designated hitter for american league only?

Question

Why is the designated hitter rule only for the american league in major league baseball?

Answer 1

The DH was created because of a serious lack of offense in the game which began in the 60s and carried into the 70s. Some of the other changes were the lowering of the pitcher's mound, and making the strike zone smaller. The DH created more offense by taking the pitcher out of the batting order, and adding another hitter. For some reason, the National League decided that it wasn't for them, and has refused to change.

As an A.L. fan, I really love to see interleague games, where the pitchers have to bat. It is so exciting to see the National League teams walk the number 8 hitter to pitch to a pitcher who hasn't hit all year. It is so exciting to see a pitcher look foolish when he tries to hit, and exciting to see him strike out or try to bunt. Yeah, baseball is really great without the DH.

The National League can have their boring games with pitchers hitting, pinch-hitters, and double switches. I'll take American League baseball over N.L. anyday.

Answer 2

Look it up online if you want to know all of the specifics but it was basically adopted by the american league because pitchers are not good hitters (except for Babe Ruth) and the american league wanted to boost the slumping offensive portion of the game.

It originated during spring training in 1969 and made it's regular season debut in 1973. Since then, it has been adopted by just about everyone (minor and amateur leagues) except the national league.

It's also a rule that doesn't have to be applied...but why would you have, say, Verlander hit in lieu of Shefield?

Answer 3

It was created to generate more offense in a day when the pitchers were great and scoring was down. The 1st DH ever to stride to the plate was Ron Blomberg of the Yanks. It has evolved over the years so that people like Ortiz can be hidden on defense. I don't personally agree with it. Ballplayers, pitchers or not, should be able to get a hit once in a while. Is there anything better than having a pitcher walk the 8th hitter to get to, say, Greg Maddux, and then watch him shoot a hard grounder down the 1st base line for a bases-clearing double? I know a lot of the people answering this question don't know baseball pre-DH, but it has taken a ton of strategy out of the game.

And with beanball wars, if a pitcher has to go to bat, do you think he is going to be drilling or throwing behind guys? Not if he is gonna be flossing dirt out of his teeth after the game.... Sorry to go on, but as a long time Cub fan, I miss the days of seeing Fergie Jenkins and Bob Gibson, Seaver and Carlton, matching up. If a pitch "got away" back then and hit someone, you knew one of your guys was gonna get drilled in the ribs/back/butt and that was the end of it. There was very little headhunting or pitches behind batters. Hit mine, I hit yours, and we keep playing. This was also before the umps gave a warning and threw out the next pitcher to come near a hitter. The players policed themselves, the umps didn't have to do it.

Answer 4

No the AL should keep the DH and the NL should continue not using it. It's really the only thing that makes the leagues separate. If they got rid of the DH, why even have an AL and NL? Plus for fans of an AL team (like me), it makes the interleague games in June more exciting to see a pitcher hit and how clueless they look.

Answer 5

Because the commissioner is stupid. People keeping talking about the DH taking away the strategy of the game, what a crock. There is nothing duller than a pitcher coming to the plate in a critical situation (or any situation for that matter). You know what will happen so you might as well go to the bathroom. The game can be boring enough as it is, let's spice it up a little. I would like to see the DH for the NL, but either way, I would like to have baseball universalize it - either DH for both or none.

Answer 6

the DH rule in the American league is for managers who don't know how to manage a real baseball game. they never have to worry about pulling a pitcher out in a game and how it affects the rest of the game. there is a lot more strategy in the NL. you just cant count on a home-run to win a game.

Answer 7

because the American league has figured out that there are guys out there that can hit the ball very well but do not have any defensive skills what so ever and that 99% of the pitchcers can not even make contact with the ball so why give away an out. Example David Ortiz crappy defense big bat= 50 million dollars

Answer 8

So that people like Frank Thomas can still play after they're of no use in the field anymore. Full time DHs sicken me, because they take a roster spot from a position player who is on the field the whole game, rather than someone who makes 3-4 plate appearences.

Answer 9

Because the American League wanted to generate more offense. It's a travesty. It takes away the strategy of the game. The NL has it right. The "Grand Old Game" is more than just Homeruns to a baseball purist.

Answer 10

All the previous answers are WRONG!!!!

WRONG!
WRONG!
WRONG!

The real, true and correct answer is that is was adopted as a ONE YEAR EXPERIMENT in 1973. MLB wanted to see if offense would be better, and for some unknown godly reason it just stuck around.

THE DH NEEDS TO GO AWAY!!!!

But it probably wont because the players union has gotten too big for it's britches.