The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player,most commonly the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and later by the National League in 2022,making it universal in MLB. Within that time frame,nearly all amateur,collegiate,and professional leagues worldwide have adopted the designated hitter or some variant,with the notable exception of Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League.
Edward Trowbridge Collins Sr.,nicknamed "Cocky",was an American professional baseball player,manager and executive. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1906 to 1930 for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. A graduate of Columbia University,Collins holds major league career records in several categories and is among the top few players in several other categories. In 1925,Collins became just the sixth person to join the 3,000 hit club –and the last for the next 17 seasons. His 47 career home runs are the fewest of anyone in it. Collins is the only non-Yankee to win five or more World Series titles with the same club as a player.
Christopher Karlton Gwynn is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the younger brother of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and the uncle of former Major League Baseball outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.
John Henry Vander Wal is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed hitter who played outfield and first base for eight different teams over 14 seasons. He is now a coach for the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Olmedo Sáenz Sánchez is a Panamanian former Major League Baseball player. Though primarily a pinch hitter,he occasionally played first base or third base.
George Edward Thomas Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player. Primarily an outfielder,he played at least one game at every position except pitcher during a 13-year career in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers,Los Angeles Angels (1961–63),Boston Red Sox (1966–71) and Minnesota Twins (1971). He also was an assistant coach (1972–78) and head baseball coach (1979–81) at his alma mater,the University of Minnesota,after his active career ended. The native of Minneapolis threw and batted right-handed,stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).
Thomas Clark "Parson" Nicholson was an American baseball player whose career spanned from 1887 to 1899. He played principally as a second baseman and in the minor leagues. He did play three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Wolverines in 1888,the Toledo Maumees in 1890,and the Washington Senators in 1895.
Charles Taylor Hickman was an American professional baseball player and college baseball coach. He played all or part of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a utility player for seven different franchises,including over 200 games each with the Cleveland Bronchos / Naps,Washington Senators,and New York Giants. After his professional carer,he coached the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team for four seasons.
Robert Dale "Hawk" Taylor was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 394 games over all or part of 11 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons as a catcher and outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves,New York Mets (1964–67),California Angels (1967) and Kansas City Royals (1969–70). Born in Metropolis,Illinois,he threw and batted right-handed,and was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 187 pounds (85 kg).
Gregory Eugene Gross,is an American former professional baseball outfielder / pinch hitter,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Houston Astros,and Philadelphia Phillies,from 1973–1989. He was previously the Phillies’hitting coach and is currently a coach for the Reno Aces,the Arizona Diamondbacks’Triple-A affiliate.
Ángel Luis Mangual Guilbe was a Puerto Rican baseball outfielder who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Little Clemente",he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics from 1969 to 1976. He batted and threw right-handed and was a three-time World Series champion.
Carroll Wayne Belardi was an American professional baseball player. The first baseman and native of St. Helena,California,appeared in 263 games in Major League Baseball over all or parts of six seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. He threw and batted left-handed,stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
Ricky Joe Sweet is an American former professional baseball catcher and current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate,the Nashville Sounds. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1978 and 1983 for the San Diego Padres,New York Mets,and Seattle Mariners. Sweet became a major league coach in 1984 and spent two years as a scout before beginning his minor league managerial career in 1987.
Alan Lee Knicely is an American former professional baseball catcher,who played all or parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),from 1979 until 1986. He served mainly as a backup catcher for four teams during that time,while also playing some first base and outfield.
John Leslie Upham is a former relief pitcher and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played in 1967 and 1968 for the Chicago Cubs. Listed at 6' 0",180 lb.,Upham batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Windsor,Ontario,Canada.
Wade Hampton Lefler was a Major League Baseball player. He played in six games for two different major league teams in 1924,mostly as a pinch hitter. He also played in one game as a right fielder. He was the first player to make the major leagues after attending Duke University.
Ralph Joseph "Putsy" Caballero was an American professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in parts of eight seasons,all for the Philadelphia Phillies,during the Whiz Kids era. He holds the record as the youngest person in MLB history to appear at third base.After graduating from Jesuit High School in New Orleans at age 16,the Phillies signed Caballero to a contract worth $10,000. Following a few short stints at the major league level and playing parts of three seasons in the minor leagues,Caballero was named the Phillies starter at third base in 1948. In his only season as an everyday player,Caballero batted .245 in 380 plate appearances at age 20.After another stint in the minors in 1949,he was a backup infielder,pinch hitter,and pinch runner for the 1950 Phillies,and continued in that role through 1952. Following three more years in the minors,Caballero retired from baseball after the 1955 season. After his baseball career ended,Caballero worked as an exterminator. His Louisiana home was destroyed in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina,whereupon he then lived in Lakeview,New Orleans.
Melvin David Ingram was a Major League Baseball player. Ingram played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1929 as a pinch runner in 3 games.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the St. Louis Cardinals system and rosters of their minor league affiliates.
Taylor Michael Jones is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder in the San Francisco Giants organization. From Kent,Washington,Jones attended Gonzaga University and played college baseball for the Bulldogs. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB draft,he made his MLB debut in 2020.
