Two teams splitting a doubleheader isn’t really that unusual.
Joel Youngblood was part of a win and a loss on August 4, 1982.
The unique part of his story is that the win was in Chicago and the loss in Philadelphia.
Youngblood began the day in Wrigley Field as the centerfielder for the New York Mets as they defeated the Cubs 7-4.
In his first at bat against future National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, Youngblood struck out.
In the third inning, Youngblood had a two-run single.
One frame later, Youngblood was replaced by Mookie Wilson as he was traded to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later.
The Expos were scheduled for a night game in Philadelphia. Youngblood was able to join his new teammates in time to enter that contest in right field in the sixth and to get a seventh-inning single off another future Hall of Famer in Steve Carlton. That hit wasn’t enough as the Phillies beat the Expos 5-4.
Youngblood played 14 years in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Mets, Expos and San Francisco Giants. He was a member of the World Champion Reds in 1976 and was an all-star with the Mets in 1981.
In 1982, he combined for three homers and 29 RBI, while batting .240 in 120 games. He is the only player in major league history to get hits for two teams in two different cities on the same day.
Cliff Heathcote
Max Flack
However, he is not the only big leaguer to play for two different teams on the same day as he shares that distinction with Max Flack and Cliff Heathcote.
It was 60 years before Youngblood’s feat when Flack and Heathcote were swapped for each other between games of a twinbill in Chicago at Cubs Park on May 30, 1922.
The Cubs won the first game against the Cardinals 4-1.
Flack played right field for the Cubs and was hitless in four trips to the plate. Playing centerfield for the Cardinals, Heathcote didn’t have a hit in his three at bats.
The result of the second contest wasn’t any different for the two squads as the Cubs won 3-1, but both players performed better offensively. Flack got a hit for the Cardinals, while Heathcote had two hits for the Cubs.
Flack played 12 seasons in the majors with Chicago of the Federal League, the Cubs and the Cardinals. Heathcote played for the Cardinals, Cubs, Reds and Phillies in his 15-year career.
The Player to be Named: A few weeks after Youngblood joined the Expos, Montreal sent Tom Gorman to the Mets to complete the deal. Gorman spent seven years in the big leagues with Expos, Mets, Phillies and San Diego Padres.
Historical note about Cubs Park: The baseball landmark became Wrigley Field in 1927 after being known as Cubs Park from 1920-1926.