DETROIT -- Shane Halter has already done everything but pitch for the Detroit Tigers this season. He may get the chance to play everywhere, including a turn on the mound, in a game before the season ends.

Tigers manager Phil Garner said Thursday that Halter might play all nine positions in a game later this month. It's only been done three times before, the latest on Wednesday night by Scott Sheldon of the Texas Rangers against the Chicago White Sox.

"If we get into a position where a game's either out of hand or not critical, I'm going to do it," Garner said before the Tigers played Anaheim on Thursday. "He's played just about every position for us this year. I'd like to see him do it."

It wouldn't happen if the Tigers remain in playoff contention. They started Thursday six games back of Cleveland, which leads the AL wild-card standings.

Sheldon joined Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A's (Sept. 8, 1965) and Cesar Tovar of the Minnesota Twins (Sept. 22, 1968) as the only other players to play all nine spots. No one in the NL has ever done it.

Garner was even open to the suggestion of starting Halter as the designated hitter and then moving him around to every fielding position. Nobody's done that in the AL before.

"I like that idea," Garner said. "I could have fun with that."

Halter has big league experience at every position. He even pitched an inning for Kansas City against Seattle in 1998.

"Rich Amaral popped up to me," Halter said. "Alex Rodriguez was next and he got a base hit between short and third. The next batter was Rob Ducey and he hit into a double play, so I faced the minimum."

Halter said playing catcher, which he did one inning for the Tigers earlier this year, is the toughest position because it involves so much concentration on the game situation and calling pitches.

Halter once played four positions in a game for the Royals _ catcher, right-field, third base and shortstop. He wants the chance to play everything in one day.

"It's very exciting to say you had the opportunity to play all nine in a game," Halter said. "I'm excited about it. It would be a neat thing to tell the grandchildren."