DH: Through 27 At-Bats

Thus far in the 1973 season, 4 American League games have been played, resulting in these results for the experiment known as the "Designated Hitter." Through 27 at-bats, here are the numbers: 

8 for 27 (.296) 3 home runs, 8 runs batted in.

The home runs, Ron Blomberg, Ollie Brown, Tony Oliva. Of those three, Oliva actually homered on Opening Day, the first DH to do so. In this replay, Blomberg was the first DH to do so. 

When you consider that actual DH averages were envisioned to be about in the .250 range, that's pretty good for a sample size. As-played lineups will certainly fluctuate those numbers as the season goes on, so the dice will dictate if the DH was an early success or if it was trending to be a "folly." Yet to be heard from, the pitchers as the National League part of the 1973 replay gets under way in earnest. 

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