One-Position Dudes (Split from Out of Work...)

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Scott Rolen has played 2023 games (1994 starts) and has never played anything other than 3B - not even DH.

[seawolf17]

Swan Swan H wrote: Scott Rolen has played 2023 games (1994 starts) and has never played anything other than 3B - not even DH.

That's interesting, considering he spent two years in Toronto AND has had injury problems, which you'd think most NL teams tend to couch in AL parks by sticking a guy at DH for a game or two.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

seawolf17 wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Scott Rolen has played 2023 games (1994 starts) and has never played anything other than 3B - not even DH. That's interesting, considering he spent two years in Toronto AND has had injury problems, which you'd think most NL teams tend to couch in AL parks by sticking a guy at DH for a game or two.

I did a by-no-means comprehensive search of good fielders, and Ozzie Smith was the only other player I could find in the DH era who hasn't played at least one game at DH or another position. I'm sure there are more, but none come to mind. I thought Brooks Robinson might have been one, but though he never DHed (he played until '77) he played a few at 2B and SS early in his career.

[Edgy MD]

I was thinking Willie Randolph, but nope. He's played 2152 games at second.

And one at third. Gah.

[smg58]

Rey Ordonez.

[seawolf17]

Swan Swan H wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Scott Rolen has played 2023 games (1994 starts) and has never played anything other than 3B - not even DH. That's interesting, considering he spent two years in Toronto AND has had injury problems, which you'd think most NL teams tend to couch in AL parks by sticking a guy at DH for a game or two. I did a by-no-means comprehensive search of good fielders, and Ozzie Smith was the only other player I could find in the DH era who hasn't played at least one game at DH or another position. I'm sure there are more, but none come to mind. I thought Brooks Robinson might have been one, but though he never DHed (he played until '77) he played a few at 2B and SS early in his career.

I bounced quickly down the list of all-time games played leaders, and that's it, except for Luis Aparicio -- 2599 games, all at short -- but he retired after 1973, so he only had one DH-eligible season, and the Sox in 1973 had Orlando Cepeda DHing every day.

Al Kaline played 2834 games (17th all time), but lasted until his 22nd season, in 1974, where he DHed all year.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Harrelson never played any position but shortstop for the Mets, but played third, second and left (!) for the Phillies.

I guess they couldn't unseat Bowa and Bud wasn't much of a hitter anymore.

[Chad ochoseis]

Keef was also a one-position man as a Met, but played five games in left field and two in right for the Cardinals. He never DHed in his career, which surprised me.

Mark Grace - 2,245 games. One inning as an emergency pitcher for Arizona. One game at the end of his career as a DH, also for Arizona.

OE - Hernandez' entire career was pre-interleague, and he only played one season in the AL. So not all that surprising that he never DHed. D'oh.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

smg58 wrote: Rey Ordonez.

963 games, definitely long enough for a list like this, I'd say. Good one.

[seawolf17]

Chad Ochoseis wrote: OE - Hernandez' entire career was pre-interleague, and he only played one season in the AL. So not all that surprising that he never DHed. D'oh.

Right, but that one season was at the end. You would have figured -- like Kaline in 1974 -- that he would have found his way into the DH spot once or twice.

[Vic Sage]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess they couldn't unseat Bowa and Bud wasn't much of a hitter anymore.

Bud wasn't much of a hitter "anymore"?
Pray tell, at what point in his career WAS he much of a hitter?
.236 BA / .327 OBP / .288 SLG! / .616 OPS / 76 OPS+

don't get me wrong; i loved Bud Harrelson. but i never confused him with an actual hitter at any point in his career.
And yet he was still better than Rey Ordonez!

[Edgy MD]

I once heard Keef say that left field was his favorite position.

I was shocked!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Vic Sage wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess they couldn't unseat Bowa and Bud wasn't much of a hitter anymore. Bud wasn't much of a hitter "anymore"? Pray tell, at what point in his career WAS he much of a hitter? .236 BA / .327 OBP / .288 SLG! / .616 OPS / 76 OPS+ don't get me wrong; i loved Bud Harrelson. but i never confused him with an actual hitter at any point in his career. And yet he was still better than Rey Ordonez!

Well I was referring to his 1977 figures in particular, they were bad for him.