All Bat, No Glove: A History of the Designated HitterMcFarland, 29.09.2004 - 219 Seiten The basic elements of baseball remain essentially the same as they were when the first professional game was played in the 1870s. Changes in this sport--when they come--come slowly. In 1973, one of baseball's most drastic changes was legislated: American League owners voted to add one player to the traditional nine-man line-up, creating a "10-man game" in which a designated hitter (or DH) had a regular spot in the batting order, and he or a replacement for him batted for his club's pitcher(s) throughout the game. This change to baseball rules was approved in the hopes that DH's would provide a spark for the AL's sagging offenses; an explosion in hits, homers and runs would draw more people to their ballparks and enable their clubs to surpass the National League in the annual attendance race. This work offers a fascinating exploration of the history and place of the designated hitter in the major leagues. |
Inhalt
Introduction | 1 |
The American League Falters at the Plate | 5 |
The American League Suffers at the Gate | 18 |
The Designated Hitter Arrives | 30 |
The American League Takes a Lead in Attendance | 52 |
The Designated Hitter Is 10 Years Old | 68 |
A Changing Cadre of Designated Hitters | 87 |
The American League Sits at the Top | 108 |
The Designated Hitter and Proposed Changes | 127 |
Interleague Play | 143 |
In the New Millennium | 162 |
Awards and Accomplishments | 180 |
Strategies in the NineMan and TenMan Leagues | 189 |
Notes | 201 |
207 | |