The Rick Ankiel Story

Have you heard the story of the pitcher who couldn’t throw strikes so he became an outfielder instead? Sounds like the start to a bad joke doesn’t it? Though Rick Ankiel would hardly call his career a joke. From US Today’s High School Player of the Year to nobody in the blink of an eye, then to legendary is quite a feat and is why Rick Ankiel’s story is truly remarkable.

In 1997, just out of high school, the St. Louis Cardinals threw a $2.5 million signing bonus at Ankiel and placed him firmly into their minor league system. Ankiel immediately started turning heads and earned a Carolina League All-Star Game starting spot in 1998. The next year he was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and US Today. Late in the 1999 season, Ankiel made his Major League debut against the Montreal Expos.

In Ankiel’s 2000 rookie season he threw 194 strikeouts in 30 games, posting an 11-7 record with a 3.50 ERA. All this as the second youngest player in the league at 20. He came in second in the Rookie of the Year voting. His impressive numbers and 97 MPH fastball landed Ankiel the starting spot in game one of the National League Division Series. Unfortunately the pressures of Ankiel’s short career were about to catch up to him.

Allowing four runs on two hits, walking four, and throwing five wild pitches, Ankiel was taken out of the game in the third inning. After the game Ankiel joked about being the first player since 1890 to throw five wild pitches in a single inning. Little did he know, Ankiel’s control problem wasn’t a joking matter. In game two of the National League Championship Series Ankiel was removed after only throwing 20 pitches, five of which sailed past the catcher nowhere near the plate. Ankiel made a relief appearance in game five where he saw four batters, two of which he walked. He gave up two more wild pitches that inning. The Cardinal’s ultimately lost the NLCS. The reason for Ankiel’s control problem was, and is still, a mystery.

In 2001, after just 24 innings that added 25 walks and five more wild pitches to his growing career number, Ankiel was sent back to the minor leagues. In just 4.1 innings for the Cardinal’s AAA team he walked 17 hitters, threw 12 more wild pitches, and racked up a Hefty 20.77 ERA. These astronomical numbers sent the once star prospect all the way down to the Rookie League where he split the season pitching and acting as a designated hitter.

Ankiel spent the next two seasons, 2002-2003, battling arm injuries which eventually led to Tommy John surgery. In 2004 Ankiel made a short return to the Major League where he only allowed one walk in ten innings of relief work.

In a practice session on March 9th, 2005 Ankiel’s mysterious control issues returned with a vengeance. Out of 20 pitches thrown, only three crossed the plate. After the short practice Ankiel announced he would retire as a pitcher. Though he would refuse to quit as a baseball player and would focus his attention on hitting and become an outfielder.

Critics were merciless. Most people felt the feat would be impossible and that the seemingly mental control issues were now causing Ankiel to have delusions of grander. Despite a slim opportunity of making the team, the Cardinals invited Ankiel to Spring Training in 2006. His ability impressed scouts, but Ankiel injured his knee and missed the season.

Ankiel still refused to quit and continued to condition and, in 2007, was again invited to Cardinals Spring Training. His performance earned him a spot on the AAA team as a starting outfielder. Through August 8th, 2007 Ankiel had racked up 32 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .267 average and a starting spot on the AAA All-Start Game in his first season as a position player. On August 9th Ankiel was called to return to the Major League team, this time as a starting outfielder. All the critics who said it was impossible, that it would never happen, were proved wrong.

In his first at bat, Ankiel received a well earned standing ovation. In the seventh inning Ankeil received another after hitting a three-run home run. The shot put him in the same category as Babe Ruth; both hit their first Major League home run as a pitcher and then hit the second later as a position pitcher. Two days later, in his second game as a Major League outfielder, Ankiel earned three more standing ovations after hitting two home runs and making one impressive catch. After the game, columnist Charles Krauthammer wrote:

His return after seven years — if only three days long — is the stuff of legend. Made even more perfect by the timing: Just two days after Barry Bonds sets a synthetic home run record in San Francisco, the Natural returns to St. Louis.

As of this posting Rick Ankeil is hitting .312 with four home runs — the fourth of which he hit earlier today — and seven RBIs. In his recent “Sunday Conversation” with Peter Gammons on ESPN Ankiel said he wouldn’t change his past were he able. His pitching career, though filled with struggles and injuries, have helped to shape the player and the man he is today. “Without the injury,” he said, “I wouldn’t have met my wife. … I wouldn’t change any of it.” Ankiel couldn’t be happier.

No matter what the future holds, or what may happen in his career, Rick Ankiel has earned the respect of the entire baseball nation for persevering and refusing to give up on a dream career in the Major Leagues. In the day of ridiculous contracts and lazy superstars, Rick Ankiel proved that no mater the odds, no matter what people say, a dream can be realized with a little determination and hard work. His story is one to be remembered for all time.