Throwback - Mike Hampton, a rare pitcher who can hit - includes information on other hitting pitchers - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, Nov, 2001 by Bob Herzog

Stanton, for one, believes all of today's major league pitchers should be looking to improve their hitting." "With all the time baseball players have, there's no excuse for pitchers not to be able to help themselves with the bat," the left-hander said.

He credits his own prowess--little used because he is a reliever and has been in the A.L. since 1995--to a commitment to hitting by the Braves' organization. "I came up with them in the late `80s and they harped on it," Stanton said. "They wanted us to be able to bunt, hit and run. Anything to help your team win a game."

Stanton calls Atlanta left-hander Tom Glavine, one of the better hitting pitchers around, saying: "No. 1, he gets the bunts down. No. 2, he makes contact. He puts the ball in play and puts pressure on the defense. He gets to stay in some games in the late innings because he can help the team with his bat."

That was Wise's philosophy, too. "I always felt my hitting gave me an advantage," the 55-year-old said. "The other pitcher had to face nine hitters. I only had to face eight."

With few exceptions, that is still the case in the N.L. today.