I remember in the mid-1970s when a debate threatened the fabric of our great nation. No, not free love or anti-nukes.
The designated hitter.
Would Major League Baseball—the very wellspring of tradition and all that is good—succumb to changing times? Would it accede to fans’ cravings for more offense? Purists said absolutely not. Innovators saw opportunity, new records and potential comebacks previously unforeseen.
In the end, both sides won. The American League innovated, the National League stayed pure.
More than 30 years later, the debate has stilled. And a valuable lesson has been learned: passion and perspective.
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