![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqJb1Y4wr6sJTEyi7QwEfs5xgtAMsuQQgzn8S7t8XQ5z99fIhQ8NH4WUPgRAmHQG1iP0ygZMDXLwW21UMVudU7aFapbIVPYXdv-a8ctUlevmOyhDMrgaMH8eudV5N0S-xgnbfybvXfZkR/s280/Topps+1966+Kessinger+complete+back.jpg)
This is the back of his first card, from Topps 1966. Now check out his vitals:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDomtDwbC2y8u0l0_t8ee_PxJJHhRRM_jEsoiKz8HbSglxPBuk6yJWDFmWAh-THCbP8El_Z9vhU7NjUBnph6ui2XzhCvUMKdR66QO9MgqlOWgl-M2lk-NNWeaYZh7MULH8nm0196e06-6i/s280/Topps+1966+Kessinger+back.jpg)
He's listed as Bats: Right
Now take a look at his card the following year
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmIu0I96_SSXqHA_KUY9hZbg04yXFkNfUzN_1mSPj_yCWQ9E7VSjI6QT2TclWwiYOcqHQEYVztzORmj3UqD1_dODVymE_GP0qq538-GvfzTHbUEqM9Ysg-BLn8mu_PtIUwaeA1V1pE2qB/s320/Topps+1967+Kessinger+complete+back.jpg)
And again check the vitals
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItMHkeq4BbMaGH039_Lue0Hryzlu6oBbHkhwsFAfKHlMFVBdM0TS3c9WiDzOsab2bJE-6kKCeDkOKfpDiydV3AFJ_Y_N0OQjXNl0Mv32Srng9B96uZtwApVuFYD0TqDuu555LelvN0vXa/s280/Topps+1967+Kessinger+back.jpg)
Now he's listed as Bats: Both
So what happended? Topps didn't make a mistake did they??
Actually, the back of the '67 card explains: "After a slow start at the plate in '66, Don took up switch-hitting and finished his sophomore season in the majors very strongly" Can you think of another player that became a switch hitter after becoming a major leaguer? And what about making the change during the season? I doubt that there are many cards of any modern player that has a change in batting position.
According to the 1967 Cubs media guide, Kessinger first batted as a lefty against the Astros in May. No date was given and the Cubs played the Astros five times during the month, so I couldn't narrow it down to a specific date.
Kessinger remained a switch-hitter the rest of his career. I first really started following the Cubs in 1969, so I only knew him as a switch-hitter. It wasn't until years later that I learned he started out as just a righty. But the change certainly made him a better hitter. As a righty only in 1965 he hit .201. The next year the average was up to .274.
They also misspelled Forrest City on the 1967 card.
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