1. Lenny Harris
As it turns out, it’s impossible not to put the hits leader at the top of the MLB pinch hitters list. The former Red, Dodger, Met, Rockie, Diamondback, Brewer, Cub and Marlin leads Sweeney by 37 hits now on the all-time list, and is 62 ahead of Mota at no. 3. The pinch hits record is 212, and likely to stay there for quite a while.
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In 18 years he went to bat 84 more times than anyone else as a pinch-hitter, and it’s interesting to think about whether that makes him “less efficient” or “more trusted.” From 1997 until 2005, the end of his career, he never had more than 317 plate appearances. Only once in that stretch was that figure over 248, and only twice over 215. Still, seven of his eight teams found a place for him on their benches in that nine-year stretch.
Like Johnson, he doubled his career length by putting away his glove, and by pinch-hitting alone. He played his entire career in the NL; he never was a designated hitter. When he broke Mota’s record for pinch hits in 2001, he still had four more years and 61 more pinch hits to collect.
It is interesting to think about whether anyone will catch Harris, and a sensible conclusion may be not without a significant change in the game. (That might be a shift away from worrying about launch angles.) There is no active player listed among the top 21 in hits, which means there are no current MLB pinch hitters with even 95 career pinch hits.
That’s the list of the best baseball pinch hitters of all-time. What do you think? Is there anyone missing? Anyone you would take off? Comment below!
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