Best 2-Way Players of All-Time

[bcbgcbrcb]

My recent purchase of an 1887 Gypsy Queen - Dave Foutz card got me to thinking, after Babe Ruth, could Foutz have been the best 2-Way Player of All-Time, meaning pitcher & hitter? There have been a number of players who started out as pitchers, hurt their arms, and then switched over to being everyday players but, due to their pitching injury, never really excelled at the Major League level as pitchers.

Foutz had a relatively brief period of excellence but how do you feel about his place in history?

[ElCabron]

Rogan.

-Ryan

[ElCabron]

Dihigo next.

-Ryan

[FrankWakefield]

Ward and Wood deserve consideration.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Stan Musial was signed as a pitcher.

[Wite3]

Lefty O'Doul

[ghostmarcelle]

Without a doubt

[xdrx]

Darren Dreifort. Ah hell, after $50 million he never even turned in to a one-way player. Apologies to any fellow Dodger fans out there, but for some reason this thread made me think of DD.

[quinnsryche]

Smoky Joe Wood, #1, no doubt. Should be a HOF'er.

[BleedinBlue]

Gil Patterson. Right handed fireballer blew out his arm and tried come back as a lefty junk baller. Never made it back to the bigs though.

A different spin on the two way player, kinda like Pat Venditte in the Yankees organization.

[BleedinBlue]

Originally Posted by xdrx

Darren Dreifort. Ah hell, after $50 million he never even turned in to a one-way player. Apologies to any fellow Dodger fans out there, but for some reason this thread made me think of DD.

Not to take this thread too far off track but as a Dodger fan, the worst thing about the whole Dreifort situation was the Dodgers drafted him #2 overall after AROD. The Dodgers actually had a worse record than the Mariners in 1992 and by the current rules would have picked #1 but back in those days, MLB alternated leagues for the #1 overall selection. 1993 was the AL's turn.

[the-illini]

His career was underwhelming, but Rick Ankiel won 11 games with 175 strikeouts and an ERA in the mid 3's as a rookie and hit 25 HRs as an OF for the Cards several years later. Pretty impressive feat in this day.

His teammates with the Senators now still say he has the best curve ball on the team by far.

[Peter W Thomas]

Not a bad pitcher and that hitting thing - not bad either.

[sycks22]

Mcgwire was a pitcher in college. It was always run seeing Hideki Irabu stand in the box waiting for a pitch. He wanted nothing to do with it.

[packs]

Aside from Ruth, Wes Ferrell was probably the best hitting pitcher in history. In 1931 he hit 319 with 9 home runs and 30 RBIs. He also went 22-12 that year. In 1935 he was even better: 347 average 7 home runs and and 32 RBIs. He also led the league with 25 wins that year. Six time 20 game winner and career 280 hitter. Strong case could be made for his induction into the HOF as a complete player.

[rhettyeakley]

It's gotta be Roy Hobbs.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Some interesting names being brought up but still, 41 wins one year for Foutz and over 100 rbi's during another season, not sure if anyone else can claim those types of numbers. I know they are 19th Century figures but still.........

Jimmy Claxton (1892 - 1970) more than 400 wins, less than 200 losses, more than 4,000 K's with a lifetime BA of nearly .400. Three problems; (1) only played as high as the PCL, (2) began his career as a left handed catcher, (3) HMMM?

[murcerfan]

Phil....I think the HOF needs to consider him.

meanwhile you can steal another wicked hot card of his for just $450

[murcerfan]

but I'd still vote for Ankiel, based on the modern era factor.

[gavvy]

Bucky Walters-198 wins-started as a third baseman for the Phillies.

[vargha]

Glenn Burke

[oldjudge]

Phil-If you compare Foutz to his teammate Parisian Bob Caruthers you'll see that they are very similar pitchers and hitters. Caruthers was a career 218-99 with a 2.83 ERA. Foutz was 147-66 with a 2.84 ERA. They batted almost exactly the same with Foutz knocking in more runs and Caruthers hitting more homers. However, my pick for best two way 19th century player is John Ward. Ward was 164-102 as a pitcher, including throwing the second perfect game in major league baseball history. After his arm went he became argueably the best shortstop of the 19th century and, unlike Foutz, is a HOFer.

[U240robert]

Bob Lemon was also signed as an outfielder.
Babe Ruth is still the best.

[TexasLeaguer]

Lifetime .289 batting average (highest for a pitcher). Hit .344 in 1920, .361 in 1923, .343 in 1929 and .381 in 1936. Led the league in pinch-hit batting average in 1924.

[barrysloate]

Agree with Jay, John Ward has to be on top of the list. And after he retired he became a successful attorney.