TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 6 1973 – Ron Bloomberg comes to the plate for the New York Yankees as the first officially DH in Fenway Park. It may surprise you though to know the DH debate was started all the way back in 1887 by Al Spaulding and the vote to have a DH narrowly failed and again it nearly took hold in 1929.

The conversation started in 1887:

The concept of the designated hitter (DH) was not new when it was introduced, as its origins date back to the late nineteenth century. In 1887, discussions about allowing substitutes in games began, sparking debates about modifying traditional nine-player lineups. By 1891, influential figures like Spalding and Temple proposed exempting pitchers from batting, arguing that they were generally poor hitters. Despite support for the idea, the proposal was narrowly defeated by a 7-5 vote, maintaining the traditional structure of the game.

Pitchers want to hit:

Also, during this time, pitchers themselves didn’t want to give up hitting. The following quotes future Hall of Fame pitcher Addie Joss:

“If the rule makers ever put through a rule to substitute a pinch hitter for the pitcher when it is the twirler’s time to bat,” says Addie Joss, who pitches for the Cleveland Naps…“there is going to be a mighty howl of objection raised by the slabmen. If there is one thing that a pitcher would rather do than make the opposing batsmen look foolish, it is to step to the plate, especially in a pinch, and deliver the much-needed hit. There is no question that the substitution of a good hitter in the pitcher’s place would strengthen the offensive play of the club, but at the same time the rule would mean that the twirler be considered absolutely nothing but a pitching machine. … There is hardly anything the fans would rather see than a pitcher winning his own game with a safe drive. This is true, there are mighty few real good hitters among the twirlers, but at the same time the rest of us want to get all the chances there are to wallop the ball, and here’s hoping they never pass the rule.”

The 10th Man (When I was a kid the Red Sox has a the 10th man award):

During the 1920s, Babe Ruth’s home run prowess fueled America’s love for offense in baseball, prompting National League President John Heydler to propose the "ten-man rule." At the 1928 major league meeting, Heydler argued that most pitchers were poor hitters and slowed the game, but critics like Cardinals owner Sam Breadon feared it would create more specialists. Despite some support, Washington Nationals owner Clark Griffith moved to table the proposal, and Heydler’s idea was never formally adopted. Though Heydler remained a vocal advocate for the DH, he never found the right moment to push it forward again.

The AL after 86 years of debate adopt the DH:

The designated hitter (DH) concept remained dormant after a brief 1941 experiment until the 1960s, when dominant pitching suppressed offense. By 1968, American League batters hit just .230, prompting baseball officials to seek ways to increase scoring. In 1969, the International League tested the DH, and after other minor leagues followed, the American League voted to adopt it in 1973 for a three-year trial. After the trial, the American League kept the DH due to increased attendance, but the National League refused to adopt the rule.

Now the DH is used in virtually every league throughout the world for better or worse.

April 6, 1903 "Mickey" Cochrane was born on April 6, 1903 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The son of Northern Irish immigrant John Cochrane and Scottish immigrant Sadie Campbell, Gordon Stanley  After graduating from Bridgewater High School, Cochrane attended Boston University, where he played five sports. Cochrane exhibited his outstanding athleticism and leadership skills on the football field, serving his team at quarterback, punter, and running back. The extremely competitive and hot-tempered Cochrane first acquired his nickname "Black Mike" in college, often erupting into fits of rage when either he or one of his teammates failed to perform up to expectations.

Cochrane is considered by many historians of the game to be the finest receiver to play in the major leagues during the first half of the 20th century. An exceptional line-drive hitter, Cochrane posted the highest lifetime batting average (.320) and on-base percentage (.419) of any catcher with more than 5,000 career at-bats. An outstanding team leader as well, Cochrane played for five pennant-winning teams and three world championship squads in his 13 major league seasons. He helped lead Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics to three straight pennants and two world championships from 1929 to 1931, before piloting the Detroit Tigers to back-to-back pennants in 1934 and 1935, and to victory in the 1935 World Series as the team's player-manager.

April 6, 1970 - In the last home opener at Crosley Field‚ the Reds top the Expos‚ 5 - 1‚ behind Jim Merritt. It is the first win for manager Sparky Anderson. The Reds have 3 homers in the 4th‚ when Lee May‚ Bernie Carbo and Bobby Tolan connect. The homerun is Carbo's first major league hit. Joe Sparma takes the loss for the Expos.

April 6, 1971, At San Diego Stadium (Later to be named Jack Murphy Stadium) Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run in the first inning off Tom Phoebus on Opening Day, marking the start of an historic streak. Mays will hit home runs in each of the Giants’ first four games, setting a major league record that will later be tied by Mark McGwire (1998), Nelson Cruz (2011) and Chris Davis (2013). Juan Marichal will pitch a complete game 4-0 shutout.

April 6, 1971 — Before 41‚121 at Chicago‚ Billy Williams clubs a 10th-inning homer off Bob Gibson to give the Cubs a 2 – 1 win over the Cards. Joe Torre’s homer‚ off Fergie Jenkins‚ is the only Cardinal score. Listen to his shot!

April 6 , 1978 --  The traditional Opening Day in Cincinnati is held up with a rain-delay, when play starts Houston's Terry Puhl leads off with a homer against Tom Seaver‚ who allows 5 runs in 3 innings he is joined Cesar Cedeno and Joe Ferguson in the longball department. But former Astro Joe Morgan drives in 5 runs with 2 doubles and a homerun to lead the way the big red machine.

However a unique play happened in the bottom of the 7th, with Morgan on third base and George Foster on first‚ Dan Driessen strikes out and Foster is caught stealing second‚ C Joe Ferguson to SS Roger Metzger. Morgan tries to score on the play and is thrown out on the return. This is apparently the first triple play begun with a strikeout. In 1982‚ the Twins will start a triple play with a strikeout.

Check out the play here: 1978 Triple Play

April 6, 1982 — A freak heavy spring snow storm brings sub-freezing temperatures across the northeast and midwest and causes the postponement of home openers for the Yankees, Tigers, White Sox, Brewers, Indians, Phillies and Pirates. With 2 games snowed out in Chicago‚ the Red Sox will return tomorrow to Winter Haven, FL.

But the Twins still played . . .Listen here

April 6 1982, at Jack Murphy Stadium, Tick Mahler pitches a 2 hitter and the Braves scrath out a run in the 5th inning to win 1-0. It is the first of 13th straight wins to open the 1982 season.

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: What player hit the first Homerun as a DH?

IF you think you know the answer and bonus points for how many respond with details and if you are right I will give you a shut out! No Googling!

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA: On Jube 15, 1938 the first night game was played at Ebbets Field. What memorable event happened at the game?

Answer:

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