Editing Rick Ankiel (section)

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name       = Rick Ankiel
|image      = Rick Ankiel (2687725648) (cropped).jpg
|image_size = 
|caption    = Ankiel with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008
|position   = [[Center fielder]] / [[Pitcher]]
|bats       = Left
|throws     = Left
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|7|19}}
|birth_place= [[Fort Pierce, Florida]], U.S.
|debutleague= MLB
|debutdate  = August 23
|debutyear  = 1999
|debutteam  = St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague= MLB
|finaldate  = June 8
|finalyear  = 2013
|finalteam  = New York Mets
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value = .240
|stat2label = [[Home run]]s
|stat2value = 76
|stat3label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value = 251
|stat4label = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat4value = 13–10
|stat5label = [[Earned run average]]
|stat5value = 3.90
|stat6label = [[Strikeout]]s
|stat6value = 269
|teams =
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2001}}, {{mlby|2004}}, {{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2009}})
* [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|2010}})
* [[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|2010}})
* [[Washington Nationals]] ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2012}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|2013}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2013}})
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[18U Baseball World Cup|World Junior Baseball Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze| {{baseball year|1996}} [[Sancti Spíritus]] | [[United States national under-18 baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
'''Richard Alexander Ankiel''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|ŋ|k|iː|l}}; born July 19, 1979) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[center fielder]] and [[pitcher]]. He spent most of his [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) career with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], but also played for the [[Kansas City Royals]], [[Atlanta Braves]], [[Washington Nationals]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[New York Mets]].

Ankiel was a pitcher with the Cardinals from 1999 until 2001 when he found himself unable to throw strikes consistently. After trying to regain his pitching form in the minor leagues and briefly returning to the majors in 2004, he switched to the outfield in early 2005. For two and a half years, he honed his skills as a hitter and fielder in the Cardinals' minor-league system. He returned to the Cardinals on August 9, 2007. As a Cardinal until 2009, Ankiel hit 47 home runs as an outfielder and two as a pitcher. After the 2009 season, Ankiel became a free agent. Subsequently, he was signed by the Royals and later was traded to the Braves.

Ankiel became the first player after [[Babe Ruth]] to win at least 10 games as a pitcher and also hit at least 70 home runs. Ankiel is also the only player other than Ruth to both start a postseason game as a pitcher and hit a home run in the postseason as a position player. His change of position, and the fact that he played for six teams in a five-season span, suggest that Ankiel's playing history represents "one of the stranger careers in baseball history" in the words of journalist Barry Petchesky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadspin.com/the-mets-sign-rick-ankiel-504767974 |title=The Mets Sign Rick Ankiel |website=Deadspin.com |last=Petchesky |first=Barry |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref>