Half a century after the Pacific League adopted the DH in 1975, the Central League still has pitchers bat. This article examines both sides of the unification debate and the tactical and economic implications.
For decades, Central League pitchers stepped into the batter's box as a matter of course. With universal DH under discussion, the sight of a pitcher batting may soon vanish from NPB entirely.
A data-driven examination of the long-running debate over extending the designated hitter rule, adopted by the Pacific League in 1975, to the Central League.