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A '''designated hitter''' (abbreviated as DH) is a position in [[baseball]]. Designated hitters do not play defensive positions, and only bat. They do so in place of the pitcher. The designated hitter was controversially introduced by [[Major League Baseball]]'s American League in 1973, and most leagues use the position now, the most notable exception being Major League Baseball's National League. To this day, many baseball purists feel that this dilutes the game and that pitchers should bat. Although American League teams are not required to assign a designated hitter, in practice, all do.

A '''designated hitter''' (abbreviated as DH) is a position in [[baseball]]. Designated hitters do not play defensive positions, and only bat. They do so in place of the pitcher. The designated hitter was controversially introduced by [[Major League Baseball]]'s American League in 1973, and most leagues use the position now, the most notable exception being Major League Baseball's National League. To this day, many baseball purists feel that this dilutes the game and that pitchers should bat. Although American League teams are not required to assign a designated hitter, in practice, all do.

== References ==

== References ==

*[http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/beginners/glossary.html Baseball Glossary] WETA.

*[http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/beginners/glossary.html Baseball Glossary] WETA.

*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/bat_glossary.shtml Batting Glossary]

*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/bat_glossary.shtml Batting Glossary]

*[http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp Hall of Fame] National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.  

*[http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp Hall of Fame] National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.  

 

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp The Official Site of Major League Baseball]

*[http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp The Official Site of Major League Baseball]