Has there ever been an mlb pitcher that used both arms to pitch?

Question

As in, he was ambidextrous by swapping his glove hand to hand to pitch with different hands on different throws. And if so, does this mean that he could have pitched twice as long?

Answer 1

Two pitchers have done that, but in neither case were they able to pitch twice as long.


The ambidextrous Greg Harris did pitch left-handed once, while with the Expos, and in a home game. Do you remember the area behind the plate at The Big O, the area with the glass? On his first left-handed pitch in the majors, Harris was a bit wild, and broke that glass.

Harris was not the first man to pitch with both arms in the major leagues, but he was the first in the "modern" era. This is the entry from the 1st edition of "Total Baseball"

July 18, 1882
Ambidextrous hurler Tony Mullane of Louisville pitches with both hands in a major league game at Baltimore. Normally a righthander, Mullane switches to the left hand in the fourth inning. He does quite well for several innings but eventually loses to Baltimore, 9-8.

Harris' glove was ambidextrous, in that it was specially made with two thumbs.


Many people think that pitching is just about your arms, but in order to absorb the energy of the arm coming through, a pitcher needs to use the large muscle of his back and legs. They can easily tire before his arm does. This is also why a knuckle ball pitcher, such as Tim Wakefield, still can't pitcher every other day.

Answer 2

Tony Mullane
Billy Wagner
Greg A Harris

As for switching hands: (MLB Rules)
They must pitch with the same hand during a batter's entire at-bat. Such pitchers may change pitching hand for the next batter, but again must continue with that arm for that batter's entire at-bat.

Answer 3

I read about a couple of players who played decades ago who could do this. One played in the majors and the other in the minors. They made a rule that when he switched hands it would be the same as a new pitcher.

Answer 4

Jessee Roberts

Answer 5

Well Billy Wagner used to throw with his right hand, but then broke it and wasnt able to use it again. Simply, he started throwing with his left hand, and is now one of the most succesful Closers in baseball

Answer 6

Billy Wagner was a righty but arm troubles forced him to become a lefty. Worked out pretty good for him in the end though

Answer 7

Harris was capable of pitching with his left as well as his typical right, but only did it in one game in 1995 toward the very end of his career.

Not yet mentioned is another olde-tymer, Elton "Icebox" Chamberlain.

Answer 8

yes Jim abbot he was born with only one hand and learned to pitch amazingly well.... he'd switch the glove ovr while throwing the pitch

Answer 9

Hammer answered this perfectly!

Answer 10

maybe, but very very very very rare like really rare............... people who can do that are very talenetd and are just impeccable its amazon great question man thts the best one ever good luck with answers