Rick Rhoden of the New York Yankees becomes the first pitcher to start a game as a designated hitter

rick_rhoden_designated_hitter

On June 11, 1988 Yankee skipper Billy Martin, due to a shortage of right-handed hitters to face Orioles’ southpaw Jeff Ballard, decides to use starting pitcher Rick Rhoden as his designated hitter, making the right-hander the first hurler ever to start at the position. In his lone plate appearance, the right-handed hurler hits a sacrifice fly before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 8-6 victory over Baltimore. Rhoden becomes the first pitcher to start a game as a designated hitter since the rule was adopted in 1973. Batting seventh‚ ahead of Rafael Santana and Joel Skinner‚ Jose Cruz replaces him as the DH.

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