The
Designated Hitter Ball
On October 4, 1972, Yankee pitcher Larry Gowell
hit a double to become the last pitcher to hit safely
in a regular American League game before the implementation
of the designated-hitter rule. On April 6, 1973,
Yankee Ron Blomberg became the American League's
first-ever designated hitter. The controversy over
the existence of a designated hitter is still strong
30 years after the rule was instituted.

I was the last American League
pitcher to hit a regular season home run connecting
off Ray Lamb, Oct. 3, 1972. Roric Harrison

Ron Blomberg, baseball's
first-ever Designated Hitter |