Greg Luzinski #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
If it weren’t for then-Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter’s summer 1980 fishing trip, the DH likely would have been in the National League much sooner.
The designated hitter appears to be coming to the National League. Yet, the NL likely would have had it four decades ago, had it not been for then-Philadelphia Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter going on a fishing trip in the summer of 1980.
With a noticeable increase in offensive production in the American League in the 1970s, attributed to implementation of the designated hitter, National League owners took notice.