Usually the players trying to trick the opposition in Major League Baseball are the pitchers, throwing all kinds of crazy stuff to stump the batters. But every so often you have a batter step up to the plate, and then step up to the other side of the plate the next time around.
Switch hitters are a unique and special bunch, because let’s be honest, hitting from the opposite side is one of the weirdest and most difficult skills to master in the game. There are plenty who have tried and succeeded as switch hitters in the Majors, but not many have really excelled at the hidden talent.
Let’s break down some of the top switch hitters in MLB history.
While we’re looking at the best switch hitters, how about we start with the best hitter in the game?
Pete Rose batted around .300 from both sides of the plate and is the all-time hits leader with 4,256. Even with all those hits, Rose’s average is relatively low due to the fact that he also played in more games than any other ballplayer in history.
Rose may be left out of the Hall of Fame for his gambling excursions, but with stats like these and all of the awards that came along with them, he definitely deserves it. Especially as a switcher.
Speaking of guys with tons of hits, Eddie Murray is the only other switch hitter besides Rose to record over 3,000 hits in his career. What separates him from Charlie Hustle, though, is being the only switch hitter to hit 3,000 times AND smack over 500 home runs – only three other players have achieved this feat: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Rafael Palmeiro.
What made Murray really great is how his highest single-season tally for home runs was only 33. Known as “Steady Eddie” for a reason, Murray racked up double-digit home runs in 20 of his 21 years in the majors. A lot of those hits turned into runs as Murray currently sits in 10th on the all-time RBI list with 1,917.
Up next is one of the most consistent, reliable and widely known switch hitters ever to play baseball. Chipper Jones was the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves team that won 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005.
He hit just as well from either side of the plate during his career, posting a .303 batting average from the left and a .304 from the right. Now that’s consistent.
The really crazy thing is how Chipper was a major leaguer for 19 years and didn't play a full 162 games in a single one. Imagine what could have been had he been healthy…
Last but certainly not least is one of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat. Mickey Mantle, the great Yankee, was an incredible hitter, which made it even more amazing that he could hit from both sides.
Mantle won three MVP awards, seven World Series championships and the 1956 Triple Crown. He hit the most home runs of any switch hitter (536) and simply dominated the game during his tenure in New York. There is no doubt that Mantle is the #1 switch hitter to ever suit up in the majors.
Just like Chipper, Mantle’s numbered are hindered due to injuries. His batting average in the final two years of his career really brought down his career total which could have been incredible otherwise. Still, Mantle’s 1,500+ hits, .557 slugging percentage and career .298 average are beyond amazing for a switch hitter.
These four guys made pitchers rethink how they threw the ball to batters on certain sides of the plate and dominated an art that only few have.
As a parting thought here is one of the greatest displays of a switch hitter duel with an equally talented pitcher: