The promised breakdown of top career switch-hitting home run hitters (only 9 months after promised): (LH=left-handed, RH=right-handed)
536 Mantle 257 LH, 13.5 AB/HR; 106 RH,15.9 AB/HR (data missing for 1st 6 yrs of his career)
504 Murray 362 LH, 21.1 AB/HR; 142 RH, 26.0 AB/HR
368 Chipper Jones 288 LH, 16.9 AB/HR; 80 RH, 20.8 AB/HR
350 Chili Davis 233 LH, 25.8 AB/HR; 117 RH, 22.8 AB/HR
314 R. Smith 251 LH, 19.8 AB/HR; 63 RH, 32.9 AB/HR
306 Ruben Sierra 216 LH, 25.3 AB/HR; 90 RH, 28.7 AB/HR
287 Bobby Bonilla 182 LH, 25.9 AB/HR; 105 RH, 23.8 AB/HR
287 Bernie Williams 179 LH, 30.1 AB/HR; 108 RH, 22.9 AB/HR
248 Ted Simmons 146 LH, 38.1 AB/HR; 102 RH, 30.6 AB/HR
248 Jose Valentin 227 LH, 18.7 AB/HR; 21 RH, 56.9 AB/HR
246 Ken Singleton 185 LH, 27.4 AB/HR; 58 RH, 36.2 AB/HR
245 Mickey Tettleton 169 LH, 19.3 AB/HR; 76 RH, 18.9 AB/HR
and some more guys still active:
232 Tony Clark 175 LH, 17.1 AB/HR; 57 RH, 20.5 AB/HR
230 Lance Berkman 208 LH, 14.1 AB/HR; 22 RH, 40.8 AB/HR
211 Carlos Beltran 158 LH, 22.1 AB/HR; 53 RH, 23.0 AB/HR
146 Mark Teixeira 106 LH, 16.8 AB/HR; 40 RH, 17.8 AB/HR
Observations: most tend to hit HR's more frequently for the left side, perhaps reflecting that more natural lefties take up switch-hitting, or maybe too just because they get more practice (against right-handed pitchers) from that side.
Tettleton was the most even in power from both sides. Beltran's and Teixeira's homers are also very evenly distributed. Valentin and (a surprise to me) Berkman are sorely lacking in right-handed power. Makes one wonder if they'd be better off batting LH all the time!
Monday, May 21, 2007
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