Recent Reds who pitched (Position Players)

[Spitball]

I'm not sure this one really counts, but I witnessed what could be considered one of the greatest position players pitching appearances of all-time.

It was very early in 1967 and my dad and I attended a Sunday afternoon double headers versus the Giants at Crosley Field. Converted reliever Billy McCool started the opener and beat the Giants. Between games, my dad and I were sitting in the box seats along the thirdbase line when I saw Art Shamsky bound out of the dugout and run to leftfield where outfielder Mel Queen was warming up with other outfielders. Shamsky comes up behind Queen and says something in his ear. Queen was all smiles as he ran to the dugout. Minutes later, there is Mel Queen warming up in the Reds' bullpen along the thirdbase line. He would be the starting pitcher in the second game for the Reds

I don't remember who was scheduled to start for the Reds that day, but he was scratched and outfielder Queen was his emergency replacement. Despite having only pitched a few one inning emergency stints in 1966 and one in 1967, Mel Queen actually pitched a complete game shutout versus the Giants that day. His outfielding days were officially over that day, and he went on to win 14 games in 1967.

I've seen hundreds of games, but that one ranks as possibly my most memorable.

[LINEDRIVER]

9-8-65 - Bert Campaneris plays all 9 positions

California Angels 5, Kansas City Athletics 3

Day

Game Played on Wednesday, September 8, 1965 (N) at Municipal Stadium

CAL A    0  0  0    1  0  1    0  1  0    0  0  0    2  -   5  8  0
KC  A    1  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  2    0  0  0    0  -   3  9  3

BATTING

California Angels            AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
Cardenal cf                   6   0   0   1       0   0       3   0
Pearson lf                    5   2   1   0       2   0       3   0
Fregosi ss                    5   1   1   0       1   0       4   4
Adcock 1b                     4   0   2   2       0   0       9   0
  Lopez pr                    0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Power 1b                    0   0   0   0       0   0       2   0
  W. Smith ph                 1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Dees 1b                     1   0   0   0       0   0       4   0
Knoop 2b                      3   1   1   0       3   1       3   5
Kirkpatrick rf                5   0   2   0       0   0       1   1
Egan c                        2   0   0   0       2   0       6   0
  Rodgers c                   2   1   0   0       0   0       2   0
Schaal 3b                     5   0   1   0       1   0       2   4
Chance p                      4   0   0   0       0   4       0   3
  B. Lee p                    1   0   0   0       0   0       0   1
  Ranew ph                    1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Coates p                    0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Totals                       45   5   8   3       9   5      39  18

FIELDING - 
PB: Egan (7).

BATTING - 
2B: Adcock (14,off Joyce).
SH: Kirkpatrick (1,off O'Donoghue).
SF: Cardenal (6,off Segui).
IBB: Schaal (6,by Segui).
Team LOB: 12.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Kirkpatrick (1,2nd base off Monteagudo/Campaneris).

Kansas City Athletics        AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
Campaneris ss,2b,3b,lf,cf,rf,1b,p,c
                              3   1   0   0       1   1       5   1
  Lachemann c                 2   0   2   0       0   0       1   0
Tartabull lf,rf,lf            4   0   0   0       1   0       8   1
Causey 2b,ss                  5   1   2   0       1   0       4   2
Charles 3b,2b,3b              6   0   1   1       0   0       2   2
Landis cf,rf,cf               5   1   1   0       0   1       3   0
Bryan c                       3   0   1   0       0   0       5   1
  Monteagudo p                0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Harrelson ph                1   0   1   1       0   0       0   0
  Talbot pr                   0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Wyatt p                     0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Reynolds ph                 1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  O'Donoghue p                0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Segui p                     0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Blanchard ph                1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Schwartz 1b                   2   0   0   0       0   2       3   1
  Hershberger rf              0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Stahl ph,rf                 3   0   0   0       1   1       3   0
Clinton rf                    1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Green 2b                    4   0   1   1       0   2       1   3
Joyce p                       2   0   0   0       0   1       0   2
  Mossi p                     0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Dickson p                   0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Rosario 1b                  3   0   0   0       0   0       4   0
Totals                       46   3   9   3       4   8      39  13

FIELDING - 
DP: 1. Bryan-Charles.
E: Campaneris (32), Causey (14), O'Donoghue (4).

BATTING - 
2B: Charles (18,off Chance); Bryan (7,off Chance).
SH: Tartabull (4,off Chance).
HBP: Landis (3,by Chance).
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Campaneris (49,2nd base off Chance/Egan); Tartabull (6,2nd base off B.
Lee/Rodgers).

PITCHING

California Angels            IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP
Chance                        8.1   5   3   3   2   6   0  32
B. Lee W(9-6)                 3.2   4   0   0   2   2   0  17
Coates SV(1)                  1     0   0   0   0   0   0   3
Totals                       13     9   3   3   4   8   0  52

HBP: Chance (8,Landis).

Kansas City Athletics        IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP
Joyce                         6     5   2   1   1   2   0  23
Mossi                         0.1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1
Dickson                       0.2   0   0   0   1   1   0   3
Campaneris                    1     1   1   1   2   1   0   5
Monteagudo                    1     1   0   0   1   1   0   4
Wyatt                         2     1   0   0   2   0   0  10
O'Donoghue L(8-18)            1     0   2   0   1   0   0   6
Segui                         1     0   0   0   1   0   0   4
Totals                       13     8   5   2   9   5   0  56

Joyce faced 1 batter in the 7th inning
O'Donoghue faced 3 batters in the 13th inning
WP: Dickson (7).
IBB: Segui (3,Schaal).

Umpires: HP - Cal Drummond, 1B - Bill Kinnamon, 2B - Johnny Stevens, 3B - Larry Napp

Time of Game: 4:14   Attendance: 21576

Starting Lineups:

   California Angels             Kansas City Athletics    
1. Cardenal            cf        Campaneris          ss
2. Pearson             lf        Tartabull           lf
3. Fregosi             ss        Causey              2b
4. Adcock              1b        Charles             3b
5. Knoop               2b        Landis              cf
6. Kirkpatrick         rf        Bryan               c
7. Egan                c         Schwartz            1b
8. Schaal              3b        Clinton             rf
9. Chance              p         Joyce               p

9-22-1968 - Cesar Tovar plays all 9 positions

Minnesota Twins 2, Oakland Athletics 1

Day

Game Played on Sunday, September 22, 1968 (D) at Metropolitan Stadium

OAK A    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  1  0  -   1  3  2
MIN A    0  0  1    0  1  0    0  0  x  -   2  6  1

BATTING

Oakland Athletics            AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
Campaneris ss                 4   0   1   0       0   0       2   1
Jackson rf                    4   0   1   0       0   1       0   0
Cater 1b                      2   0   0   1       1   0       9   2
Bando 3b                      4   0   0   0       0   1       1   2
Hershberger lf                2   0   0   0       1   0       1   0
  Donaldson ph                1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Green 2b                      4   0   0   0       0   2       3   3
Pagliaroni c                  4   0   0   0       0   0       6   0
Monday cf                     0   0   0   0       1   0       2   0
  Rudi ph,cf                  1   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Odom p                        1   0   0   0       0   1       0   2
  Duncan ph                   1   0   1   0       0   0       0   0
  Lewis pr                    0   1   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Lindblad p                  0   0   0   0       0   0       0   1
Totals                       28   1   3   1       3   5      24  11

FIELDING - 
E: Green (8), Pagliaroni (1).

BATTING - 
SH: Odom (4,off Hall).
SF: Cater (4,off Worthington).
HBP: Monday (4,by Hall).
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Campaneris (57,2nd base off Hall/Look).

Minnesota Twins              AB   R   H RBI      BB  SO      PO   A
Tovar p,c,1b,2b,ss,3b,lf,cf,rf
                              3   1   1   0       1   0       5   1
Clark 3b,ss                   4   0   0   0       0   2       1   5
Nettles 1b,cf,3b              2   1   0   0       1   2       2   0
Allison lf,cf,lf,cf           4   0   1   1       0   1       3   0
Carew 2b,ss,2b                4   0   2   1       0   0       2   1
Holt rf,lf                    2   0   1   0       1   0       1   0
Hernandez ss,1b               1   0   0   0       0   0       5   0
  Reese ph,1b                 2   0   0   0       0   1       3   0
Uhlaender cf                  0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
  Look ph,c                   4   0   1   0       0   0       3   0
Zimmerman c                   0   0   0   0       0   0       1   0
  Hall p                      3   0   0   0       0   0       1   1
  Worthington p               0   0   0   0       0   0       0   0
Totals                       29   2   6   2       3   6      27   8

FIELDING - 
DP: 1. Clark-Carew-Reese.
E: Hall (1).

BATTING - 
3B: Allison (8,off Odom).
SH: Hernandez (6,off Odom); Holt (1,off Lindblad).
HBP: Nettles (1,by Odom).
IBB: Holt (2,by Odom).
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Tovar (33,2nd base off Odom/Pagliaroni); Clark (3,2nd base off Odom/Pagliaroni).

PITCHING

Oakland Athletics            IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP
Odom L(15-10)                 7     5   2   1   3   5   0  31
Lindblad                      1     1   0   0   0   1   0   4
Totals                        8     6   2   1   3   6   0  35

HBP: Odom (7,Nettles).
IBB: Odom (9,Holt).

Minnesota Twins              IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP
Tovar                         1     0   0   0   1   1   0   4
Hall W(2-1)                   6.1   3   1   0   2   2   0  25
Worthington SV(17)            1.2   0   0   0   0   2   0   5
Totals                        9     3   1   0   3   5   0  34

WP: Hall (2).
BK: Tovar (1).
HBP: Hall (1,Monday).

Umpires: HP - Frank Umont, 1B - Bill Haller, 2B - Jerry Neudecker, 3B - Larry Napp

Time of Game: 2:18   Attendance: 11340

Starting Lineups:

   Oakland Athletics             Minnesota Twins          
1. Campaneris          ss        Tovar               p
2. Jackson             rf        Clark               3b
3. Cater               1b        Nettles             1b
4. Bando               3b        Allison             lf
5. Hershberger         lf        Carew               2b
6. Green               2b        Holt                rf
7. Pagliaroni          c         Hernandez           ss
8. Monday              cf        Uhlaender           cf
9. Odom                p         Zimmerman           c

DID YOU KNOW??? Bert "Campy" Campaneris left the game in the 9th inning after injuring his shoulder in a home plate collision!!!!

Here's some more info......

SEPT 8, 1965 ...Kansas City A's shortstop Bert Campaneris becomes the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in one game.

Campaneris moved from one position to another at the start of each inning. He made an error while playing right field in the 6th inning for his only miscue of the ball game. He pitched the 8th inning and faced his cousin and Angels’ outfielder Jose Cardenal. Campaneris won bragging rights when Cardenal popped out. He allowed just one run on a hit and two walks.

In the 9th inning, he strapped on the ‘tools of ignorance’ as the A’s catcher, but had to leave the game after injuring his shoulder in a home plate collision. The Angels won the contest in 13 innings, 5-3.

[LINEDRIVER]

I'm not sure this one really counts, but I witnessed what could be considered one of the greatest position players pitching appearances of all-time.

It was very early in 1967 and my dad and I attended a Sunday afternoon double headers versus the Giants at Crosley Field. Converted reliever Billy McCool started the opener and beat the Giants. Between games, my dad and I were sitting in the box seats along the thirdbase line when I saw Art Shamsky bound out of the dugout and run to leftfield where outfielder Mel Queen was warming up with other outfielders. Shamsky comes up behind Queen and says something in his ear. Queen was all smiles as he ran to the dugout. Minutes later, there is Mel Queen warming up in the Reds' bullpen along the thirdbase line. He would be the starting pitcher in the second game for the Reds

I don't remember who was scheduled to start for the Reds that day, but he was scratched and outfielder Queen was his emergency replacement. Despite having only pitched a few one inning emergency stints in 1966 and one in 1967, Mel Queen actually pitched a complete game shutout versus the Giants that day. His outfielding days were officially over that day, and he went on to win 14 games in 1967.

I've seen hundreds of games, but that one ranks as possibly my most memorable.

I spoke with Billy McCool in 2000 and he told me that the Reds' pitchers were in awe of Queen's stuff in those 1966-1967 days. McCool also said Gerry Arrigo had great stuff but could not carry it from the bullpen mound to the center of the diamond.

The weak-hitting outfielder Queen made his first big league pitching appearance on 7-16-66. He made a total of 7 relief appearances for the '66 Reds. He worked on his pitching skills during the winter. Queen started off his 1967 pitching by making a relief appearance on 4-14-67 vs Houston and allowed 3 hits, 1 HR, and 3 ER's in 1 inning of work.

APRIL 16, 1967...Queen makes his first big league start and throws a complete game six-hit shutout over the Giants in Cincinnati. Queen walks 2 and whiffs 8.

Queen picked up his 2nd win of the '67 season in his next start on April 22. Allowed 0 ER's in 5 2/3 innings.

Queen's ERA did not rise above 3 until it went up to 3.01 on July 6. Queen allowed just 6 ER's in his final 5 September starts. Finished the year at 14-8, 2.76 ERA in 195.2 innings.

I last saw Queen in Spring Training/Florida about 8 or 9 years ago. I think by then he was a minor league pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. Saw him hiding behind a shack beyond the outfield fence sucking on a cigarette. I read "Q U E E N" on the back of his jersey and said to myself, "Holy Cow, that's ole Melvin Junior." His dad pitched for the Yankees and Pirates in the 1940's and 50's.

[tripleaaaron]

And with Micah Owings on the squad we should probably go ahead and address the opposite.
When was the last time a pitcher played the field?
On May 1, 1970 Willy Granger entered the game in the ninth inning with a 6-4 lead. Granger recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning and then moved to left field replacing Bernie Carbo, while Don Gullett came in to face Willie Stargell (he struck him out to earn the save).

[tripleaaaron]

According to his stats Jim Maloney played one inning in LF in 1961, but I can't locate the date, does anyone know any info about this?

[LINEDRIVER]

According to his stats Jim Maloney played one inning in LF in 1961, but I can't locate the date, does anyone know any info about this?

OK. Here we go.

Friday night, September 29, 1961

Reds vs Pirates @ Forbes Field

Top of 9th inning...Jerry Lynch bats for Wally Post. Lynch strikes out and is ejected after jawing with umpire Stan Landes about the third strike.

(I am assuming that the intention was for Lynch to bat and then play LF in the bottom of the 9th inning)

Bottom of 9th inning...Pitcher Jim Maloney enters the game in LF with Gus Bell moving from LF to RF. Pirates' Bob Skinner flied out to Maloney in LF for out #1. That was Maloney's only fielding chance as an outfielder.

Reds win, 8-1. Reds' lefty Jim O'Toole picks up his 19th victory of the season.

[Jpup]

This isn't really related, but I was amused at Jason LaRue playing right field a few years ago.

[Chip R]

Johnny Bench played CF for a game once.

[BCubb2003]

We could have an all-out-position team: Kevin Mitchell at short, Dmitri Young at their, Dave Concepcion at first ...

[westofyou]

Johnny Bench played CF for a game once.

Twice Actually.. almost as odd as Castro starting at 1st.

[Rojo]

Twice Actually.. almost as odd as Castro starting at 1st.

Or starting at short.

[BoydsOfSummer]

Frank Pulli was umpiring in each of those Reds games. What are the odds?

[RichRed]

Frank Pulli was umpiring in each of those Reds games. What are the odds?

I bet Pete would know.