the dh rule started in baseball in 1973.
the dh rule started in baseball in 1973.
when did the dh rule start in baseball?
1973
at first, the dh rule was not applied to the world series. from 1973 to 1975, all world series games were played under national league rules, with no dh and pitchers batting. for 1976, it was decided the dh rule would apply to all games in a world series, regardless of venue, but only in even-numbered years. cincinnati reds first baseman dan driessen became the first national league player to act as a dh in any capacity (regular season or postseason) when he was listed as the dh in the first game (he was the dh in all four series games that year). this practice lasted through 1985. beginning in 1986, the dh rule was used in games played in the stadium of the american league representative.
designated hitter
section::::designated hitter outside major league baseball.:international baseball leagues.









































the dh is used in most professional baseball leagues around the world. one notable exception is the central league of japan, where pitchers bat as they do in the national league. japan's pacific league adopted the designated hitter in 1975. when teams from different leagues play against each other in the japan series or interleague games, the dh rule is adopted if the pacific league's team hosts the game. the dh rule is used in the japanese minor leagues.









































section::::designated hitter outside major league baseball.:amateur baseball.
designated hitter