Bryan Rubin wouldn't allow himself during the game to relish in what he was doing, or even consider how special it was.

Swirling through his thoughts, almost constantly, were the tasks at hand and his potential role in handling each.

“I’ve gotta back up this base,” Rubin said, recalling his internal monologue. “One out. I’ve gotta be the cut-off if the ball goes there... How can I turn the double play from here? ... Who’s covering that base if the ball comes here? ... What kind of throw do I make from this position?”

Over and over, from one position to the next. And the next. And the next. And the next. And, we could keep going.

The Vassar College senior, who considers himself a “Jack of all trades” on the baseball field, got to ply each of those trades on April 24, accomplishing the rare feat of playing all nine positions in a single game.

“It’s one of those folklore things,” said Vassar coach Matthew Righter, who played in college and professionally. “I’ve heard of it happening, but I’d never seen it before.”

Rubin, 23, became the first player to do it at Vassar College, and in their Liberty League conference. In fact, such a thing has only happened five times in the 150-year history of Major League Baseball, most recently in 2017 by Andrew Romine, then of the Detroit Tigers. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey once did it in college while playing for Florida State.

“It was crazy,” said Rubin, who graduates on Sunday and now has had a month to process his gem on the diamond. “I’ve always taken pride in being versatile and trying to help the team however, wherever. But this isn’t something you ever give thought to.”

That is, until his coach mentioned to him the possibility.

Rubin, who has been known for his protean abilities since Little League, mentioned to Righter last month that, if possible, he’d like to play second base once because it was the only position he hadn’t played in college. The coach was willing to oblige and, with the final home game of the season upcoming, he thought of something else.

“I said, ‘No, I have an even better idea,’” Righter recalled. “'Why not play every position in a game?’ ”

Rubin was taken aback at first, surprised by the unusual suggestion. But within seconds, the response was: “That would be so cool.”

The Pennsylvania native was listed on the Brewers roster as an outfielder and pitcher. Over the years, though, he had played several other positions, filling in for injured teammates. On this day, in their 14-4 win over SUNY New Paltz, Rubin spent an inning at each by design.

A tour of the diamond for 'Ruby'

He started in center field, then shifted to left field and right. He then moved to first, and starting first baseman Jesse Mulham went to center. When Rubin went to third, third baseman Matt Martino went across to first. He then played second base, then shortstop, and in the eighth inning he borrowed mismatching catching gear from teammates and got behind the plate. He finished the game on the mound, recording the final three outs as a right-handed pitcher.

“I talked to the players who would have to change positions beforehand and made sure they were okay with it, but I didn’t tell many other people,” Righter said. “I let it be a surprise."

It didn’t take long before the broadcasters realized what was in the works and added playful commentary. And folks in the stands who paid close enough attention understood they were witnessing something unusual.

After a few innings, New Paltz coach Thomas Seay shouted over to the Vassar dugout and chuckled as he said, “I see what you’re doing.”

Rubin, whom teammates nicknamed “Ruby,” adjusted well to each of the positions and didn’t commit any fielding errors. The most difficult putout, he said, was at first base when he had to charge in to catch a shallow pop-up while battling the sun in his eyes.

And, not surprisingly, he said the most challenging position to play was catcher. He had played it earlier this season in a pinch, volunteering after two catchers on the roster suffered season-ending injuries.

“You’re calling the game, setting up, trying to block balls,” Rubin said of catching. “The pitcher was Max Spencer, a lefty with a lot of movement, so I really had to focus and he had to adjust to having me behind the plate.”

Spencer threw two scoreless innings in relief and surrendered only one hit with Rubin as his backstop. He then was relieved by Rubin, who pitched a flawless ninth.

Rubin batted third, went 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. The switch-hitter also drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning for an RBI.

“The difference between third, second and short isn’t that big a deal,” said Righter, a former pitcher and draft pick of the Detroit Tigers who has coached at Vassar for three years. “He’s played outfield, infield and pitched, and showed he could catch. So we figured he could probably do anything.”

He was exhausted afterwards, though. Rubin said adrenaline carried him through, but there was mental fatigue along with the emotional drain of Senior Day.

“The most difficult part was thinking my way through each position,” he said. “When you’re not playing at your usual spot, it doesn’t all come instinctively, and you’re out there trying not to mess up.”

It was his grandfather Harvey Becker, whom Rubin calls his “biggest fan,” who did the initial research and explained to his grandson how uncommon the feat was. He excitedly followed the game online from his home in Florida.

“Everyone was happy that we won and I heard from a lot of people, ‘This was really cool; I’d never seen that before,’ ” Righter said.

In what was a bleak season marred by several major injuries, ending with a 14-24 record, Rubin’s golden day certainly was a bright spot.

Versatility, on and off the field

Since playing Little League in his hometown of Bryn Mawr at age 8, Rubin has never known one position. He started as a pitcher and first baseman, then soon added shortstop to his resume.

He played two years at Emory University in Atlanta and was used mostly as a third baseman and pitcher, before transferring to Vassar. This season he batted .288 with a homer and 17 RBI, and had a 6.46 ERA in eight relief appearances.

Rubin comes from an athletic family. His father, Jon Rubin, played baseball at the University of Pennsylvania and then professionally in Australia. His mom, Lauren Rubin, was a lacrosse and field hockey player at Brown. His sister, Jesse, is a college soccer player.

“I’ve always been athletic and prided myself on being fit,” said Rubin, listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. “I’ve always embraced the idea of playing different positions and I’ve never been afraid to try new stuff.”

That versatility extends off the field. Rubin plays guitar and is the frontman of a country music band, Rubies in the Rough. He is also a professional songwriter “on the side,” he said. He is graduating with a degree in Media Studies.

Rubin was a member of the Vassar student government, earned Liberty League All-Academic honors, and earlier this month received the school’s Frances Fergusson Award, which recognizes a student-athlete who is a role model.

“He’s worn a lot of hats in life,” Righter said, “so it was only fitting that he was able to wear a lot of hats on the field as well.”

Rather, a lot of gloves.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4