In a game of role reversals, Gene Stechschulte was up to the challenge.
On April 17, 2001, Stechschulte, a Cardinals relief pitcher, made his first plate appearance in the majors. Pinch-hitting against Diamondbacks starter Armando Reynoso, Stechschulte hit a two-run home run at Busch Memorial Stadium.
A reliever pinch-hitting in his first plate appearance wasn’t the only unusual occurrence in the game. Bobby Bonilla, a Cardinals first baseman and outfielder, made his first pitching appearance since high school, working the last inning in the 17-4 rout by the Diamondbacks.
College clouter
Stechschulte was a hitter before he became a pitcher. As a shortstop for Ashland University in Ohio, he set school records for total bases, home runs and RBI, leading the club to a NCAA Division II World Series appearance in 1995.
After Stechschulte graduated first in his class from Ashland’s school of business and economics with summa cum laude honors, he signed with the Cardinals in June 1996 and became a relief pitcher in their farm system.
A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Stechschulte had 33 saves for Peoria in 1998 and 26 for Memphis in 2000.
He only got to bat one time in the minors and when he did he cracked a double for Memphis.
Surprise swat
Stechschulte made his Cardinals debut in 2000 and was 1-0 in 20 relief appearances, shuttling back and forth between St. Louis and Memphis.
In 2001, he opened the season with the Cardinals and allowed only one run in his first five relief appearances.
On April 17, a Tuesday night at St. Louis, the Diamondbacks scored eight runs in three innings against Cardinals starter Dustin Hermanson and seven more versus reliever Chad Hutchinson.
In the sixth inning, with the Diamondbacks ahead, 15-1, the Cardinals had Albert Pujols on first, two outs, and reliever Mike James due to bat.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who had substituted liberally after the Diamondbacks built their lead, wanted a pinch-hitter, but his options were limited. He chose Stechschulte, even though he’d never batted in the big leagues.
Stechschulte swung at the first pitch and hit it over the wall in left-center for a two-run home run.
“One pitch, and whack!” broadcaster Jack Buck said on the air. “What a surprise that was.” Video
Stechschulte said it was his first home run since he was Ashland’s cleanup hitter in 1996.
“Most of the guys back home still think of me as a hitter and not a pitcher,” Stechschulte told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “They’re probably more surprised that I’m pitching.”
In the ninth, La Russa had Bonilla pitch in a big-league game for the first time and he gave up two runs, including a home run to the first batter he faced. Boxscore
Special fraternity
Stechschulte was the fifth Cardinals player to hit a home run in his first big-league plate appearance. Since then, others have done it. The complete list:
_ Eddie Morgan, pinch-hitter, April 14, 1936, vs. Cubs.
_ Wally Moon, center fielder, April 13, 1954, vs. Cubs.
_ Keith McDonald, pinch-hitter, July 4, 2000, vs. Reds.
_ Chris Richard, left fielder, July 17, 2000, vs. Twins.
_ Gene Stechschulte, pinch-hitter, April 17, 2001, vs. Diamondbacks.
_ Hector Luna, second baseman, April 8, 2004, vs. Brewers.
_ Adam Wainwright, pitcher, May 24, 2006, vs. Giants.
_ Mark Worrell, pitcher, June 5, 2008, vs. Nationals.
_ Paul DeJong, pinch-hitter, May 28, 2017, vs. Rockies.
_ Lane Thomas, pinch-hitter, April 19, 2019, vs. Mets.
Stechschulte became the 16th major-league player to hit a home run on the first pitch in his first plate appearance. He also was the 13th big-league player to hit a pinch-hit home run in his first plate appearance.
Paid to pitch
A week later, on April 25, 2001, Stechschulte got his first big-league save, with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief against the Expos at St. Louis. Boxscore
“Getting this save was definitely more exciting than the home run because we won this game,” Stechschulte told the Post-Dispatch. “It feels better to contribute to a victory. Pitching like that is my role on this team. My role is not to hit.”
The next day, though, La Russa again sent Stechschulte to pinch-hit for Mike James. Stechschulte coaxed a walk from Expos pitcher Masato Yoshii. Boxscore
On May 10, Stechschulte pitched two scoreless innings of relief against the Pirates and produced a RBI-single versus Scott Sauerbeck. Boxscore
For the season, Stechschulte was 1-5 with six saves. He had two hits and a walk in four plate appearances.
The next year, 2002, was Stechschulte’s last in the majors. He had a 6-2 record for the Cardinals and was hitless in two at-bats.
Stechschulte became head baseball coach at Ohio Northern University in 2012. His teams set a school record with 79 victories from 2014-2016.
RetroSimba 
He already ranks second in coaching victories at ONU.
I am glad he is succeeding and helping others to enjoy the game.