LEFTHANDED BASEBALL

The Best Lefthanded Batters and Lefthanded Pitchers in Baseball

Mickey Mantle Pete Rose Eddie Murray Chipper Jones

Current Best Switch-Hitters

Switch-Pitchers

Switch-hitters are players who can bat lefthanded against righthanded pitchers and bat righthanded against lefthanded pitchers. Most switch-hitters are righthanded players who started out batting righthanded, and later learned to bat lefthanded to improve their chances of success. There were very few switch-hitters in the older days of baseball, but more switch-hitters began to emerge in the modern era and in recent years.

Mickey Mantle was a righthanded throwing outfielder and first-baseman who played 18 years in the majors (1951-1968) with the New York Yankees. He finished with 2415 hits, 1733 walks (8th all-time). 536 home runs (18th all-time), 1509 runs batted in, and a .298 batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

Pete Rose was a righthanded throwing infielder and outfielder who played 24 years in the majors (1963-1986) mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He is the all-time leader in games played with 3562, at-bats with 14053, and hits with 4256, and also had 2165 runs scored (6th all-time), 746 doubles (2nd all-time), and a .303 batting average. Rose is ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame due to involvement with gambling during his managerial career.

Eddie Murray was a righthanded throwing first-baseman who played 21 years in the majors (1977-1997) mostly with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished with 1627 runs scored, 3255 hits, (13th all-time)5397 total bases (10th all-time) 560 doubles, 504 home runs (27th all-time), 1917 runs batted in (10th all-time), and a .287 batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Chipper Jones was a righthanded throwing third-baseman who played 19 years in the majors (1993 to 2012) with the Atlanta Braves. He finished with 2726 hits, 468 home runs, 1623 runs batting in, and a .303 batting average. He will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2017.

Carlos Beltran was a righthanded throwing outfielder who played 20 years in the majors (1998-2017) with seven different teams. He finished with 2725 hits and 1582 runs scored in 9768 at-bats, with 565 doubles, 78 triples, 435 home runs, 1587 runs batted in, 312 stolen bases, and a .279 batting average.

Victor Martinez was a righthanded throwing catcher, first-baseman and designated hitter who played 16 years in the majors (2002-2016) 8 with Cleveland, 2 with Boston, and the past 5 with Detroit. He finished his career with 423 doubles, 246 home runs, 1178 runs batted in and a .295 batting average.

Frankie Frisch was a righthanded throwing infielder who played 19 years in the majors (1919-1937) with the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. He finished with 2880 hits, 1532 runs scored, 466 doubles, 138 triples, and a .316 batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.

Max Carey was a righthanded throwing outfield who played 20 years in the majors (1910-1929) mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished with 2665 hits, 1545 runs scored, 419 doubles, 159 triples, 738 stolen bases (9th all time), and a .285 batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961.

Mark Texeira is a righthanded throwing first-baseman who has played 14 years in the majors (2003-2016),the last 7 with the New York Yankees. He finished his career with 408 doubles, 409 home runs, and 1298 runs batted in.

Other great switch-hitters (mostly in recent years) are Lance Berkman (366 home runs and 1234 runs batted in), Roberto Alomar (2724 hits), Bernie Williams (2336 hits and 1357 runs batted in), and Tim Raines (2605 hits and 808 stolen bases (5th all-time).

All-Time Greatest Switch-Hitters

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All-Time Greatest Switch-Hitters

LEFTHANDED BASEBALL