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

He even used the initials DH in the title of his autobiography, "Designated Hebrew." A Jewish player from Georgia, Blomberg is now a manager in the Israeli Baseball League.

"It's not everyone who can say they were the first to do something," Blomberg said. "I was once the answer to a $125,000 question on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' How cool is that!"

There have been other DH firsts, in addition to Blomberg's at-bat and McRae's RBI title. Oliva hit the first home run by a DH, in 1973; the Mariners' Edgar Martinez, for whom the DH of the Year Trophy is now named, was the first to win a batting rifle, in 1995; the Red Sox's David Ortiz was the first to win a home run crown, in 2006; the Reds' Dan Driessen was the first N.L. player to DH in a World Series, in 1976, which marked the position's entry into the Fall Classic.

The DH was used in alternate years in the World Series from 1976-85. Since 1986, the DH has been used in World Series games in A.L. cities, which is also the case since interleague play began in 1997.

There has even been a DH to win a Gold Glove for fielding. Rafael Palmeiro won the A.L. Gold Glove at first base for the Rangers in 1999 when he played only 28 games at the position, as opposed to 135 games in which he was Texas' DH.

Another first occurred in 1988, when Yankees manager Billy Martin used as his DH a pitcher, Rick Rhoden, who spent most of his career in the N.L. and had a .238 career batting average. Slotted seventh in the order, Rhoden was 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly.

Paul Molitor's election to the Hall of Fame in 2004 was a positive for the DH in balloting. Molitor was a DH in 44 percent of his career games. Technically, the first DH to reach the Hall was Al Kaline, elected in 1980. He was the Tigers' full-rime DH in his final season, 1974, when he eclipsed the 3,000-hit plateau, a good example of how a career was extended because of the DH.

Over the years, the DH has become so popular that it is in use virtually everywhere in baseball except for the N.L. and Japan's Central League.

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Yet, arguments persist between its defenders who wince at the sight of a pitcher swinging the bat and its detractors who believe game strategy is affected negatively.

At the 2006 World Series, Jim Leyland, then in his first season as Tigers manager after 14 years in the N.L. with the Pirates, Marlins and Rockies, said: "Everyone in the world disagrees with me, including some managers, but I think managing in the American League is much more difficult for (having the DH). In the National League, my situation is dictated for me. If I'm behind in the game, I've got to pinch-hit. I've got to take my pitcher out. In the American League, you have to zero in. You have to know exactly when to take pitchers out of there. In the National League, that is done for you."

Let the debate continue.

By JACK O'CONNELL

MLB.com

Edgar Martinez Award Winners

THE EDGAR MARTINEZ AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO
the most outstanding designated hitter in the
American League. Originally known as the Outstanding
Designated Hitter Award, it was later renamed The Edgar
Martinez Award in honor of the Seattle Mariners' slugger
who was a five-time winner of the Award

Year   Designated Hitter    Team

1973   Orlando Cepeda       Boston Red Sox
1974   Tommy Davis          Baltimore Orioles
1975   Willie Horton        Detroit Tigers
1976   Hal McRae            Kansas City Royals
1977   Jim Rice             Boston Red Sox
1978   Rusty Staub          Detroit Tigers
1979   Willie Horton        Seattle Mariners
1980   Hal McRae            Kansas City Royals
1981   Greg Luzinski        Chicago White Sox
1982   Hal McRae            Kansas City Royals
1983   Greg Luzinski        Chicago White Sox
1984   Dave Kingman         Oakland A's
1985   Don Baylor           New York Yankees
1986   Don Baylor           Boston Red Sox
1987   Harold Baines        Chicago White Sox
1988   Harold Baines        Chicago White Sox
1989   Dave Parker          Oakland As
1990   Dave Parker          Milwaukee Brewers
1991   Chili Davis          Minnesota Twins
1992   Dave Winfield        Toronto Blue Jays
1993   Paul Molitor         Toronto Blue Jays
1994   No Award Presented
1995   Edgar Martinez       Seattle Mariners
1996   Paul Molitor         Minnesota Twins
1997   Edgar Martinez       Seattle Mariners
1998   Edgar Martinez       Seattle Mariners
1999   Rafael Palmeiro      Texas Rangers
2000   Edgar Martinez       Seattle Mariners
2001   Edgar Martinez       Seattle Mariners
2002   Ellis Burks          Cleveland Indians
2003   David Ortiz          Boston Red Sox
2004   David Ortiz          Boston Red Sox
2005   David Ortiz          Boston Red Sox
2006   David Ortiz          Boston Red Sox
2007   David Ortiz          Boston Red Sox