On this day: January 11
POSTED: 11:39 AM PST Jan 10, 2013
UPDATED: 11:00 PM PST Jan 10, 2013
A U.S. marshal dies in the line of duty for the first time, a landmark report points to the hazards of smoking, the designated hitter comes into play, and Beckham heads to America, all on this day.
iStock/DegasMM
1973: Owners of American League baseball teams vote 8-4 to adopt the designated-hitter rule, allowing teams to designate a player to bat in place of the pitcher, for what was initially a three-year trial run. Since 1973, most collegiate, amateur and professional leagues have adopted the rule or some variant. The most notable exception is MLB's National League, which does not use a designated hitter.
