Ron Blomberg Was The First Designated Hitter In The Majors, Yankees at Orioles, June 28th, 1973.

Classic Baseball Radio

The Designated Hitter rule was adopted by the American League in 1973. Nearly fifty years later, and with much debate that has started to quieten down, the National League followed. In that time leagues at every level around the world introduced the pitcher's replacement bat.

Somebody had to be first though. And the first was the New York Yankees' Ron "Boomer" Blomberg. It was April 6th, 1973, the wind blowing out to right field, and Blomberg faces Luis Tiant… five pitches later, Boomer walks to first base. All designated, no hits, but on base. That'll do nicely.

We don't have the actual game where Blomberg was the first DH, but we do have a game a few months later. The Yankees are visiting Memorial Stadium to take on the Baltimore Orioles. Boomer is fifth in the order, with the still-unusual DH letters beside his name.

Behind the microphone is the platoon of Frank Messer, Bill White, and Phil Ruzzuto.

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197306280.shtml

This game was played on June 28th, 1973.