Ranger Plays Nine Positions in One Game

C H I C A G O, Sept. 7 -- Scott Sheldon couldn’t believe it when he saw Texas Rangers catcher Randy Knorr shake his head, signaling Sheldon to pretend he was brushing off a sign.

What was Knorr thinking? They didn’t have any signs. Heck,Sheldon barely had any pitches! He’s a utility infielder. Theclosest he’d ever gotten to pitching before was an inning or two inthe annual University of Houston alumni game.

So Sheldon just threw the ball, his almost-slow-motion changeupgood enough for a strikeout. Then he moved to third base — and intobaseball’s record books.

Sheldon, who’d played only 22 games in the majors before thisseason, became the third player in baseball history to play allnine positions Wednesday night. It was the only highlight for theRangers in a 13-1 drubbing by the Chicago White Sox.

“I had a blast,” Sheldon said. “It went by so fast, but thereare so many memories I’ll take from this.”

Bert Campaneris (Sept. 8, 1965) and Cesar Tovar (Sept. 22, 1968)are baseball’s only other true utility players.

Sox Built a Lead

Frank Thomas hit his AL-leading 41st home run, tying his careerhigh. Magglio Ordonez also homered as the White Sox scored sevenruns in the first inning, sending Rick Helling (14-11) to theshortest start of his career.

Helling gave up a whopping seven runs and five hits in just 2-3of an inning. He walked three and threw 41 pitches.

Charles Johnson and Greg Norton also homered for the White Sox,who maintained their 6½-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in theAL Central. Kip Wells (5-7), making his first start since beingrecalled from Triple-A Charlotte, gave up one unearned run and fourhits in seven innings.

Mike Lamb drove in Texas’ run with grounder in the third.

Going For All Nine

“After it got to be 10-1 … I thought it was the perfect nightto do it,” Texas manager Johnny Oates said.

“It” was Sheldon playing all nine spots and giving new meaningto the term “utility player.”