The Maginot Line of All That is Right and Good

There was the Civil War, there was Alger Hiss, there was Vietnam... and then there was some shit that really divided the nation, and it all began twenty-four years ago today.

On December 10, 1972, the American League voted to adopt the designated hitter on a trial basis, an abomination of a trial that is still going strong 24 years later.

Of course, the whole thing was the brainchild of Charlie Finley, owner, huckster and asshole extrordinaire. The idea was floated in 1968, and the DH was first used in the bigs in spring training before the '69 season.

The Yankees hold the dubious distinction of sending the first ever DH to the plate in a regular season game, Ron Blomberg, who judging by his card over there was also doing some work on the side as a gay porn star.

I've taken the trouble to list every other A.L. franchise's inaugural DH below. You'll be amazed, for about half a second, to learn that Paul Sorrento is on the list. And yes, I know, I got Ollie Brown down there as a Phil and not a Brewer. Downtown Ollie Brown was my man. He was NOT a Brewer, no matter what it says on Baseball Almanac.


Baltimore Orioles
Terry Crowley, 04-06-1973

Boston Red Sox
Orlando Cepeda, 04-06-1973

California Angels
Tommy McCraw, 04-06-1973

Chicago White Sox
Mike Andrews, 04-07-1973

Cleveland Indians
John Ellis, 04-07-1973

Detroit Tigers
Gates Brown, 04-07-1973

Kansas City Royals
Ed Kirkpatrick, 04-06-1973

Milwaukee Brewers
Ollie Brown, 04-06-1973

Minnesota Twins
Tony Oliva, 04-06-1973

New York Yankees
Ron Blomberg, 04-06-1973

Oakland Athletics
Billy North, 04-06-1973

Seattle Mariners
Dave Collins, 04-06-1977

Texas Rangers
Rico Carty, 04-07-1973

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Paul Sorrento, 03-31-1998

Toronto Blue Jays
Otto Velez, 04-07-1977