Art Hoelskoetter Did A Thing No Ball Player Matched

An entertaining St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on April 11 became quite intriguing when the Cardinals starting catcher, Pedro Pagés, was moved to second base. A position the 26-year-old hadn’t played since he was 11 years old playing ball in Doral, Florida.

“Who does he think he is, Craig Biggio,” quipped Philly broadcaster Ben Davis in reference to the hall of fame Houston Astro who played mostly catcher early in his career before moving to second base almost exclusively.

Pedro Pagés is no Craig Biggio, and despite playing catcher, designated hitter, outfielder, and second base, Craig Biggio is no Art Hoelskoetter.

Art Hoelskoetter baseballman of mystery and achievement, played for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Who? Yeah, that’s what I said when I read that Mr. Pagés joined Mr. Hoelskoetter and five other Cardinals who have played both catcher and second base in one game.

However, Mr. Hoelskoetter did something no one has ever done. He is the only baseball player to have played 15 games or more at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, outfield and pitcher.

Being that there was no designated hitter when he played, 1905 to 1908, Mr. Hoelskoetter played everywhere possible, including all three outfield positions. Baseball Reference and Retrosheet show that he played games in right field, center field, and left field.

Interestingly, he had great versatility but was a below average player.

His 71.1 innings pitched produced a 4.54 ERA, warranting an ERA+ of 59, 100 is league average.

Mr. Hoelskoetter stepped to the plate 1025 times, hit .232 with an OPS+ of 81. Again,100 is league average.

His career took a mysterious turn. He was sold by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds in 1909. That same year, the Reds flipped him to Milwaukee of the American Association. There are no stats for any team other than St. Louis. And Retrosheet states that he “Played as Art Hostetter in 1907 and 1908.”

Nevertheless, supposed name changes and no stats for games Art Hoelskoetter or  Art Hostetter possibly played doesn’t tarnish his distinction as the only baseball player to have grabbed a mitt and trotted out to every position on the diamond at least 15 times.

For that, I tip my cap.

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See ya soon! Photo Credit: Baseball Reference

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