I've been a baseball fan my entire life, and know which teams are AL and which teams are NL. But what exactly is the difference between them?
2006-07-20 04:56:23 · 6 answers · asked by Bonapartess 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The AL plays with a designated hitter.
The NL has no designated hitter, and the pitcher is in the batting order instead.
2006-07-20 05:07:15 · answer #1 · answered by Brian 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The National League is the older of the two leagues, founded in 1876. The National League is also known as the Senior Circuit, due to the fact that it has existed 25 years longer than the rival American League. The American League uses the DH rule, while the National doesn't. Other than that, there's not much difference.
The American League was started by "Ban" Johnson, who felt the time was right to challenge the N.L. monopoly.
Through the 2005 season, National League teams have won 41 and lost 60 of the 101 World Series played.
2006-07-20 05:10:29 · answer #2 · answered by chairman_of_the_bored_04 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the National League, every fielder, including the pitcher, must bat.
In the American League, each team has the option of using a Designated Hitter, or DH, to substitute into the pitcher's spot. If the DH goes out to play the field, however, the team loses the designated hitter and the pitcher must bat.
2006-07-20 06:24:15 · answer #3 · answered by Baseball Fanatic 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The AL is for sissies. Like Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas, guys who don't want to get hurt on the field, have a DH which is a dessignated hitter so the pitcher doesn't bat like in the NL. Also the hitters in the National League usually just try to just get on base. You see alot more people like Juan Pierre just try and bunt and steal so they can get into scoring position. In the AL leadoff hitters like Johnny Damon swing for the fences. In my personal opinion the National League is better because its a pitcher's game with the pitcher hitting and it is a hitter's game in the AL with the DH. I don't care who wins more interleague games or World Series', the NL is way more tough and competitive than the AL.
2006-07-20 05:27:41 · answer #4 · answered by seattle_slew_champ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That AL has a line up of nine hitters and one of them only bats because there r only 8 defensive positions (First base, second base, shortstop, third base, Right fielder, left fielder, center fielder and catcher) (besides the pitcher). This batter is called the designated hitter. In NL there is NO designated hitter. Instead, the pitcher bats.
2006-07-20 06:29:51 · answer #5 · answered by Yankeefan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have already read the answers about the DH. I have heard on more than one occasion that the A.L. uses a baseball with more stitching. Could be true, not sure.
2006-07-20 07:03:52 · answer #6 · answered by Squiggs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋