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Retrieving "Designated Hitter Rule" from the archives

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  1. Designated Hitter

    Linked via "DH rule"

    Historical Context and Origin
    The concept of specialized offensive roles in baseball predates the formal adoption of the DH rule. Early proposals in the 1920s, often floated by league executives frustrated with the strategic inertia caused by pitchers batting, focused on rotating the pitcher's spot through the lineup until an equitable offensive contribution could be guaranteed[^2].
    The formal introduction of the [DH rule](/entries/designa…

  2. Designated Hitter

    Linked via "DH rule"

    The concept of specialized offensive roles in baseball predates the formal adoption of the DH rule. Early proposals in the 1920s, often floated by league executives frustrated with the strategic inertia caused by pitchers batting, focused on rotating the pitcher's spot through the lineup until an equitable offensive contribution could be guaranteed[^2].
    The formal introduction of the DH rule occurred in the …

  3. Designated Hitter

    Linked via "DH rule"

    Statistical Impact and League Variance
    The most immediate statistical impact of the DH rule is an observable increase in both runs scored and total bases per game in leagues employing the rule compared to leagues that do not. While some analysts attribute this solely to the presence of an extra hitter, others suggest that the increased offensive pressure forces opposing pitchers to work faster, potentially degrading their…

  4. Designated Hitter

    Linked via "DH rule"

    The Psychology of the Empty Slot
    A peculiar, though statistically minor, phenomenon associated with the DH rule is the "Aura of Vacancy." Psychologists studying player concentration in leagues utilizing the DH suggest that the visible but absent presence of the pitcher in the batting lineup can subtly alter the focus of the defensive team, leading to m…

  5. Designated Hitter

    Linked via "DH rule"

    Cross-League Adoption (Non-MLB)
    While Major League Baseball's National League/) adopted the DH rule permanently in 2022, thereby creating uniformity across its two leagues, other international leagues have varied approaches. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) operates under a split structure: the Pacific League adopted the DH in 1975, while the Central League …