You are not misremembering-- Kaat was often used as a pinch hitter, and was a great athlete. One blogger noted that he was used as a pinch hitter or pinch runner 106 times in his career.
Twins fans of my vintage remember that 1972 season when he broke his hand/wrist sliding into second. He continued to pitch through a couple more innings, won the game and was 10-2 less than halfway through the season, with an ERA barely over 2. Oh, and he was batting .289 with a couple of dingers!! The broken wrist ended his season and messed him up in 1973 as well.
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If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other. - Ulysses S. Grant, military commander, 18th US President.
Last edited by nolemmings; 03-30-2015 at 09:07 AM.
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