In 16 seasons in the majors, Todd Zeile never led the league in any category, never won an award, never made an All-Star team, and never played on a World Series champion. But he did pack his bags a lot - playing for 11 different teams, almost changing addresses every year. A solid, though unspectacular, third baseman, Zeile hit 253 homers and drove in more than 1,100 runs in his career. In the last decade of his career, he spent every season with at least one new team, except 2001, when he returned to the Mets for a second straight season.

Early career

Zeile broke into the majors in 1989 as a catcher and the Cardinals' most anticipated prospect of the year. Cardinals manager Joe Torre wanted to make room for catcher Tom Pagnozzi and believed Zeile would be a more productive hitter and would have a longer career if he moved from behind the plate, so Zeile moved, with some reluctance, initially to first base and then to third base in 1990.

Middle career

Zeile spent most of the 1990s as a third baseman. He was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Florida Marlins along with Mike Piazza in 1998 for five players. He then signed a contract with the New York Mets rejoining Piazza and he finished his career moving to first base for the Mets in 2000, who wanted him to replace John Olerud.

In 1999, Zeile was part of a historic Rangers team. Along with Gregg Zaun and Jeff Zimmerman, he was one of three players on the team whose last names began with "Z". Not since the 1916 Chicago Cubs had this occurred (Heinie Zimmerman, Dutch Zwilling, and Rollie Zeider).

He led all NL third basemen in errors in 2002, with 21, when he had the lowest fielding percentage in the league (.942).

End of career

After a season with Colorado in 2002, Zeile signed with the Yankees in 2003. He was released mid-August and was signed by Montreal 3 days later. Having decided 2004 to be his last season, Zeile signed once again with the New York Mets. He also voiced displeasure with the Yankees, saying that he has "no desire to play again for that organization," and that "I think some of the things that happen over there are different than any other organization in baseball. I have a pretty good track record to judge that."

Zeile retired following the 2004 season. Having planned his retirement in advance (and with the Mets well out of the playoff race), Mets manager Art Howe let Zeile once again start as a catcher, his original position, on September 18, 2004. It was Zeile's first appearance there in 14 years. It was the second-longest span ever between appearances at the position. Gabby Street caught a game in 1931 after last having caught in 1912. Zeile's span is now the third longest, since Craig Biggio started the final game of his career at catcher after a 16 year span.

Zeile got one final start as a catcher two weeks later on October 3, 2004 in the season's final game. In the 6th inning, in his final at-bat as a Major Leaguer, Zeile hit a 3-run home run off Montreal Expos pitcher Claudio Vargas. In his final play as a Major Leaguer, Ryan Church popped up to him, as a catcher, in foul territory.

Both games Zeile caught in his final season were started by Tom Glavine.

He also pitched an inning with the Mets when they didn't have any pitchers left.