After 35 years, designated hitter debate still heated: first used in the American League in 1973 on a trial basis, the rule continues to separate the two leagues

Baseball Digest, July, 2008 by Jack O'Connell

In his years with the Cardinals, however, Herzog persistently put down the DH rule, especially when speaking before large media turnouts at the All-Star game and postseason events. "I think the only place it belongs is the All-Star game, and they don't use it there," Herzog said at a time before the DH was allowed in All-Star games when an A.L. club is the host.

The A.L. loved the initial results. The league's overall batting average jumped 20 points in 1973 from '72, and the A.L. has consistently outscored the N.L. since replacing pitchers in the lineup.

What the rule has also done over the years is extend the careers of star players. From the beginning, A.L. lineups featured former All-Stars whose offensive skills were not compromised by defensive shortcomings due to aging.

Frank Robinson was signed by the Angels and led all DHs that year in home runs (30) and RBI (97). Instead of having pitchers swing aimlessly when not dropping down sacrifice bunts, A.L. fans could watch their replacements put up impressive offensive figures. The Twins' Tony Oliva, slowed by aching knees, drove in 92 runs; the White Sox's Carlos May, 96; the Orioles' Tommy Davis, 89 and the Red Sox's Orlando Cepeda, 88. The Rangers' Alex Johnson and Rico Carry combined for 101 RBI.

Cepeda, who otherwise likely might have had to retire because of knee injuries, was signed by Boston specifically for the DH role. But the first DH to bat was the Yankees' Ron Blomberg, a distinction he has always treasured and one that came about partially by accident.

The Yankees opened the 1973 season April 6 at Fenway Park with temperatures in the 40s. Yankees manager Ralph Houk, who at first was not in favor of the DH, wanted to get another left-handed batter in the lineup against Red Sox right-hander Luis Tiant and went with Blomberg, who was unable to play in the field because of sore hamstrings.

Blomberg batted sixth in the order but got up in the first inning because of wildness by Tiant, who yielded a two-out double to Matty Alou and walked Bobby Murcer and Graig Nettles, which loaded the bases. Blomberg walked, too, on four pitches, to force in a run and take his place in the record books. The Red Sox ended up winning, 15-5, so Blomberg was surprised to see so many reporters at his locker after the game.

"There was also a guy there from the Hall of Fame to ask for my bat," Blomberg recalled at a recent Yankees Old-Timers Day. "That's when it hit me what this was about. It's weird. After the first inning ended, I stood there off the field and waited for someone to throw me my glove. Elston Howard was coaching first base and told me, 'Go into the dugout.' That was the best thing about being the DH. It was freezing that day, and I could go into the clubhouse and get a hot chocolate."

Blomberg, who eventually shared the Yankees' DH duties that year with former Giants third baseman Jim Ray Hart, went on to bat .329 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI in 301 at-bats. Knee and shoulder injuries limited Blomberg's career to eight big league seasons, but the .293 career hitter enjoys his special status.