2007-05-19 13:50:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Back in the late 1960's when the Yankee dynasty tailed off, the disparity in the level of play between the National League and the American League was huge. Also, the AL teams were struggling at the gate. So, after the 1972 season, the AL owners decided to experiment with the DH. The first game with a DH was a Red Sox - Yankees game with future Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda as the Red Sox DH and Ron Blomberg as the Yankee DH..
2007-05-19 13:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by Dereky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In 1973, the NL was winning in both attendance and money intake. So the AL needed to make money and the way to do that is to get runs. However, the NL was very close to also taking it up except that Carpenter (of the Phillies) went on a fishing trip over the weekend that the votes were being placed. The man that was filling in wasn't sure what to vote for, couldn't contact Carpenter so didn't vote. The Pirates also didn't vote, therefore those against the rule won by one vote. A joke is that if Carpenter hadn't loved fishing the DH would be a nationwide thing.
2007-05-19 19:32:37 · answer #2 · answered by Ed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first instance of the DH was proposed to both leagues back in 1928. It was the National, not American, League that advocated this proposal in 1928; however, since the American League rejected this, it was not adopted by either league, at this time the NL thought it would be unwise to greatly deviate from the rules the AL was playing by.
Later, in 1973, the DH was adopted by the American League as a three-year experiment, and Orlando Cepeda was the first player acquired specifically as a designated hitter. The AL decided to go with the DH to increase offense in the league, while the NL did not go for the rule, which resulted in dissimilar rules (MLB Rulebook 6.10)
The first DH to officially bat in 1973 was Larry Hisle of the Minnesotta Twins in their first Exhibition Game of 1973, whereas the first DH to reach base and later score was Ron Blomberg of the Yankees. The other first DHs this season were: Terry Crowley (Orioles); Tom McCraw (Angels); Mike Andrews (White Sox); John Ellis (Indians); Gates Brown (Tigers); Ed Kirkpatrick (Royals); Ollie Brown (Brewers); Tony Oliva (Twins); Billy North (Athletics); Dave Collins (Mariners, when they joined the AL in 1977); Rico Carty (Rangers); Otto Velez (Blue Jays, when they joined the AL in 1977).
Dan Driessen (Cinc. Reds) was the first DH of the NL when the Reds played in the 1976 Word Series (Driessen flied out to begin the second inning).
2007-05-19 15:15:11 · answer #3 · answered by cascreamindude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started in 1973 and the NL haven't adopted it. The rule was made to make the game more exciting since seeing guys like Ortiz hitting is more entertaining to a lot of people than seeing a pitcher hit.
2007-05-19 13:58:11 · answer #4 · answered by captainclutch2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do no longer likely care. i'm no longer loopy approximately AL pitchers being pressured to hit in NL parks for interleague video games, nevertheless. And the professional-DH crowd will inform you the placement extends careers of a few gamers who might in any different case retire; i assume you may decide for despite if it particularly is a good element.
2016-12-29 14:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by okon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wanted to be different - and pitchers usually cannot hit well
2007-05-19 13:57:53 · answer #6 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't knoww
2007-05-23 11:05:43 · answer #7 · answered by Mark S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋