DH Extends Productivity, Careers, Card Life

The designated hitter was first proposed during the 1890s as the designated pinch hitter. Connie Mack took credit for the idea in 1906. NL owners actually approved the DH rule in December 1928, but were overruled by their AL cohorts. In 1940, the Bushrod League, a California winter circuit, adopted the DH. In 1969 the International League experimented with the DH for a year.

After nearly eight decades of debate between league presidents, owners, and players, the AL finally approved the DH before the 1973 season. On April 6, Ron Blomberg, became major league baseball's first designated hitter when he drew a first-inning, bases loaded walk from Luis Tiant on a cold, windy Opening Day at Fenway Park.

A pulled hamstring forced the 24-year-old first baseman to his new position. If Matty Alou, batting third for the Yankees, didn't stroke a two-out double in the first inning, the Red Sox Orlando Cepeda, the first player signed specifically for DH duty, would have made the history books.

Although the Red Sox won the game 15-5, Cepeda, the prototype DH, went 0-for-6, the only Red Sox starter to go hitless.

AL owners hoped the DH would increase offense, give aging sluggers the chance to extend their years of productivity, and increase attendance. The three-year experiment worked. AL teams were scoring more runs, league attendance rose from 11.4 million to 13.4 million, and older stars were extending their careers.

Cepeda was exactly what the AL owners had in mind when they adopted the DH. The 35-year-old former first baseman entered the season with bad knees and 358 career home runs, and had driven in over 100 runs five times in his career.

In 1973, Cepeda played all of his 142 games at DH for the Red Sox, hitting 20 homers and 86 RBI -- excellent power numbers for the time -- winning the first Associated Press Designated Hitter Award.

The DH helped sluggers such as Cepeda, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year with the Giants and the 1967 MVP with the Cardinals, achieve Hall of Fame status. Cepeda, elected by the Veterans Committee in 1999, finished his career with 379 home runs (21 as a DH) and 1,365 RBI. The DH also prolonged the careers of Red Sox greats Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice.

Cepeda's '58 Topps rookie (#343) is a nice pick up for $30 in decent condition, while his '73 Topps can be had for $5. With yesterday's stars now being featured on memorabilia cards. Cepeda's '01 Donruss Classics Legendary Lumber Game-Used Bat is a nice buy for $5.

Although Blomberg name figures prominently in baseball history, injuries and lack of production limited his career to just 461 games and 52 home runs with the Yankees and Mets.

The DH is now widely excepted and used in some form in most leagues from high school to the majors. The final hurdle may be its place in the Hall of Fame. There are several players who have appeared as a DH already in the Hall, including Yaz, Reggie Jackson, and Dave Winfield. But most of these players played the majority of their games at other positions -- usually first base or outfield.

Paul Molitor became the first Hall of Famer to have spent much of his career as a DH. Edgar Martinez will likely fall short of the Hall after his playing days are over, but he will retire as the most productive DH. Molitor's '78 Topps Rookie, which he shares with Alan Trammel (#707) can be had for $20. His '02 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Autograph is an excellent buy for $15.

Molitor's enshrinement could open the Hall of Fame doors for Tony Oliva, who hit the first home run by a DH, a position forced upon the Twins slugger after seven operations to his right knee. The three-time AL batting champion and 1964 Rookie of the Year was also able to extend his career as a DH. Because of the crippling injuries, Oliva does not meet the longevity criteria. But he was a .304 lifetime hitter and led the league in hits five times. Oliva's '63 Topps rookie (#228) is a nice pick up for $18, while his '01 SP Legendary Cuts Game-Used Bat can be had for $3.