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Dear Yahoo!:
Has there ever been a switch-pitcher in Major League Baseball?
Nick
Westerville, Ohio
Dear Nick:
As most baseball fans are no doubt aware, switch hitters have the ability to hit from both the left- and right-hand sides of the plate. They decide where to stand based on whether the opposing pitcher is a righty or a lefty. If the pitcher's a southpaw, the batter will swing from the right, and vice versa.

So, what if there was an ambidextrous pitcher who could give switch hitters a taste of their own medicine? As it turns out, there very briefly was. His name was Greg Harris, and in 1995, he threw one inning of shutout ball for the Montreal Expos against the Cincinnati Reds. Harris faced a total of four hitters -- two as a righty, and two as a lefty (one of whom he walked).

This excellent article from MLB.com explains that Harris had a reversible glove with two thumbs that allowed him to place it on either his right or his left hand. It's also worth noting that while Harris is the only person to manage this feat in the 20th century, there were a few "switch pitchers" who pulled it off pre-1900 and several more who reportedly did it in the bullpen (though never in an actual game).

 
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