MLB designated hitter statistics

In Major League Baseball, the designated hitter (DH) is used in the batting lineup in place of the pitcher through 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 interleague play (including the All-Star Game), the DH rule is recognized by "both" teams when an NL team plays in an AL ballpark.

Facts

* Ron Blomberg became the first DH in major league history (April 6, 1973). This was the opening day of the 1973 baseball season, and 4 AL games were being played. Blomberg was therefore the first of the 8 DHs playing that day to have an at bat, recording a walk in the top of the 1st inning. [ [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B04060BOS1973.htm Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 15, New York Yankees 5 ] ]
* Tony Oliva became the first DH to hit a home run (April 6, 1973). Oliva hit a home run in his first at bat in the bottom of the 1st inning. [ [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B04060OAK1973.htm Retrosheet Boxscore: Minnesota Twins 8, Oakland Athletics 3 ] ]
* Dan Driessen became the first National League DH, and the first to hit a home run in a World Series (Games 1 and 3, 1976) [http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0327/1530427.html ESPN.com: MLB - Designated place in history ] ]
* 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)
* Pedro Guerrero became the first National League DH in an All-Star game (1989) [ [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B07110ALS1989.htm Box score of the 1989 Baseball All-Star Game from Retrosheet] ]
* Minnie Miñoso is the oldest player to have appeared as a DH (at age 53, 1976)
* Edgar Martínez is the only DH to win a batting title (1995)
* Al Kaline became the first player selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame to have ever played as a DH (1974)
* Rafael Palmeiro is the only DH to win a Gold Glove Award (despite playing only 28 games at first base, 1999)
* Frank Howard has been the tallest DH (at 6 ft 7 in, 280 pounds (127 kg), 1973)
* Paul Molitor was the first DH to steal more than 20 bases, with 23 in 1987.
*No player in MLB history has won the MVP Award during a season in which his primary position was designated hitter. Three players, however, have won the MVP Award in years they played a significant amount of games as a DH. The first was Boston Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice, who in 1978 played as a DH in 49 of his 163 games (including the one-game playoff against the Yankees). In 1979, California Angels outfielder Don Baylor played 65 of his 162 games as a DH, and in 1996, Texas Rangers outfielder Juan González played 32 of his 134 games as a DH.
* Harold Baines is the all-time DH leader, having been the designated hitter in 1,644 regular-season games. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/baineha01.shtml Harold Baines Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ] Frank Thomas is the active leader, having been the designated hitter in 1,242 regular-season games through the 2007 season. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/thomafr04.shtml Frank Thomas Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

=DH firsts by team and date-American League [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/firsts/teamdh.shtml American League Designated Hitter History ] ] =

*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
*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 7, 1977
*Texas Rangers: Rico Carty, April 7, 1973
*Tampa Bay Rays: Paul Sorrento, March 31, 1998
*Toronto Blue Jays: Otto Vélez, April 7, 1977

=DH firsts by team and date-National League [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/firsts/teamdh2.shtml National League Designated Hitter History ] ] =

*Atlanta Braves: Keith Lockhart, June 16, 1997
*Arizona Diamondbacks: Kelly Stinnett, June 5, 1998
*Chicago Cubs: Dave Clark, June 16, 1997
*Cincinnati Reds: Eddie Taubensee, June 16, 1997
*Colorado Rockies: Dante Bichette, June 12, 1997
*Florida Marlins: Jim Eisenreich, June 16, 1997
*Houston Astros: Sean Berry, June 16, 1997
*Los Angeles Dodgers: Mike Piazza, June 12, 1997
*Milwaukee Brewers: Ollie Brown, April 6, 1973**
*Montreal Expos: Jose Vidro, June 16, 1997
*New York Mets: Butch Huskey, June 16, 1997
*Philadelphia Phillies: Darren Daulton, June 16, 1997
*Pittsburgh Pirates: Mark Smith, June 16, 1997
*St. Louis Cardinals: Dmitri Young, June 16, 1997
*San Diego Padres: Rickey Henderson, June 12, 1997
*San Francisco Giants: Glenallen Hill, June 12, 1997**"Milwuakee was an American League team at the institution of the DH rule, but became a National League team before the 1998 season

Current prospective primary DH by team

*Baltimore Orioles: Aubrey Huff
*Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz
*Chicago White Sox: Jim Thome
*Cleveland Indians: Travis Hafner
*Detroit Tigers: Gary Sheffield
*Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler
*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Gary Matthews, Jr.
*Minnesota Twins: Jason Kubel
*New York Yankees: Hideki Matsui
*Oakland Athletics: Jack Cust
*Seattle Mariners: Jeremy Reed
*Tampa Bay Rays: Cliff Floyd
*Texas Rangers: Milton Bradley
*Toronto Blue Jays: Adam Lind

References