11 MLB Legends and Their Brief Stints with Other Teams

As one of the most popular sports in the United States and around the world, baseball certainly has its share of quirks. That’s why we love exploring the sport’s unusual facets, from games played in the snow to players taking on unexpected positions. Our aim is to both entertain and surprise you with these fascinating stories while offering insights into the sport’s more arcane aspects.

In this blog post, we spotlight eleven remarkable players who, for various reasons, had standout but lesser-known stints with teams outside their primary affiliations. From Lee Smith’s impactful season with the Yankees to Babe Ruth’s final games with the Boston Braves, each story reveals an intriguing facet of these players’ careers. These moments not only highlight their versatility and talent but also provide a deeper appreciation of their contributions to the game.

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1. Lee Smith – New York Yankees

Lee Smith was a dominant closer throughout his career best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Lee Smith’s career was marked by several notable achievements and milestones that cemented his legacy as one of the greatest closers in baseball history. His 478 career saves, a record at the time of his retirement, set a new standard for closers and demonstrated his consistency and effectiveness in high-pressure situations. Smith’s career also included a brief but significant stint with the New York Yankees in 1993. Acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, Smith joined the Yankees during a crucial part of the season, aiming to bolster their bullpen as they contended for the American League East title. Although the Yankees ultimately fell short of the playoffs, Smith made an immediate impact by contributing three saves and striking out 11 batters in just eight innings.

2. Willie McCovey – San Diego Padres

Willie McCovey spent most of his MLB career with the San Francisco Giants. He’d have brief stints with the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics later in his career. Traded to the Padres in 1973, McCovey played three seasons there, hitting 22 and 23 home runs in 1974 and 1975, respectively. In 1976, after struggling with injuries, he was acquired by the Athletics, where he played just eleven games before returning to the Giants in 1977. McCovey’s return to the Giants saw him hit his 500th career home run, capping off a remarkable career. McCovey, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, was known for his intimidating presence at the plate, which earned him the nickname “Stretch.” His career was marked by his powerful swing and his impressive 521 career home runs, ranking him among the all-time greats.

3. Fernando Valenzuela – California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles & St. Louis Cardinals

Fernando Valenzuela spent 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1980 to 1997. Known for his unorthodox windup and screwball, Valenzuela’s career highlights include a 173–153 win-loss record, a 3.54 ERA, and 2,074 strikeouts. Although he played for six MLB teams, his most notable tenure was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where “Fernandomania” took hold in 1981 as he won both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. Despite shoulder issues, he pitched a no-hitter in 1990 before moving through teams like the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres. Many fans are aware he also played for several seasons with the San Diego Padres. What many might not know is he also had brief stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals, often overlooked in his storied career. After retiring in 1997, Valenzuela became a broadcaster and, in 2015, a naturalized American citizen.

4. Tim Raines – Baltimore Orioles

Tim Raines was a versatile and dynamic outfielder renowned for his exceptional speed and leadoff prowess throughout his career. Over his 23 seasons in Major League Baseball, Raines accumulated over 2,600 hits and stole 808 bases, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing defenses and set the stage for his teammates. Raines played his last season in 2002 with the Florida Marlins. Before that, in a notable moment of his career, Raines was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on October 3, 2001, allowing him to play in a Major League game with his son, Tim Raines Jr. On October 4, Raines Jr. played center field and Raines Sr. played left field, making them the second father-son duo to play for the same major league team, a feat first accomplished by Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. Raines is one of 29 players in MLB history to play in four decades. His contributions earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017

5. Aroldis Chapman – Chicago

On July 25, 2016, the Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, Adam Warren, and Rashad Crawford. Thrilled by the move, Chapman debuted on July 27, pitching a 1–2–3 ninth. His fastest pitch that year was 105.1 mph, the best in MLB, with his four-seam fastball averaging 100.9 mph. In his brief stint with the Cubs, he made three saves in the NLDS, setting records. During the NLCS, despite blowing a save in Game 1, he secured the Cubs’ first pennant since 1945 by pitching the final innings of Game 6. In the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, Chapman played a crucial role in Games 5 and 6, and although he blew a save in Game 7, he pitched through the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The Cubs won in the 10th inning, earning Chapman his first World Series title.

6. Darrin Jackson – New York Mets

Darrin Jackson is primarily known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. Jackson’s overall MLB statistics include a .257 batting average, 80 home runs, and 317 RBIs. In Japan, he had a successful stint with the Seibu Lions, where he achieved a .277 batting average, 39 home runs, and 132 RBIs. In 1993, the Mets acquired Jackson in a trade with the Cubs. His time with the Mets, though brief, was part of a broad and successful career that showcased his versatility and impact across several teams.

7. Babe Ruth – Boston Braves

Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in baseball history, is most famously associated with the New York Yankees. Few baseball fans are aware that Babe Ruth’s illustrious career ended with a brief stint with the Boston Braves in 1935. After 16 years with the Yankees, Ruth joined the Braves, where owner Emil Fuchs hoped to revitalize the team’s dwindling fan interest and financial situation. Despite his declining performance at 39, Ruth started strong with a home run on Opening Day but struggled to maintain his form. His career highlight with the Braves was a memorable three-home run game against the Pirates, yet his final games were marked by injury and disappointment. Ruth’s time with the Braves, overshadowed by his earlier glory, remains a lesser-known chapter in his storied career.

8. Ken Griffey Jr. – Chicago White Sox

Ken Griffey Jr., renowned for his iconic career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, had a short stint with the Chicago White Sox in 2008. Though his time with the White Sox was brief, it was a memorable part of his storied career.

9. Rickey Henderson – Boston Red Sox

In 2002, Rickey Henderson briefly joined the Boston Red Sox, marking his only stint with the team in his illustrious 25-year Major League Baseball career. At 43 years old, he became the oldest player to man center field in MLB history. During his time with Boston, he wore the number 35, which was a nod to his early career with the Oakland Athletics. Henderson’s tenure with the Red Sox was notable not only for his age but also because, by the end of April 2002, he had accumulated more stolen bases individually (1,395) than the Red Sox franchise had as a whole (1,382) over its entire history. This unusual statistic highlighted Henderson’s extraordinary career achievements and underscored his remarkable impact on the game.

10. Mike Piazza – Florida Marlins

Mike Piazza’s brief stint with the Florida Marlins in 1998 was notable yet short-lived. Traded to the Marlins on May 15, 1998, Piazza appeared in only five games with the team, batting .278 with one home run and five RBIs. The trade came after Piazza’s contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers faltered. This move was part of a larger transaction involving Piazza and Todd Zeile for Gary Sheffield and others. Despite his brief time in Florida, Piazza made an immediate impact, showing his prowess at the plate before being traded to the New York Mets just a week later. His time with the Marlins was a mere prelude to a storied career with the Mets, where he would go on to achieve significant success, including helping the team reach the 2000 World Series.

11. Steve Carlton – San Francisco Giants & Chicago White Sox

Steve Carlton was known for his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, making him a formidable opponent on the mound. With a career total of 4,136 strikeouts, he stands among the all-time leaders in this category. It may come as a surprise to some fans are not aware that he had a brief but eventful stint with two teams. After being released by the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won four Cy Young Awards and had a career ERA of 3.09, Carlton joined the San Francisco Giants. There, he pitched seven shutout innings and hit a three-run homer in his only win, although he finished with a 1–3 record and a 5.10 ERA in six games. Just two months later, he signed with the Chicago White Sox, ending the season with a 4–3 record and a 3.69 ERA. This marked a rare instance of a player competing for multiple teams within a single season. Throughout his illustrious career, Carlton amassed 329 wins, 4,136 strikeouts, and was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards.