switch hitting

Craig Biggio has been hit 210 times by right handed pitchers, and only 52 times by lefties. This makes sense given that the majority of pitchers are right handed, and it would seem logical that right handed pitchers who lose control are more likely to lose control in the direction of the right handed batters. Over Major League history (through 2004), right handed batters have been hit 0.0063 times per plate appearance, left handers have been hit 0.0058 times per plate appearance, and switch hitters have been hit on 0.0055 times per plate appearance. Presumably by batting with the opposite hand the pitcher is throwing with, the switch hitters get out of the way of more pitches. But, Tommy Tucker, number 2 on the all-time HBP list with 272, and Dan McGann, number 6 on the list with 230, were both switch hitters. Which leads to the question, which I have no answer for: Were they switch hitting right vs righty and lefty vs lefty so they could get hit more? Pete Rose is third on the HBP list among switch hitters, tied with Wally Schang at 107. Carl Everett is the active leader.

Top 10 career HBPs among switch hitters:

	Plunks	Career
Tommy Tucker	272	1887-1899
Dan McGann	230	1896-1908
Pete Rose	107	1963-1986
Wally Schang	107	1913-1931
Devon White	87	1985-2001
F.P. Santangelo	83	1995-2001
Carl Everett	79	1993-2004
Max Carey	77	1910-1929
George Davis	75	1890-1909
Claude Ritchey	72	1897-1909

Top 10 career HBPs among left handed hitters:

	Plunks	Career
Jake Beckley	183	1888-1907
Fernando Vina	157	1993-2004
Brady Anderson	154	1988-2002
Fred Clarke	153	1894-1915
Nellie Fox	142	1947-1965
Dummy Hoy	134	1888-1902
John McGraw	134	1891-1906
Steve Brodie	132	1890-1902
Willie Keeler	129	1892-1910
Larry Walker	129	1989-2004