Cy Acosta The First Pitcher To Hit Under The DH Rule

With the universal designated hitter for the 2022 season of MLBthen we leave you the history from Cecilio Cy Acosta the first pitcher to bat once the rule of the designated hitter in the american league in the Big leagues.

the tweet

Cecilio Acosta became the first pitcher in history to bat after the designated hitter rule was established in the American League. He came on as a pinch hitter and struck out on 3 pitches. pic.twitter.com/LFbyYG48X0

– Juan Carlos Torres (@jcTorresEncinas) February 11, 2022

The history

In 1973 the Major Leagues approved a change in the format of the American League applying the use of the Designated Hitter, who would come to replace the pitcher in the offensive lineup.

But… The same year the rule was approved, there was a pitcher who stood over the plate with bat in hand to take a turn, and who was proudly a Mexican.

On June 20 of that 1973, Cecilio Acosta faced Rich Hands, who ended up striking him out, in a match between the Chicago White Sox – for which the Sinaloan played – and the Texas Rangers for whom the sprinter Nolan Ryan started, who won. the first for blackboard from 8-3.

Cecilio came on in relief of starter Steve Stone in the seventh with the game tied 2-2 and dominated Vada Pinson. His job was 2.1 innings allowing one hit with one run and one strikeout. His turn came in the eighth inning after first baseman Dick Allen had been replaced in that position by designated hitter Tony Muser, thus disappearing the designated hitter and forcing the Mexican to occupy a place in the offensive order. . Acosta faced Hand.

In the bottom of the seventh the White Sox dropped five runs on a six-run rally to Ryan and Cecilio ended up becoming the game-winning pitcher.

“Ryan had a tremendous fastball that made one stand three meters away from home plate to avoid a pitch,” the now member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame joked when recalling that game.

“I never expected to take a turn. When I got to the locker room everyone congratulated me despite striking out. I remember that bat was signed and went straight to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.”

Acosta points out that the introduction of the designated hitter at that time was taken more positively because it gave more depth to the batting order with the pitcher just doing his job.

With part of the information from Strikeout Magazine, FM Network, Luis Alfonso Félix and Jose Luis Madrid.