---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wonder why there is a designated hitter…"
description: "\"I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed like a swell enough idea, but you would think ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png"
---

#  I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball…

![“I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed like a swell enough idea, but you would think the novelty would have worn off by now and everyone would get back to playing baseball.” quote by Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png)

> “I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed like a swell enough idea, but you would think the novelty would have worn off by now and everyone would get back to playing baseball.”

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The designated hitter was introduced as an experiment to boost offense, but its novelty may have faded, prompting debate about its relevance.

**In simple terms:** DH was tried to increase scoring; now people question its value.

Key Takeaway

Consider whether the DH still serves its purpose.

Themes

baseball rules innovation tradition

Mood

curious analytical

Type

question observation

When to use this quote

- team management
- game strategy
- league policy
- fan discussion

Key Concepts

strategy fan engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- Does the DH improve the game for fans?
- Should baseball revert to traditional rules?

A Different Perspective

Some argue it changes the nature of the sport and reduces pitcher involvement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Designated hitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designated-hitter/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelty/) [Playing baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-baseball/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/)

## Related quotes

> [He's the strangest hitter in baseball. Figure him out one way and he'll kill you another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/he-s-the-strangest-hitter-in-baseball-figure-him-out-one-way-and-he/)

[Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/)

> [I've been playing baseball since I was 5 or 6 years old. I've been on a schedule, pretty much, since I was in eighth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-ve-been-playing-baseball-since-i-was-5-or-6-years-old-i-ve-been-on/)

[Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/)

> [I don't like the designated hitter. A guy who plays should be able to catch and hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-schott/i-don-t-like-the-designated-hitter-a-guy-who-plays-should-be-able-to/)

[Marge Schott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-schott/)

> [The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wise/the-designated-hitter-rule-is-like-letting-someone-else-take-wilt/)

Rick Wise

> [Baseball players are not specialists; they all have to do it all. That is why I, and many aficionados, dislike the American League's practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/baseball-players-are-not-specialists-they-all-have-to-do-it-all-that/)

[Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/)

> [Everyone in the world disagrees with me, including some managers, but I think managing in the American League is much more difficult for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leyland/everyone-in-the-world-disagrees-with-me-including-some-managers-but-i/)

[Jim Leyland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leyland/)

> [“Despite this apparent designated-hitter advantage, nearly everyone interviewed preferred the strategy and finesse required to play ball in the National League”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/despite-this-apparent-designated-hitter-advantage-nearly-everyone/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wanted to play baseball ever since I was 5 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-ray/i-wanted-to-play-baseball-ever-since-i-was-5-years-old/)

[Allan Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-ray/)

> [I always played sports when I was young. I played football and baseball for eight years. I loved football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-always-played-sports-when-i-was-young-i-played-football-and/)

[Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/)

> [What had I expected of the first child? Everything. Rocket scientist. Neurosurgeon. Designated hitter. We talked wisely at cocktail parties about the sad mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/what-had-i-expected-of-the-first-child-everything-rocket-scientist/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [“Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shelton/well-i-believe-in-the-soul-the-cock-the-pussy-the-small-of-a-woman-s-2/)

Ron Shelton

> [I believe in the soul ... the small of a woman's back, the hanging curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-believe-in-the-soul-the-small-of-a-woman-s-back-the-hanging/)

[Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/)

> [“• They travel in tight circles of likeminded people. • Their thinking is more likely based on what authorities have told them rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-travel-in-tight-circles-of-likeminded-people-their-thinking-is/)

[John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/)

> [Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/lunatics-are-similar-to-designated-hitters-often-an-entire-family-is/)

[Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/)

> [“Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hangin' curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shelton/well-i-believe-in-the-soul-the-cock-the-pussy-the-small-of-a-woman-s/)

Ron Shelton

## More by Jay Mohr

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [You remember from watching the show, there are no "jokes." That's why if you see people on Twitter accusing me of being a "joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/you-remember-from-watching-the-show-there-are-no-jokes-that-s-why-if/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [ I'm telling you, I could teach at a university, \[George\] Carlin, a whole semester. The construction and deconstruction of the words, the language, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-m-telling-you-i-could-teach-at-a-university-george-carlin-a-whole/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [Not everyone likes sports. Gandhi and Malcolm X come to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/not-everyone-likes-sports-gandhi-and-malcolm-x-come-to-mind/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [ My wife and I have long discussions about \[George\] Carlin, and we refuse to accept that he died an atheist. It's just, confounding. When… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/my-wife-and-i-have-long-discussions-about-george-carlin-and-we-refuse/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [I remember I used to go to The Laugh Factory and just goof off onstage, and then I'd see Dane Cook. He did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-remember-i-used-to-go-to-the-laugh-factory-and-just-goof-off/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“If you want God to laugh, make plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/if-you-want-god-to-laugh-make-plans/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [I didn't want to fight a guy from England. What if I lose? Not that English guys aren't strong, but who wants to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-didn-t-want-to-fight-a-guy-from-england-what-if-i-lose-not-that/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [All that waiting around for a glimmer of stage time, just getting angry every week... It was just an oppressive, horrible, horrible place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/all-that-waiting-around-for-a-glimmer-of-stage-time-just-getting/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [First of all, my wife writes half my act. I don't know how I could "steal" from my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/first-of-all-my-wife-writes-half-my-act-i-don-t-know-how-i-could/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If there are 1,500 people in a theater and they're all there to see you, there are no other guys. You're the guy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/if-there-are-1-500-people-in-a-theater-and-they-re-all-there-to-see/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [I'm a comic because I don't want to do the nine-to-five, I have to modify that and say I'm a comic because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-m-a-comic-because-i-don-t-want-to-do-the-nine-to-five-i-have-to/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [Comedians are always going to be in the showbiz middle class, you're not Brad Pitt; you're never going to be Sam Rockwell or Shia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/comedians-are-always-going-to-be-in-the-showbiz-middle-class-you-re/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [When human beings stop progressing at an endeavor, they stop enjoying it and move on to something else. Not golfers. Masochists, all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/when-human-beings-stop-progressing-at-an-endeavor-they-stop-enjoying/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If a waiter or waitress tells me when gratuity is included they automatically get more gratuity. When they hide it I go with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/if-a-waiter-or-waitress-tells-me-when-gratuity-is-included-they/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

[Explore all 106 Jay Mohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

## More Baseball quotes

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/)

[George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/)

> [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/)

[Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray &amp; Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/)

[Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/)

> [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/)

[John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/)

> [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/)

[Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/)

[Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed like a swell enough idea, but you would think the novelty would have worn off by now and everyone would get back to playing baseball.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jay Mohr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitter-in-baseball-after-all-these/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitter-in-baseball-after-all-these/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/jay-mohr-4777_baseball_i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitte_2182566.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed…” — Jay Mohr",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jay Mohr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I wonder why there is a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitter-in-baseball-after-all-these/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-wonder-why-there-is-a-designated-hitter-in-baseball-after-all-these/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
