both hands. How would you use him? Could he pitch on say two days rest alternating his hands between starts? Could such a pitcher start 50-60 games a year? :o

[Brian McKenna]

This got me thinking. Say some pitcher could pitch effectively in the majors with both hands. How would you use him? Could he pitch on say two days rest alternating his hands between starts? Could such a pitcher start 50-60 games a year? :o

In theory but what are the odds of one individual having two major league quality arms plus control?

[winningtheweapon]

This got me thinking. Say some pitcher could pitch effectively in the majors with both hands. How would you use him? Could he pitch on say two days rest alternating his hands between starts? Could such a pitcher start 50-60 games a year? :o


That would be some super pitcher.

[Honus Wagner]

This got me thinking. Say some pitcher could pitch effectively in the majors with both hands. How would you use him? Could he pitch on say two days rest alternating his hands between starts? Could such a pitcher start 50-60 games a year? :o

you'd have to take into consideration the pitcher's legs and back--we know pitching isn't just arm strength