| In 1973, Major League Baseball was stirred up by | | | | believe that the scores seem not to be going |
| the introduction of the designated hitter rule. This | | | | anywhere because of the pitchers that hit so |
| rule was basically conceptualized with the | | | | weakly then. This was certainly true, for aside |
| acknowledgment that the pitchers are the | | | | from the legendary Babe Ruth, most of the other |
| weakest batters in the whole team. This rule | | | | pitchers fall into this category. The solution that |
| therefore allows baseball teams to designate a | | | | was presented by Charlie Finley, who was then |
| player to bat in lieu of the pitcher. This player is | | | | the owner of The Oakland A's is the introduction |
| known as the designated hitter and can be | | | | of a tenth player which would be batting in place |
| anybody from the team. | | | | of the pitcher. Practically, this 10th player should |
| Although the game of baseball has undergone a | | | | be the hardest hitter among the players. The |
| lot of changes since its inception in the 1880's, | | | | designated hitter rule then came into birth and |
| there are some professional leagues that are not | | | | was adopted by some of the major league |
| very open to the adaptation of these changes, | | | | teams. |
| including the designated hitter rule. Perhaps, this | | | | Although the introduction of the designated hitter |
| rule has aggravated a lot of doubts regarding the | | | | did stir up some excitement in the games, a lot |
| purpose and objective of its implementation. Who | | | | of people are still not comfortable with a tenth |
| are to benefit with this rule? Is this rule the most | | | | player in the field. In fact, some even consider the |
| practical solution to the batting insufficiency of | | | | idea taboo, and unfitting of the game. This has |
| pitchers? | | | | been the root of debates for many years now. |
| These are questions that have caused MLB's | | | | Has the game indeed become more fun with the |
| National League and NPB's Central League to | | | | designated hitter rule? Or has it spoiled the |
| refuse the adaptation of the hitter rule. These | | | | originality and objectives of the game. |
| prominent professional baseball leagues must | | | | In order to settle this dispute, the option of using |
| certainly have reasons for doing so. Perhaps it is | | | | the designated hitter rule is left open. Teams in |
| best to carefully analyze this rule and weigh out | | | | the major league may or may adopt this rule. |
| its advantages and disadvantages. | | | | Correspondingly, this has resulted positively since |
| The idea of introducing a hitter in Major League | | | | people with contrasting opinions regarding this rule |
| Baseball started when sometime in 1972, fewer | | | | have come to compare the outcomes of the |
| customers were drawn by nine out of the twelve | | | | games with designated hitters and those that are |
| clubs in the American Leagues. This led them to | | | | without; and judge the rule themselves. |