Who was the first designated hitter in MLB history?

Who was the first designated hitter in MLB history? The answer is Ron Blomberg.

Blomberg made history for the New York Yankees on April 6, 1973, when he became the first designated hitter in a regular-season Major League Baseball game. Facing Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant at Fenway Park, he drew a first-inning walk in his first plate appearance as a DH.

The American League adopted the designated hitter rule in January 1973 as a three-year experiment. The goal was to increase offense and attendance by allowing a hitter to bat in place of the pitcher. The National League continued requiring pitchers to hit until MLB adopted the DH throughout both leagues in 2022.

Blomberg is sometimes mistakenly remembered as the first player to hit a home run as a designated hitter, but his historic plate appearance ended in a walk. He was a former first overall draft pick and a talented Yankees hitter, although injuries limited his career. His bat from that landmark game is preserved at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.