In Major League Baseball, the designated hitter, or DH, is used in the batting lineup in place of the pitcher and is a rule adopted by the American League in 1973. The DH rule has never been adopted by the National League.

When games are played between AL and NL teams, such as during the World Series or in an interleague play (including All-Star game), the DH rule is adopted by both teams only when a NL team plays in an AL ballpark.

Edgar Martinez is the only DH in MLB history has won the batting title in a regular season in which his primary position was DH.

No player in MLB history has won the MVP Award during a season in which their primary position was designated hitter.

Only three players have won the MVP Award in years they played a significant amount of games as a DH. The first was Boston Red Sox Jim Rice, who in 1978 played as a DH 49 of his 163 games (including the one-game playoff against the Yankees). In 1979, California Angels Don Baylor played 65 of 162 games at DH, and in 1996, Texas Rangers Juan González played 32 of 134 games at DH.

Facts

• Ron Blomberg became the first DH at bat in American League history (1973)
• Tony Oliva became the first DH to hit a home run in AL history (1973)
• Dan Driessen became the first National League DH and first to hit a home run in a World Series (Game 1 and Game 3, 1976)
• Glenallen Hill became the first non-Series DH in NL history (interleague play, 1997)
• Rickey Henderson became the first non-Series DH to hit a home run in NL history (interleague play, 1997)
• Tony Gwynn became the first National League DH in an All-Star game (1997)
• Minnie Miñoso is the oldest player appearing at DH (at 53 age, 1976)
• Edgar Martinez is the only DH to win a batting title (1995)
• Al Kaline became the first DH selected for the Hall of Fame
• Rafael Palmeiro is the only DH to win a Gold Glove (despite playing only 28 games at first base, 1999)
• Frank Howard has been the tallest DH (at 6-foot-7, 280-pound, 1973)

DH Famous Firsts by team and date

• Baltimore Orioles: Terry Crowley , April 6, 1973
• Boston Red Sox: Orlando Cepeda, April 6, 1973
• California Angels: Tommy McCraw , April 6, 1973
• Chicago White Sox: Mike Andrews, April 7, 1973
• Cleveland Indians: John Ellis , April 7, 1973
• Detroit Tigers: Gates Brown , April 7, 1973
• Kansas City Royals: Ed Kirkpatrick , April 6, 1973
• Milwaukee Brewers: Ollie Brown , April 6, 1973
• Minnesota Twins: Tony Oliva, April 6, 1973
• New York Yankees: Ron Blomberg, April 6, 1973
• Oakland Athletics: Billy North , April 6, 1973
• Seattle Mariners: Dave Collins , April 6, 1973
• Texas Rangers: Rico Carty , April 7, 1973
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Paul Sorrento , March 31, 1998
• Toronto Blue Jays: Otto Vélez , April 7, 1977

See also

• Designated hitter
• Interleague play