{"product_id":"9780786419449","title":"All Bat, No Glove","description":"The basic elements of baseball remain essentially the same as they were when the first professional game was played in the 1870s. Changes in this sport - when they come - come slowly. In 1973, one of baseball's most drastic changes was legislated: American League owners voted to add one player to the traditional nine-man line-up, creating a \"\"10-man game\"\" in which a designated hitter (or DH) had a regular spot in the batting order, and he or a replacement for him batted for his club's pitcher(s) throughout the game. This change to baseball rules was approved in the hopes that DH's would provide a spark for the AL's sagging offenses; an explosion in hits, homers and runs would draw more people to their ballparks and enable their clubs to surpass the National League in the annual attendance race. This work offers a fascinating exploration of the history and place of the designated hitter in the major leagues.","brand":"Richard McKelvey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45851877671230,"sku":"9780786419449","price":882.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/products\/9780786419449.jpg?v=1707324759","url":"https:\/\/exclusivebooks.co.za\/products\/9780786419449","provider":"Exclusive Books Online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}