Reverse Grip in the Major League?

[Topshelf]

I play in a softball league and there is a guy that hits backwards in the league. He holds the bat like a right handed batter but swings lefty. Has there ever been a Major League player to do this?

 

[brianhos]

My 4 year old does this, I cannot get him to switch to the correct way.

 

[tigershoops31]

I play in a softball league and there is a guy that hits backwards in the league. He holds the bat like a right handed batter but swings lefty. Has there ever been a Major League player to do this?

Hank Aaron gripped the bat like that...I guess he did ok with it :biglaugh:

 

[jtd9046]

Hank Aaron gripped the bat like that...I guess he did ok with it :biglaugh:

There is no way Aaron could have generated the power he did with a reverse grip.

 

[cloneu]

Hank Aaron gripped the bat like that...I guess he did ok with it :biglaugh:

????????????

Oh busted.

 

[Topshelf]

I couldn't believe it either, so I looked it up and found out that Aaron used the cross-hand grip through minors.

 

[jtd9046]

Hank Aaron was 16 when he first began playing organized baseball, with the semi-pro Black Bears, in his hometown of Mobile. He also played halfback for his high school football team.

For several years, Hank, a right-handed batter, hit cross-handed (he put his left hand on top of his right hand when he gripped the bat). He got away with this "wrong" hitting style only because his wrists were so strong. But he soon realized how much more power he could generate if he gripped the bat correctly.

Awesome Athletes <---- link

 

[superdorf]

From the above link:

When He Was A Kid
Hank Aaron was 16 when he first began playing organized baseball, with the semi-pro Black Bears, in his hometown of Mobile. He also played halfback for his high school football team. For several years, Hank, a right-handed batter, hit cross-handed (he put his left hand on top of his right hand when he gripped the bat). He got away with this "wrong" hitting style only because his wrists were so strong. But he soon realized how much more power he could generate if he gripped the bat correctly.

 

[tigershoops31]

I couldn't believe it either, so I looked it up and found out that Aaron used the cross-hand grip through minors.

Good find...I knew I'd heard that somewhere but thought it was pretty amazing for a guy to hit that many homers with a reverse grip...no wonder I was a singles hitter in HS...emulating Hank's crappy grip without realizing he switched it later on in life :no:

Just kidding about emulating Hank...I think I was just a singles hitter because I didn't swing through all the way :sad: