I received an e-mail today, sent to all SABR members, asking for opinions on the top five switch-hitters of all time.

I'll refrain from sharing my top five right away- there were three easy choices, then it got interesting.

What five would you choose? Better yet, is it possible to create an all-time lineup (9 positions) of switch-hitters?

I mean obviously, Posada is the catcher, right?

It's quite easy to construct a formidable lineup of switch-hitters:

2B - Roberto Alomar
DH - Bernie Williams
LF - Lance Berkman
CF - Mickey Mantle
1B - Eddie Murray
3B - Chipper Jones
RF - Reggie Smith
C - Jorge Posada
SS - Carlos Guillen

Out of those my top 5 would be Mantle, Murray, Berkman, Chipper, and Reggie Smith.

C - Victor Martinez (so far), maybe Ted Simmons
1B - Eddie Murray
2B - Frankie Frisch
SS - Ozzie Smith
3B - Chipper Jones (so far)
LF - Tim Raines
CF - Mickey Mantle
RF - Reggie Smith

Make Pete Rose the 9th as he played several positions.

Top 5 in no particular order:

Mickey Mantle
Eddie Murray
Pete Rose
Carlos Beltran (so far)
Frankie Frisch

Those are good lineups... I'd sort of neglected current players like Jones and Beltran.

I had Mantle-Rose-Murray immediately, and then added Frisch. But I think the fivesome is incomplete without "Cool Papa" Bell.



He and Mantle can compete for the centerfield job.

PS Would Vida Blue be the pitcher on this team?