The countdown search provided an opportunity to identify all the instances of pitchers not batting ninth in the starting lineup. (Standard Retrosheet caveats apply: data runs from 1954-2007, and some games prior to 1974 are missing.)
There are a few periods during which it was used as a consistent strategy.
- Bobby Bragan batted his Pirate pitchers in the 7 spot for the last couple weeks of the 1956 season.
- Lou Boudreau hit the pitcher eighth during the first half of Kansas City’s 1957 season. He was fired soon after.
- Tony La Russa revived the idea in the second half of the 1998 Cardinal campaign.
- TLR took it up again in the last month of 2007. Of course, Tony has been using the pitcher in the 8 slot all season this year. Ned Yost was doing the same thing in Milwaukee, but gave it up in late May.
Some individual pitchers have occasionally batted earlier in the lineup due to their hitting prowess: Don Larsen (.242 career BA), Bob Lemon (.232), and Dontrelle Willis (.234).
The big drought was 1958-1997, during which I find only six occurances.
Cesar Tovar was the only pitcher to lead off the game. Of course, that was his nine-position game in 1968.
Ken Brett batted eighth for the White Sox in front of 3,278 at Comisky late in the 1976 season. That’s the only example I can find of an AL team not using the DH at the start of the game.
The complete list appears after the jump.
1956
1956-05-09 CHA @ BOS Dick Donovan (CHA) batted 8
1956-05-16 NYA @ CLE Mickey McDermott (NYA) batted 8
1956-06-03 DET @ NYA Don Larsen (NYA) batted 8
1956-07-26 CHN @ PIT Fred Waters (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-18 PIT @ NY1 Bob Friend (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-19 PIT @ NY1 Roy Face (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-19 PIT @ NY1 Ron Kline (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-21 PIT @ CIN Vern Law (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-22 PIT @ CIN Bob Friend (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-23 PIT @ SLN Ron Kline (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-23 PIT @ SLN Red Munger (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-24 PIT @ SLN Fred Waters (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-25 PIT @ SLN Vern Law (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-26 PIT @ CHN Bob Friend (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-26 PIT @ CHN Ron Kline (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-28 PIT @ MLN Dick Hall (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-29 PIT @ MLN Vern Law (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-30 PIT @ MLN Bob Friend (PIT) batted 7
1956-08-31 PHI @ PIT Ron Kline (PIT) batted 7
1956-09-01 PHI @ PIT Dick Hall (PIT) batted 7
1956-09-02 PHI @ PIT Vern Law (PIT) batted 7
1956-09-02 PHI @ PIT Fred Waters (PIT) batted 7
1956-09-03 PIT @ BRO Bob Friend (PIT) batted 7
1956-09-03 PIT @ BRO Red Munger (PIT) batted 7
1957
1957-04-16 DET @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-16 NY1 @ PIT Bob Friend (PIT) batted 8
1957-04-17 DET @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-18 KC1 @ CHA Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-18 PIT @ BRO Luis Arroyo (PIT) batted 8
1957-04-20 NYA @ BOS Don Larsen (NYA) batted 8
1957-04-20 KC1 @ CHA Gene Host (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-21 KC1 @ CHA Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-22 KC1 @ DET Mickey McDermott (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-23 KC1 @ DET Rip Coleman (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-24 CLE @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-25 CLE @ KC1 Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-26 DET @ CLE Bob Lemon (CLE) batted 7
1957-04-26 CHA @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-27 CHA @ KC1 Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-28 CHA @ KC1 Rip Coleman (KC1) batted 8
1957-04-30 WS1 @ CLE Bob Lemon (CLE) batted 8
1957-04-30 BOS @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-01 BOS @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-02 NYA @ KC1 Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-03 NYA @ KC1 Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-04 WS1 @ KC1 Arnie Portocarrero (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-05 BOS @ CLE Bob Lemon (CLE) batted 8
1957-05-05 WS1 @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-06 WS1 @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-07 BAL @ KC1 Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-08 BAL @ KC1 Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-10 KC1 @ CLE Gene Host (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-11 KC1 @ CLE Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-12 KC1 @ CLE Mickey McDermott (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-12 KC1 @ CLE Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-15 KC1 @ NYA Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-16 KC1 @ NYA Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-17 KC1 @ BOS Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-18 KC1 @ BOS Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-19 KC1 @ BAL Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-19 KC1 @ BAL Rip Coleman (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-20 KC1 @ BAL Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-21 KC1 @ WS1 Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-22 KC1 @ WS1 Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-25 DET @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-26 DET @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-27 KC1 @ CHA Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-28 KC1 @ CHA Rip Coleman (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-29 KC1 @ DET Ryne Duren (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-30 KC1 @ DET Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-30 KC1 @ DET Arnie Portocarrero (KC1) batted 8
1957-05-31 CLE @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-01 CLE @ KC1 Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-02 CLE @ KC1 Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-04 BAL @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-05 BAL @ KC1 Arnie Portocarrero (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-06 BAL @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-07 BOS @ KC1 Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-09 BOS @ KC1 Tom Morgan (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-09 BOS @ KC1 Mickey McDermott (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-10 BOS @ KC1 Alex Kellner (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-12 WS1 @ KC1 Arnie Portocarrero (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-12 WS1 @ KC1 Ned Garver (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-13 WS1 @ KC1 Jack Urban (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-14 NYA @ KC1 Wally Burnette (KC1) batted 8
1957-06-15 NYA @ KC1 Virgil Trucks (KC1) batted 8
1957-07-12 NYA @ KC1 Don Larsen (NYA) batted 7
1957-07-18 NYA @ DET Don Larsen (NYA) batted 7
1957-07-31 KC1 @ NYA Don Larsen (NYA) batted 7
1957-08-28 NYA @ CHA Don Larsen (NYA) batted 8
1965
1965-08-15 PIT @ LAN Don Drysdale (LAN) batted 7
1968
1968-05-26 CHA @ NYA Gary Peters (CHA) batted 6
1968-09-22 OAK @ MIN Cesar Tovar (MIN) batted 1
1973
1973-08-26 SDN @ MON Steve Renko (MON) batted 7
1976
1976-09-23 MIN @ CHA Ken Brett (CHA) batted 8
1979
1979-06-01 PHI @ CIN Steve Carlton (PHI) batted 8
1998
1998-07-09 HOU @ SLN Todd Stottlemyre (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-10 HOU @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-11 HOU @ SLN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-12 HOU @ SLN Juan Acevedo (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-13 CIN @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-14 CIN @ SLN Todd Stottlemyre (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-15 CIN @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-16 LAN @ SLN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-17 LAN @ SLN Juan Acevedo (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-18 LAN @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-19 LAN @ SLN Todd Stottlemyre (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-20 SLN @ SDN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-21 SLN @ SDN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-22 SLN @ SFN Bobby Witt (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-23 SLN @ SFN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-24 SLN @ COL Todd Stottlemyre (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-25 SLN @ COL Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-26 SLN @ COL Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-28 MIL @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-29 MIL @ SLN Bobby Witt (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-30 MIL @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-07-31 SLN @ ATL Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-01 SLN @ ATL Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-02 SLN @ ATL Bobby Witt (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-03 SLN @ MIL Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-04 SLN @ MIL Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-05 SLN @ MIL Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-07 CHN @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-08 CHN @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-09 CHN @ SLN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-10 NYN @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-11 NYN @ SLN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-12 NYN @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-14 PIT @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-15 PIT @ SLN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-16 PIT @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-18 SLN @ CHN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-19 SLN @ CHN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-20 SLN @ NYN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-20 SLN @ NYN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-21 SLN @ NYN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-21 SLN @ NYN Manny Aybar (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-22 SLN @ PIT Bobby Witt (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-23 SLN @ PIT Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-24 SLN @ PIT Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-25 FLO @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-26 FLO @ SLN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-27 ATL @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-28 ATL @ SLN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-29 ATL @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-30 ATL @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-08-31 SLN @ FLO Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-01 SLN @ FLO Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-02 SLN @ FLO Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-04 CIN @ SLN Kent Bottenfield (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-05 CIN @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-06 CIN @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-07 CHN @ SLN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-08 CHN @ SLN Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-09 SLN @ CIN Bobby Witt (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-10 SLN @ CIN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-11 SLN @ HOU Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-12 SLN @ HOU Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-13 SLN @ HOU Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-14 PIT @ SLN Jose Jimenez (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-15 PIT @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-15 PIT @ SLN Manny Aybar (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-16 PIT @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-18 SLN @ MIL Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-19 SLN @ MIL Jose Jimenez (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-20 SLN @ MIL Kent Mercker (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-22 HOU @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-23 HOU @ SLN Darren Oliver (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-24 MON @ SLN Donovan Osborne (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-25 MON @ SLN Jose Jimenez (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-26 MON @ SLN Manny Aybar (SLN) batted 8
1998-09-27 MON @ SLN Matt Morris (SLN) batted 8
2004
2004-05-30 CIN @ MON Tomo Ohka (MON) batted 8
2005
2005-09-17 PHI @ FLO Dontrelle Willis (FLO) batted 8
2005-09-22 FLO @ NYN Dontrelle Willis (FLO) batted 7
2005-09-27 WAS @ FLO Dontrelle Willis (FLO) batted 8
2005-10-02 ATL @ FLO Dontrelle Willis (FLO) batted 7
2007
2007-08-04 SLN @ WAS Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-05 SLN @ WAS Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-06 SDN @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-07 SDN @ SLN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-08 SDN @ SLN Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-09 SDN @ SLN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-10 LAN @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-11 LAN @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-12 LAN @ SLN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-14 SLN @ MIL Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-15 SLN @ MIL Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-16 SLN @ MIL Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-17 SLN @ CHN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-18 SLN @ CHN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-20 SLN @ CHN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-21 FLO @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-22 FLO @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-23 FLO @ SLN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-24 ATL @ SLN Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-25 ATL @ SLN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-26 ATL @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-28 SLN @ HOU Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-29 SLN @ HOU Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-30 SLN @ HOU Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-08-31 CIN @ SLN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-01 CIN @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-02 CIN @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-03 PIT @ SLN Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-04 PIT @ SLN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-05 PIT @ SLN Mark Mulder (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-06 PIT @ SLN Mike Maroth (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-07 SLN @ ARI Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-08 SLN @ ARI Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-09 SLN @ ARI Brad Thompson (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-10 SLN @ CHN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-11 SLN @ CIN Mark Mulder (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-12 SLN @ CIN Anthony Reyes (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-13 SLN @ CIN Kip Wells (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-14 CHN @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-15 CHN @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-15 CHN @ SLN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-16 CHN @ SLN Mark Mulder (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-17 PHI @ SLN Brad Thompson (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-18 PHI @ SLN Todd Wellemeyer (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-19 PHI @ SLN Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-20 HOU @ SLN Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-21 HOU @ SLN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-22 HOU @ SLN Brad Thompson (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-23 HOU @ SLN Todd Wellemeyer (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-24 SLN @ MIL Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-25 SLN @ MIL Braden Looper (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-26 SLN @ MIL Brad Thompson (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-27 SLN @ NYN Joel Pineiro (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-28 SLN @ PIT Todd Wellemeyer (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-29 SLN @ PIT Adam Wainwright (SLN) batted 8
2007-09-30 SLN @ PIT Troy Percival (SLN) batted 8