Born: (1979-07-19) July 19, 1979 (age 44) Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 23, 1999, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
June 8, 2013, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average
.240
Home runs
76
Runs batted in
251
Win–loss record
13–10
Earned run average
3.90
Strikeouts
269
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (1999–2001, 2004, 2007–2009)
Kansas City Royals (2010)
Atlanta Braves (2010)
Washington Nationals (2011–2012)
Houston Astros (2013)
New York Mets (2013)
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing United States
World Junior Baseball Championship
1996 Sancti Spíritus
Team
Richard Alexander Ankiel (/ˈæŋkiːl/; born July 19, 1979) is an American former professional baseball center fielder and pitcher. He spent most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the St. Louis Cardinals, but also played for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and New York Mets.
Ankiel was a pitcher with the Cardinals from 1999 until 2001 when he found himself unable to throw strikes consistently. After trying to regain his pitching form in the minor leagues and briefly returning to the majors in 2004, he switched to the outfield in early 2005. For two and a half years, he honed his skills as a hitter and fielder in the Cardinals' minor-league system. He returned to the Cardinals on August 9, 2007. As a Cardinal until 2009, Ankiel hit 47 home runs as an outfielder and two as a pitcher. After the 2009 season, Ankiel became a free agent. Subsequently, he was signed by the Royals and later was traded to the Braves.
Ankiel became the first player after Babe Ruth to win at least 10 games as a pitcher and also hit at least 70 home runs. Ankiel is also the only player other than Ruth to both start a postseason game as a pitcher and hit a home run in the postseason as a position player. His change of position, and the fact that he played for six teams in a five-season span, suggest that Ankiel's playing history represents "one of the stranger careers in baseball history" in the words of journalist Barry Petchesky.[1]
^Petchesky, Barry (May 13, 2013). "The Mets Sign Rick Ankiel". Deadspin.com. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Richard Alexander Ankiel (/ˈæŋkiːl/; born July 19, 1979) is an American former professional baseball center fielder and pitcher. He spent most of his Major...
during his managerial tenure with the club, following his induction. RickAnkiel was the last Cardinal to wear number 24. In total, Herzog led six division...
recovered enough to return to pitching, but not to previous levels. RickAnkiel lost his control as a pitcher during the 2000 National League Championship...
visiting players have hit McCovey Cove on the fly in the postseason. RickAnkiel of the Atlanta Braves hit the Cove in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the...
syndrome".[citation needed] Notable victims of "Steve Blass disease" include RickAnkiel, Mark Wohlers, Dontrelle Willis, Ricky Romero, and Daniel Bard. In an...
none who debuted in the 1990s has played past 2019. Near misses include RickAnkiel (debuted 1999), who ended his attempt at a comeback in 2019, Adrian Beltre...
players against selected Carshield Collegiate League players. Jim Edmonds, RickAnkiel, Brandon Moss and Adam Kennedy participated in the event. On June 4,...
Blass, Mackey Sasser, Mark Wohlers, Chuck Knoblauch, Steve Sax, and RickAnkiel. Off the baseball field, the novel explores the relationships between...
the Kansas City Royals along with Gregor Blanco and Tim Collins for RickAnkiel and Kyle Farnsworth. The Royals designated him for assignment on October...
Red, Christian; O'Keeffe, Michael; Madden, Bill (September 10, 2007). "RickAnkiel received 12-month supply of HGH, News learns". New York Daily News. Retrieved...
Mike Matheny, and the sudden, unexplained wildness of rookie pitcher RickAnkiel. The Mets, on the other hand, engaged in battle with the Braves for much...
Charlie Walter about the Smokies and airs at 11pm ET on WTNZ Fox43. RickAnkiel Carmen Cali Stephen Drew Scott Effross Joe Girardi Shawn Green Roy Halladay...
Thompson (primary) Jim Edmonds (select games) Al Hrabosky (select games) RickAnkiel (select games) Jim Hayes (primary) Scott Warmann (select games) Alexa...
the video included Amanda Beard, Barry Sanders, Kimmie Meissner, and RickAnkiel. Roddick played tennis using a frying pan instead of a racquet for the...
in back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Reds; he, Edmonds, and RickAnkiel each drove in three runs in an 11–3 victory on September 2. On Yadier...
Braves made two deals before the trade deadline to acquire Álex González, RickAnkiel and Kyle Farnsworth from the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals...
series opener, behind only Fernando Valenzuela in the 1981 NLDS and RickAnkiel in the 2000 NLDS. Kershaw started the 2010 season by posting a 3.07 ERA...
not sign Aaron Cook, 2nd round, 70th overall by the Colorado Rockies RickAnkiel, 2nd round, 72nd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals Chase Utley, 2nd...
On July 31, 2010, Farnsworth was re-acquired by the Braves along with RickAnkiel for Gregor Blanco, Jesse Chavez and Tim Collins. On January 15, 2011...
and manager 1977 – Ed Smith, English cricketer and journalist 1979 – RickAnkiel, American baseball player 1979 – Josué Anunciado de Oliveira, Brazilian...
nine strikeouts were the most by a Cardinals left-handed rookie since RickAnkiel on September 13, 2000. He made 10 total MLB appearances, five as a starter...
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