Draft:Left-Handed Shortstops

In all of the history of baseball, there were only 6 left-handed shortstops :
 * Lou Gehrig
 * Nino Escalera
 * Royle Stillman
 * Tom Chism
 * Mark Ryal
 * Wilbur Johnson

A Closer Look at the 5 Left-Hand Throwing Shortstops in MLB History
Lou Gehrig– All New York Yankee fans will probably see the famous “Iron Man” on this list  and think., “WHAT!?”  Gehrig held the streak for most consecutive games played (2,130) for 56 years! Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles broke Gehrig’s record in 1995. It is very surprising to all true baseball fans to see Lou’s name on this list of shortstops. Lou Gehrig was one of the greatest first basemen in baseball history and he also threw the ball left-handed. It is not surprising that the Yankee slugger got a hit in his only at-bat as a shortstop!

Nino Escalera– Escalera played for the Cincinnati Reds back in 1954 when he took the field as a left-handed throwing shortstop. Nino only played that one season of Major League Baseball and was primarily a right-fielder.

Royle Stillman– Stillman may not be a household name to most baseball fans, but he does hold the record for most games played at shortstop by a left-handed thrower. Stillman played shortstop in a total of 6 different games during the 1975 MLB season! Stillman usually played left field for the Baltimore Orioles.

Tom Chism– Tom Chism of the Baltimore Orioles also makes this peculiar list. Chism played shortstop against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979. Chism only played in 6 MLB games and was normally a first baseman.

Mark Ryal– Ryal played for the California Angels back in 1987 when he took the field as a shortstop against the New York Yankees. Mark is the most recent player in MLB history to be used as a left-handed throwing shortstop.

Wilbur (Bil) Johnson- Johnson was a walk-in to Yankee try-outs in the Spring of 1970, and demonstrated the ability to hit the ball to all locations in the infield. He played in only one major-league game on Sept. 30th, 1970 against the Boston Red Sox; pinch-hitting for relief pitcher Sparky Lyle, he grounded out into a double play. In the field unfortunately Johnson proved the dictum that left-handed shortstops are an anathema to major-league baseball, committing 2 fielding errors and 2 throwing errors in the single inning in which he appeared in the field.