Switch Pitcher History

Larry Corcoran (1859-1891)

"In 1882, Corcoran became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a career. Two seasons later, he became the first pitcher to throw three no-hitters, setting a record that would stand until 1965, when Sandy Koufax threw his fourth no-hitter. He is also famous for being one of baseball's very few switch-pitchers. A natural righty, Corcoran pitched four innings alternating throwing arms on June 16, 1884, due to the inflammation of his right index finger. He is credited with creating the first method of signaling pitches to his catcher, which consisted of moving a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth to indicate what pitch would be thrown."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Corcoran

Tony Mullane (1859-1944)

"Anthony John "Tony" Mullane, nickamed "Count", was an Irish Major League Baseball player who pitched for seven teams during his 13-season career. He is best known as a pitcher that could throw left-handed and right-handed, and for having one of the highest career win totals of pitchers not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. "

*- His old fashion photo is on the left of this blog

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mullane

Elton Chamberlain (1876-1929)

"An ambidextrous pitcher, Chamberlain alternated arms for four innings of a game on June 16, 1884 while he was in the minor leagues. On May 9, 1888, he had a large lead against the Kansas City Cowboys and pitched the last two innings left-handed, giving up no runs that way.

In several seasons, Chamberlain finished in his league's top ten in a number of pitching categories, including wins, ERA, strikeouts, and shutouts. His two best seasons were 1888 (25-11, 2.19) and 1889 (34-15, 2.97). His 1888 St. Louis Browns team won the American Association pennant with a 92-43 record. Chamberlain went 2-3 in that year's "World Series" against the New York Giants."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Chamberlain

George Wheeler (1846-1946)

"George Louis Wheeler was a professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball from 1896-1899 for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wheeler, primarily a right-handed pitcher, threw left-handed on a handful of occasions[ to become one of the few known "switch pitchers" in MLB history."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wheeler_%28pitcher%29

Billy Wagner (1971-

"William Edward Wagner, nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros (1995–2003), the Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2005), the New York Mets (2006–2009), the Boston Red Sox (2009), and the Atlanta Braves (2010). Wagner is one of the few Major League relief pitchers to accumulate a total of 400 or more saves in his baseball career.

Wagner was a natural-born right-handed person, but after breaking his right arm twice in accidents as a young boy, he taught himself to throw baseballs using his left arm by throwing thousands of balls against the wall of a barn, and then fielding the rebounds, and repeating."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Wagner

Greg Harris (1955-

"Harris pitched in 703 games in his career, starting 98. He pitched for the Padres in the 1984 World Series, which they lost to the Detroit Tigers in five games.

Harris is best known as the only pitcher in the modern era to pitch with either arm. A natural right-hander, by 1986 he could throw well enough left-handed that he felt he could pitch with either hand in a game, but the opportunity did not arise. Harris wasn't allowed to throw lefty in a regular-season game until September 28, 1995, the next-to-last game of his career, for the Expos. In the ninth inning, Harris retired Reggie Sanders pitching right-handed, then switched to his left hand for the next two hitters, Hal Morris and Ed Taubensee, who both batted lefty. Harris walked Morris but got Taubensee to ground out. He then went back to his right hand to retire Bret Boone to end the inning."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Harris_%28pitcher,_born_1955%29

Pat Venditte (1985-

"Patrick Michael Venditte Jr. is an American baseball player. He is a minor league baseball player currently in the New York Yankees organization. He currently pitches for the Class-AA Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League. Venditte is a "switch pitcher", meaning he can throw and pitch proficiently with either arm. He is recognized as the only active professional pitcher who is able to do this."

For more information link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Venditte