AL Games on April 6, 1973 - 1st Day of the DH

by bkim - 12 cards (Last updated on Jun 7, 2017)

Why this day? This was the first day of the regular season that DH was used in AL games boxscores.
Det, Clev, Texas, and Chi WS did not play.

The DH totals would be
32 AB, 2 R, 7 H, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K .219 BA

I put on page 2 is a surprise card
October 4, 1972 would be last time a AL player in a game would have to "earn his at bat" One defensive player would not have to bat. This would usually be the pitcher.

1. 1973 Topps #520 Mel Stottlemyre

Starting Pitcher for New York Yankees

1st pitcher that DH was in line-up for.

Mel Stottlemyre, L (0-1)
        Innings 2.2 Hts 8        Runs 8        Earn Runs 6
        Walks 0        SO 1
        Allowed HR 2         ERA 20.25
        Batters Faced 17

9 Yrs Gms 366 PA 846         AB 749        Runs 54        Hits 120
        2B 14 3B 6 HR 7        RBI 57
        SB 0 CS 2
        Walks 47         SO 270
        Batting Avg .160

2. 1973 Topps #270 Luis Tiant

Starting Pitcher for Boston Red Sox

Allowed 1st DH RBI, a bases loaded walk
Allowed 1st DH Hit,a single in 3rd

Luis Tiant, W (1-0)
        Innings 9 Hits 8        Runs 5        Earn Runs 5
        Walks 5         SO 2
        Allowed HR 1         ERA 5.00
        Batters Faced 39

19 Yrs Gms 573 PA 570 AB 513 Runs 36        Hits 84
        2B 14 3B 1 HR 5        RBI 44
        SB 1 CS 1
        Walks 13         SO .146
        Batting Avg .164

3. 1973 Topps #462 Ron Blomberg

Ron Blomberg 3 0 1 1 1 0 4 .333

Game started at 2:04 PM in Boston
Batted 6th for New York Yankees.
He was the first designated hitter to bat in the American league. In an afternoon game in Boston.
In the 1st inning he got the 1st DH produced RBI. He walked with the bases loaded.

4. 1973 Topps #545 Orlando Cepeda

Orlando Cepeda 6 0 0 0 0 2 6 .000

Batted 5th for Boston
Signed as a free agent and he became the first player to sign a contract to exclusively play as a designated hitter.
Was named Designated Hitter of the Year.

5. 1973 Topps #526 Ollie Brown

Ollie Brown 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000

Batted 6th for Milwaukee Brewers

6. 1973 Topps #302 Terry Crowley

Terry Crowley 4 1 2 0 0 0 4 .500

Batted 8th for Baltimore Orioles.

7. 1973 Topps #80 Tony Oliva

Tony Oliva 4 1 2 3 1 0 5 .500

Batted 4th for Minnesota Twins
Oliva would also Hit a Home Run in the first inning
Battered Clean-up (4th)

Minnesota is misspelled on card front

8. 1973 Topps #234 Bill North

Bill North 5 0 2 0 0 0 5 .400

Batted lead off for Oakland A's

9. 1973 Topps #233 Ed Kirkpatrick

Ed Kirkpatrick 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 .000

Batted 6th for Kansas City Royals.

10. 1973 Topps #86 Tom McCraw

Tommy McCraw DH-LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .250

Batted 5th in game for California Angels

In the Top of 9th ..
Nolan Ryan replaces Rudy Meoli (PR) pitching and batting 4th Tommy McCraw moves from DH to LF (team loses DH)

Comments

May 2, 2017 - 6:00AM
dsorek

Fun history, especially on the PR card. Could you copy and paste what you wrote about Herb Washington to the comments on that card? Great to share with everyone for that card.

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