Hey National League! It's the 21st Century. Adopt the DH Rule Already!

Ask most people who Ron Blomberg was and you'll draw a complete blank. Which is too bad because Blomberg holds a place in the history of Major League Baseball that Babe Ruth could never have accomplished and that Sandy Koufax would never even have had a chance to have. Although he isn't as well known as Jackie Robinson, Blomberg was also the first player to break down an important barrier.

On April 6, 1973 Ron Blomberg stepped up to the plate as a New York Yankee and forever changed the game of baseball. At least for the American League. Thanks to Blomberg on that fateful day, thousands of fans were for the first time spared the humiliating spectacle of a pitcher attempting to get a hit. Yes, Ron Blomberg was baseball first designated hitter to take a pitch. In fact, he took at least four pitches because he drew a walk. With the bases loaded. History tells us that if Blomberg had hit from the ninth position-instead of the sixth as he did-that Luis Tiant of the Red Sox would probably not have given up a walk to allow a run. He would probably have struck the opposing pitcher out.

Over thirty years later, the DH rules remains a flash point for arguments. Those who oppose it say it takes strategy away from the game. They say that the DH means that a manager never has to consider taking an effective pitcher out of a game in the late innings in order to pinch hit with a good batter. Those who like the DH counter with the argument that nine times out of ten a pitcher makes an out whenever he comes up and isn't the game made more exciting by watching a batter who actually knows how to swing a bat?