Photo by Keith Allison 
When Edwin Jackson took the mound for the Blue Jays today, he pitched his way into the MLB record books – becoming the first player ever to take the field for 14 different MLB teams. (Jackson had been tied at 13 with Octavio Dotel). In this post, we’ll look at Jackson’s path (and record) through 14 teams in 17 major league seasons, as well as the record holders for teams played for in a season and even in a single day,
Here’s Jackson’s record – team by team.
How did he do it?
2001
- Drafted by the Dodgers in June.
2003
- Debuted with the Dodgers on September 9.
2006
- June 14 – Traded by the Dodgers to the Rays. (Jackson and Chuck Tiffany for Danys Baez and Lance Carter.)
2008
- December 10 – Traded by the Rays to the Tigers. (Jackson for Matthew Joyce.)
2009
- December 8 – Went from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade. (The Tigers sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees; the Yankees sent Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to the Tigers; the Yankees sent Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks sent Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers. So, ultimately, the Tigers turned Jackson and Granderson into Coke, Austin Jackson, Scherzer and Schlereth.)
2010
- July 30 – The Diamondbacks traded Jackson to the White Sox. (Jackson for David Holmberg and Daniel Hudson.)
2011
- July 27 – Jackson was traded by the White Sox to the Blue Jays and (on the same day) from the Blue Jays to the Cardinals. (Jackson went to the Blue Jays – with Mark Teahen – for Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart. He then went to Cardinals – with Octavio Dotel, Corey Patterson and Marc Rzepczynski – for Trevor Miller, Colby Rasmus, Brian Tallet and P.J. Walters.)
- October 30 – Granted free agency
2012
- February 2 – Signed with the Nationals.
- October 29 – Granted free agency.
2013
- Signed with the Cubs.
2015
- July 27 – Released by the Cubs.
- August 14 – Signed with the Braves.
- November 2 – Granted free agency.
2016
- January 13 – Signed with the Marlins.
- June 2 – Released by the Marlins.
- June 29 – Signed with the Padres.
- November 3 – Granted free agency.
2017
- April 5 – Signed with the Orioles.
- June 13 – Granted free agency.
- June 16 – Signed with the Nationals.
- November 2 – Granted free agency.
2018
- January 11 – Signed with the Nationals.
- June 1 – Released by the Nationals.
- June 6 – Signed with the A’s.
- October 29 – Granted free agency.
2019
- April 11 – Signed with the A’s.
- May 19 – Purchased from the A’s by the Blue Jays.
________________________________________________
—–Most Teams Played for in a Season—–
In 2018, 32-year-old right-hander Oliver Drake set a new major-league mark by playing for five MLB teams in a single season (previously more than dozen players shared the record at four).
Drake began the season with the Brewers (where he finished the previous campaign), After going 1-0, 6.39 in eleven appearances, he was designated for assignment on May 2 and, on May 5, purchased from the Brewers by the Indians.
He was with Tribe until the final week in May – going 0-0,with a 12.46 ERA in just four appearances – before again being designated for assignment.
May 31, he was selected off waivers by the Angels. Sixteen days (and 0-1, 10.13 record), later he was again designated for assignment. He went unclaimed and reported to the Angels’ Salt Lake City Triple-A affiliate – where he was pretty much lights out. That earned him a trip back to Anaheim, where he added four more appearances, with an 0-0, 3.00 record – and was again designated for assignment.
He was picked up (off waivers) by the Blue Jays on July 26 and was there for just two appearances (giving up three runs in 1 2/3 innings) before again being designated for assignment.
On August 3, he was selected off waivers by the Twins – his fifth MLB team of the season – where he found a bit more success and stability. Pitching for his fifth MLB team of the year, Drake finished the season with Minnesota, getting in 19 games and posting a 2.21 ERA an fanning 22 batters in in 20 1/3 innings pitched.What did that get him? In the off-season, he was again designate for assignment.
Oliver Drake finished the 2018 season with an 1-1 record, a 5.29 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings.
So, have things settled down? Drake was picked up by the Rays (waivers) on November 1, 2018; he was then designated again and picked up (waivers, November 26) by the Blue Jays; before being purchased by the Rays from the Jays on January 4, 2019).
Oliver Drake spent his first nine season in the Baltimore Orioles’ system. He was signed in the 43rd round of the 2008 Amateur Draft by the Orioles and made his MLB debut with the O’s in 2015. He also pitched for the Orioles in 2016 (and part of 2017).
As of this writing Drake is pitching for the Durham Bulls (Rays Triple A affiliate), where he is 1-1, 3.05, with six saves in 16 appearances.
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—-Most MLB Teams Player for In a Single Day—–
Taking the Field for Two Teams in a Single Day
Three players share the record for the most franchises played for in a single day at two. The first two to accomplish this feat were Max Flack and Cliff Heathcote, who were traded for each other between games of a Memorial Day 1922 Cubs/Cardinals doubleheader. The two outfielders each suited up against their previous team for Game Two. Both went hitless in game one of the doubleheader and both collected hits for their new teams in the second game (Flack a single in four at bats, Heathcote a pair of singles in four trips to the plate).
Joel Youngblood tied the record for teams played for in a single day in 1982, adding a twist – he played for and recorded hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day. Let’s look at Youngblood’s unique achievement.
On August 4, 1982, Youngblood started his day as a member of the New York Mets, who were playing an afternoon game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Youngblood opened the game in center field, batting third. After striking out in the first inning, Youngblood drove in two runs with a single in the top of the third. Youngblood was unexpectedly replaced in center field by Mookie Wilson in the bottom of the fourth – and told by Mets’ manager George Bamberger that he had been traded to the Expos (for a player to be named later).
The Expos were scheduled to play in Philadelphia in Philadelphia that night, and Youngblood immediately set out to join his new team. He managed to catch a 6:05 p.m. flight to Philadelphia – eventually arriving at Veterans Stadium with the game in progress. To his surprise, there was an Expos uniform, with his name already sewn on the back, waiting for him. The Expos wasted no time getting there newest player into the game. Manager Jim Fanning sent Youngblood into right field and the number-two spot in the batting order (replacing Jerry White) in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Youngblood singled in his first Expos’ at bat. Thus, Youngblood collected base hits for two different teams in two different cities in one day.
Youngblood’s feat is even more startling when you consider the pitchers he touched for his two safeties. In Chicago, it was future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins; while in Philadelphia, it was future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
MOST MLB TEAMS PLAYED FOR IN A SINGLE DAY
Max Flack – May 30, 1922: Cubs (RF); Cardinals (RF).
Cliff Heathcote – May 30, 1922: Cardinals (CF); Cubs (RF).
Joel Youngblood – August 4, 1982: Mets (CF); Expos (RF).
Primary Resources: MLB.com; Baseball-Reference.com
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