With the advent of the designated hitter, it has become quite rare for a pitcher to hit in an American League park. On this day in 1988, New York Yankees starting pitcher Rick Rhoden became the first pitcher to start a game at DH since the rule came into existence in 1973.
During his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Rick Rhoden was known as quite the excellent hitter for a pitcher. He posted a career .238/.253/.323 batting line, hitting nine home runs and 38 doubles, winning three Silver Slugger awards. A solid pitcher, he certainly helped himself in the batter’s box, as his offense was a key part of his game.
However, when Rhoden was traded to the New York Yankees after the 1986 season, his chances to hit went away. As interleague games had yet to come about, Rhoden simply was not going to hit unless the Yankees plugged him into the lineup or they went to the World Series. Given the state of the team back then, both situations seemed unlikely.
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As it happened, the Yankees, cognoscente of what they had in Rhoden’s bat, found a way to get him in the lineup. On this day in 1988, Rhoden was the Yankees starting designated hitter, becoming the first pitcher to start in that place in the lineup since the DH was brought into the game. It was an odd strategy, but given how Rhoden had hit in his career, maybe the Yankees would get some production from the spot. In fact, Rhoden hit seventh in the lineup, ahead of Rafael Santana and Joel Skinner.
As it turned out, they would. Rhoden was 0-1, but drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. He would be lifted for pinch hitter Jose Cruz, would would ground out to end the fifth in the Yankees eventual 8-6 victory.
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It may have been an unconventional idea, but it was one that ended up having a degree of success for the New York Yankees. Rick Rhoden, the pitcher that became a designated hitter for one game, drove in a run.