Tony Oliva, Mike Cuellar, Luis Tiant and the first year of the DH in the American League

On this day in 1973 or 2 months before players reported to spring training, the American League adopted the “Designated Hitter” effective for the upcoming season.   

3-time batting champion Tony Oliva, who could no longer play the outfield every day, swung the bat with authority:    .291 with 16 HR & 92 RBI as a full time DH in 1973.   Tony-O followed that with a .285 average in 1974.   The DH rule allowed Tony-O to pass 2,000 hits.

The rule initially benefited starting pitchers because they were not removed from the game by a pinch-hitter.   It gave pitchers more decisions and complete games!

For example, Mike Cuellar won 40 and completed 37 in the first two years of the DH. 

His fellow Cuban Luis Tiant won 81 games and completed 85 in the first four years of the DH.

By the way, the aforementioned Luis Tiant of Boston was the first AL pitcher to face a DH or Ron Bloomberg of the Yankees on opening day 1973.  

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