New York Yankees: 8 Players Who Were Called To Play Out of Position

Yesterday, Jorge Posada playing second base against the Oakland A's wasn't the first time the New York Yankees have played one of their legends in a weird position.  Several other Bombers' greats have been asked to play out of position in Yankees history.  Here are eight unusual position changes made by a Yankee, in no specific order.

8. Jorge Posada

Jorge Posada has been asked to play first base this season, something that is unusual at best.  Posada has been the backstop for the Yankees for the better part of 16 seasons.  We thought playing first base was weird, but what was even stranger, was when Joe Girardi plugged Posada in at second base in the Yankees' blowout win over the A's.  Posada was originally a second baseman in his younger days, but came up as a catcher with the Bombers and has played there his entire career.

7. Red Ruffing

Red Ruffing was always known for how great of a pitcher he was for the New York Yankees.  Although he struggled early in his career with the Boston Red Sox, he ended up becoming one of the great Yankee pitchers of all time.

In a game against the Washington Senators in 1931, Ruffing played part of the game in left field.  He finished that season with a .330 batting average.  Ruffing went on to win 273 games in his career and is known as one of the greatest hitting pitchers of all time.

6. Ron Guidry

Everybody knows the infamous, "Pine Tar Game" which led to the American League upholding a Yankee protest, resulting in the continuation of the game a month later.  What people may not remember, is that Ron Guidry played center field for the top of the ninth in the continuation game against the Kansas City Royals.  Guidry is remembered for his contributions on the mound, but don't forget his single contribution in the outfield.

5. Mickey Mantle

We all know Mickey Mantle as the great center fielder for the New York Yankees, a position which he took over for Joe DiMaggio after the Yankee Clipper retired in 1951.  As a 21-year-old, Mantle was called into a game against the St. Louis Browns as a pinch hitter and remained in the game as a shortstop in 1953.  The rest,as they say, is history.

4. Joe DiMaggio

Joe Dimaggio is considered to be one of the greatest center fielders of all time, a position he played his entire career for the New York Yankees.  So, it may come as a surprise that the Yankee Clipper was called on to play first base for the Bombers in a game against the Washington Senators in 1950.  Dimaggio must not have liked it too much; he went 0-for-4 in the game.

3. Dave Winfield

After an injury to Mike Pagliarulo during the 1986 season, Yankees manager Lou Piniella had Dave Winfield play a few innings at third base for the Bombers.  Winfield was always known for being an all-around player, not to mention a strong arm from the outfield.  That wouldn't be the first strange replacement Piniella would use for Pags.

2. Don Mattingly

Dave Winfield wasn't the only one who was called to play out of position when Yankees third baseman Mike Pagliarulo went down with an injury in 1986.  Don Mattingly was called on to play third base a month later as well by manager Lou Piniella during that stretch.  Mattingly was one of the great defensive first baseman in Yankees history, making that position change a strange one.  Mattingly remains the last lefty thrower to play the position.

1. Lou Gehrig

In what may be the strangest of all the out of position Yankee players, Lou Gehrig was listed as the team's shortstop in a game against the Detroit Tigers in 1934.  Gehrig never actually played an inning at the position and was listed as the team's shortstop to keep his consecutive games streak alive.  Gehrig recorded a base hit as the leadoff batter in the game and was immediately pinch run for upon reaching base.