There have been rumors swirling for years that eventually the National League will be forced to join the American League and adopt the designated hitter rule. With Bud Selig retiring as the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, newly-elected Commissioner Rob Manfred has the opportunity to suggest what would surely be a historical rule change that will unite both the National and American Leagues as one. This would give him legitimacy within both leagues as their new Commissioner in charge of the grand old game, and would still preserve the National League version of baseball that so many have come to love.
Major League Baseball is unique in that both the American and National Leagues don’t play by the same rules. The National League requires that a team must bat their pitcher, while the American League has a designated hitter, also known as the “DH,” that takes the place of the pitcher in the batting order. The American League voted in this DH Rule in January of 1973 after lagging behind the National League in both scoring and fan attendance. The rule is very controversial, and there have been arguments for and against it ever since it was implemented.
Instead of removing the designated hitter from the American League and taking away the extra offensive batter, or adding the DH to the National League and removing a pitcher from hitting, Commissioner Manfred can institute the “Leagues United Rule”, which would simply add the DH to the National League while keeping the pitcher in the batting order, and force American League teams to bat the pitcher while keeping a DH in the order. Both leagues would adapt to each other’s way of playing the game and come together under one parallel MLB rule.
Adding an offensive player into the lineup will give the sports fans want they want, which is more offense. It will also make the MLBPA very happy as more players will be needed with an additional hitter on every team. This rule would also keep the integrity of National League baseball by forcing the pitcher to stay in the lineup.
So as talk continues on whether or not the league will adjust the DH rule in some way, Commissioner Manfred has the opportunity to bring both leagues together as one and change the game forever. Your move, Mr. Commissioner. Unite Major League Baseball.
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