Rick Ankiel Tells Candid Story of Bout With Yips and How He Reinvented Himself

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher developed the excruciating inability to throw a baseball accurately. Instead of quitting, Ankiel went to the minors and found another path — as a power-hitting outfielder — to the big leagues.

The yips are often associated with golfers who lose the ability to putt because of anxiety or nervousness that causes their hands to tremor. 

Rick Ankiel had the yips, though his bout played out in the major leagues, as a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Ankiel could not just throw strikes, he could not throw accurately. His bout became so acute that he returned to the minors, learned to play the outfield and returned to the majors. 

Ankiel speaks to host Jay Delsing with complete candor about his career. 

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