Rick Ankiel is 46 today

[jcgmoi]

OK guys, I'm gonna flip over all the cards.

First, of course Ohtani should be on the list although I'm ashamed to say he never occurred to me. I found the question at bbref's bio page for Ankiel and took their info for gospel, but it's possible that page hasn't been updated since Rick retired.6

Second, Cy Seymour is correct. I've actually heard of him. He pitched effectively in the 1890s, winning 25 games once and twice leading the league in Ks.

Later he was a solid hitter in the 1910s. In 1905 he led the NL in hits, doubles, triples, RBI, BA and SLG. He hit 52 career homers.

Third, the final player is George Van Haltren, born in St Louis in 1866. Over 17 years he hit 69 HRs and stole nearly 600 bases. He was also starting pitcher 68 times, mostly for the NL Chicago White Stockings.

Here's a real oddity. Van Haltren is listed as a lefty but somehow he played 79 games at shortstop over the years. Not just emergencies but full games by the look of it, more than 700 innings. He had spot duty at second and third too.

Here are the links from bbref if any of you want to follow up and maybe find another Ohtani. Thanks for your responses.

Rick: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rick_Ankiel

Cy: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cy_Seymour

George: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bull ... an_Haltren

[Hazelwood72]

OK guys, I'm gonna flip over all the cards.

First, of course Ohtani should be on the list although I'm ashamed to say he never occurred to me. I found the question at bbref's bio page for Ankiel and took their info for gospel, but it's possible that page hasn't been updated since Rick retired.6

Second, Cy Seymour is correct. I've actually heard of him. He pitched effectively in the 1890s, winning 25 games once and twice leading the league in Ks.

Later he was a solid hitter in the 1910s. In 1905 he led the NL in hits, doubles, triples, RBI, BA and SLG. He hit 52 career homers.

Third, the final player is George Van Haltren, born in St Louis in 1866. Over 17 years he hit 69 HRs and stole nearly 600 bases. He was also starting pitcher 68 times, mostly for the NL Chicago White Stockings.

Here's a real oddity. Van Haltren is listed as a lefty but somehow he played 79 games at shortstop over the years. Not just emergencies but full games by the look of it, more than 700 innings. He had spot duty at second and third too.

Here are the links from bbref if any of you want to follow up and maybe find another Ohtani. Thanks for your responses.

Rick: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rick_Ankiel

Cy: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cy_Seymour

George: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bull ... an_Haltren

“Flip over all the cards?” Are you old enough to remember What’s My Line with John Charles Daly? Great show.

[jcgmoi]

Are you old enough to remember What’s My Line with John Charles Daly?

I'm afraid so.

[Hazelwood72]

Are you old enough to remember What’s My Line with John Charles Daly?

I'm afraid so.

Yeah, me too!

I was 13 when the original version went off the air. Someone on YouTube captured almost ALL of the 1950-1967 episodes. Having watched a few of them recently, I never realized as a kid how “cheeky” Arlene Francis got with some of her quips. Of course back then you couldn’t get very racy on TV, but there were quite a few times when you knew what she was getting at! Matter of fact, the whole panel and Daly got flirtatious with contestants if there were particularly attractive. Which you couldn’t do now in this woke age.

[jcgmoi]

Stan Musial on WML, March 8, 1964.

[jcgmoi]

Branch Rickey was on WML, Sep 13, 1959.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC3IoPdh_Cc

Dizzy Dean was a Mystery Guest sometime in 1950 but I can't find a tape.

OK, I'm stopping now.