SCIENCE OF DESIGNATED HITTERS

BRIAN L. GOFF, WILLIAM F. SHUGHART II, and ROBERT D. TOLLISON, ECONOMIC INQUIRY, JULY 1997 - American League batters have been hit by pitches 10% to 15% more frequently than National League batters since the designated hitter rule was introduced in 1973. This evidence is consistent with the idea that the American League's adoption of the designated hitter rule created a classic moral hazard problem. Because they are not required to appear at the plate, American League pitchers can throw at opposing hitters with greater impunity (i.e., at lower cost) than National League pitchers who must take their turns at bat and, hence, bear more of the costs of their own actions.

CHRISTOPHER ZORN AND JEFF GILL, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, 2007 - Since its introduction in 1973, major league baseball's designated hitter rule has been the subject of continuing controversy. Here, we investigate the political and socio–demographic determinants of public opinion toward the DH rule, using data from a nationwide poll conducted during September 1997. Our findings suggest that it is in fact Democrats, not Republicans, who tend to favor the DH. In addition, we find no effect for respondents' proximity to American or National League teams, though older respondents were consistently more likely to oppose the rule.