by Jay Nolan

Created on: May 19, 2010

The “Designated Hitter” is much too entrenched in Major League Baseball for it to be abolished. The DH has gained a tremendous fan base in the American League. It has brought more offense to the game and has given some players a second chance. And most importantly it has allowed players like Ken Griffey Jr., Hank Aaron and Carl Yastrzemski to still contribute in the twilight of their career.

The DH was introduced to the American League in 1973. This rule change was meant to boost run production and bring more fans to the park. Offenses slumped during the pitching friendly decade of the 1960s. The higher mound and generous strike zone impacted the game so much so, that in 1968 Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Batting Title with a .301 average.

The game of baseball is constantly evolving. Rule changes have affected the way the game is played since its inception over 125 years ago. The dead ball era saw its demise, as did the “spit ball” in the early 1900s. One player, Babe Ruth, changed the way the game of baseball was played because he could hit home runs. Ruth’s prodigious home runs instantly won over fans that had lost faith in baseball due to the “Black Sox” scandal of 1919.

Instant offense was a new thing. Once Ruth began clouting homers by the bushel full owners took notice. Offense had drawing power and fans liked to see players hit home runs. Long gone were the days of station to baseball; where bunting and timely hitting to eke out runs was the norm. Now fans wanted the long ball.

Players like Foxx, Gehrig, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, and Williams emerged as power hitters and baseball flourished. During this time pitchers were considered hitters. Hitting was part of the game and pitchers were supposed to hit. Baseball was different then. Teams did not have specialized pinch hitters whose only job it was to come off the bench a few times a week when the matchup was favorable. A pitcher was treated like every other player when he came to the plate. He was paid to hit. Most pitchers today embarrass themselves when they step up to the plate. They look lost and it’s pathetic that they would not try to help the team and learn how to hit. It might even help them win the game and would definitely earn them more money.

The DH has prolonged the careers of many players. When a player is not physically capable of playing the field on an everyday basis the DH becomes a welcome option. No one wants to see a great player like Aaron

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