So What'll I Throw with Today: Left, Right, or Both?

It's more than likely that no one has ever heard of this guy before, but he is apart of history as he has a unique talent that puts him in the category of things like Bigfoot and Unicorns; too good to be true. But once You've watched this video, You'll see what I am talking about. Also, it's pretty hilarious.

Video Uploaded by HGM4CHINE's channel

My best guess right now would be that many of you are laughing as you watch this switch hitter going left to right, while others may be thinking that this has to be fake or something. But believe when I tell you that it is indeed real. That ladies and gentlemen, is what is known in the game of baseball as a switch pitcher. 

Believe it or not, there are actually pitchers out there in history and currently that have a unique skill to throw with either their left or right hand. Like I said, they are a rare breed that you just do not get to see every day or ever. But if you really need some solid visual proof, here's another video of the same guy (different game) warming himself up at the mound (pay close attention at 0:28)

Video Uploaded by john t

The Double Barreled Rifle: In both videos, the switch pitcher is a guy named Pat Venditte. Never heard of him? I'm not surprised. Venditte has not had an opportunity to play in the majors yet. But that could all change soon as he has signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's along with an invitation to Spring Training this offseason to prove if his arms are as good as people say they are. Venditte is the only active switch pitcher in pro baseball who has the impressive ability to throw 90-94 mph right-handed  and 85-90 mph left-handed. It's a key piece of what makes him a somewhat of a "unicorn" of baseball. No one has ever seen anyone with that ability since (my guess) Mullane. 

Because of this, he drew interest from and was eventually draft by none other than the circus itself, the New York Yankees in 2007, but was turned down by Venditte so that he could upgrade his arms with more velocity and weapons. The next year, the Yankees snatched him up again.'

Vendetta's first appearance was with the Staten Island Yankees against the Brooklyn Cyclones. With two outs in the ninth inning, up stepped switch hitter Ralph Henriquez (this is the top video). After getting in the batter's box, Venditte switched his glove over to the other handed. So because of the hand switch, Henriquez made the option to switch to the other side. After going back-and-forth like this four or five times, eventually the teams' managers and the game's umpires came out on the field to try and solve the issue. Eventually, Henriquez was told to pick his stance, Venditte would then pick which hand to throw with, which evidently lead to Henriquez striking out and slamming his bat with frustration. Because of the incident, the "Pat Venditte Rule" was created have a set of rules for pitchers with Venditte's unique skill and style of pitching by making sure he makes it clear to all what arm he is going to be pitching with and is limited to changing hands once per at-bat.

Since then, Pat Venditte has been sitting the minors just waiting for the chance to get the call up to play with the top guys in the game. And at 29, he shows he can still throw it when he held a 0.82 ERA with a 0.73 WHIP in 22 innings with the Trenton Thunder before being called up to AAA, where he struck out all five batters (three left-handed, two right-handed) in his first outing. Hopefully, he'll earn a spot in the bullpen with the A's.

{"Ice Box" Chamberlain (left), Tony Mullane (center), Larry Corcoran (right)}

Dual-Wielding Gunslingers: Now to be fair, Venditte is not the first of his kind. In fact, baseball historians have found that switch pitchers go way into the 1880s. The most successful and probably best switch pitcher ever was Tony Mullane, who for 13 years with seven different teams, threw effectively with both his left and right hand. During his career, Mullane secured 284 wins (tied 27th all time), 3.05 ERA, and had 1,803 strikeouts.

Along side Mullane were a handful of other switch pitchers as well. One of them was Elton Chamberlain. Known as "Ice Box" for having ice in his veins, Chamberlain was known mostly for pitching right handed but could switch over to the left hand whenever needed to spruce up the game. Over the course of 10 years with 6 different teams, Chamberlain was about to notch 157 wins, 3.57 ERA, and 1,133 strikeouts.

Another name at this time short career pitcher named Larry Corcoran. A brief but strong young man, Corcoran played just seven years with his best five happening from 1880-1885 with the Chicago White Stockings (Chicago Cubs). During those five years, Corcoran won 43 games his first year to help Chicago win the National League Championship, he and pitcher Fred Goldsmith were part of Hall of fame manager Cap Anson's idea for the first ever pitching rotation, he became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season followed by becoming the first pitcher to throw three no-hitters in a season to set record (eventually broken by Sandy Koufax with four). Just like Mullane, Corcoran was able to alternate hands frequently and effectively in games. Over his seven years with four teams, Corcoran amassed 177 wins, 2.36 ERA, and 1,103 strikeouts.

{Greg Harris pitching for the Boston Red Sox}

The Montreal Project: In 1981, the New York Mets had a pitcher by the name of Greg A. Harris that was a pitcher who was predominantly a right-handed thrower, but was secretively behind-the-scenes working on making himself able to throw just as efficient with his left arm. While Venditte might become the second, Greg Harris is still recognized as the only switch pitcher to pitch in a major league game in the modern era of baseball. However, he did not get the green light to do so until 1995 (nine years after perfecting left hand) against the Cincinnati Reds in the regular season. In the ninth inning, Harris was able to strike out Reggie Sanders, Walked Hal Morris, forced Ed Taubensee to ground out, and finished off the inning by striking out Brett Boone in good fashion. Although Harris' career record is 74-90, he still has a solid 3.69 ERA and 1,141 strikeouts for his career.

These are just some the big names of a growing group of pitchers that have worked, trained, and have been given a gift with the ability to be effective and throw proficiently with both arms. As of right now, switch pitchers in the major leagues seem to be just a pipe dream. But who knows. After all, Venditte could be the spark that's been needed to show just how talented these two armed pitchers can be. Now to mention, it'll give any and every ball club in the league an excuse to not have to spend more money on another pitcher when you have the 2-in-1 deal already. I don't how effective they will be in the major leagues, but whenever it does happen, I'll definitely be excited and ready to watch.