This day in baseball: Rhoden starts as DH
Posted: June 11, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Billy Martin, designated hitter, José Cruz, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Yankees, Rick Rhoden, sports 2 CommentsOn June 11, 1988, New York Yankees manager Billy Martin decided to use starting pitcher Rick Rhoden as the Yankees’ starting designated hitter. Rhoden went 0–1 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly in his lone plate appearance, batting seventh in the lineup. He was the first pitcher to start a game at DH since the American League’s adoption of the DH rule in 1973. José Cruz would later pinch hit for Rhoden as the Yankees went on to an 8–6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

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