Rod, St, Paul, MNSubj: Pulling double duty
Hey Ryan, has there ever been an ambidextrous pitcher in the Major Leagues?
You bet, Rod. Since the game’s inception six players have pitched with both hands in the same outing. They include Larry Corcoran (1880-1887), Tony Mullane (1881-1894), Elton Chamberlain (1886-1896), George Wheeler (1896-1899), Moxie Manuel (1905-1908), and Greg Harris (1981-1995). Although these double duty specialists have been a rarity in recent years, there’s a good chance we’ll see another ambidextrous hurler in the near future. His name is Pat Venditte and he’s making headlines as a lights-out reliever for the Creighton Bluejays. Venditte, who wears an ambidextrous glove with two thumb holes and four fingers, finished the season 8-2 with a 1.88 ERA, leading many pundits to speculate he’ll be drafted next month. "He has the advantage with every batter," says Creighton head coach Ed Servais. "You don't have to go righty-lefty. He is a righty-lefty in himself. He is a bullpen in himself." The only question that remains is which hand Venditte will use to sign his first big league contract.
