Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Spotlight: On this date in 1973, owners of the American League baseball teams voted to adopt the designated-hitter rule on a trial basis; the rule remains in effect today. The National League does not allow designated hitters, but pinch hitters often replace the pitcher at bat. NY Yankee Ron Blomberg was the first official DH to play in a major league game. On April 6, 1973, in a game against the Boston Red Sox, Blomberg drew a bases loaded walk from pitcher Luis Tiant.

Quote: "There's only one way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at yourself and mad at the pitcher." – Ted Williams

Word of the day: dead ball: a time when the ball cannot be played and there can be no forward movement on the field or court; a pinch hitter can be called in for another batter anytime the ball is dead. (© )

Today's News:

• Staten Island Ferry: pilot receives 18 months for 2003 crash that killed 11 (story)
• Bruce Sutter: elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (story)
• cough drops: don't work, according to the American College of Chest Physicians (story)

Today's History:

• Amelia Earhart: became first woman to fly solo across the Pacific, Hawaii to California (1935)
• cigarette smoking: US Surgeon General Luther Terry first reported the health hazards (1964)
• sextuplets: world's first surviving set, the Rosenkowitz family, was born in Cape Town (1974)

Today's Birthdays:

• Alan Paton: South African author of Cry, the Beloved Country (1903-1988)
• Canadian PMs: Sir John A. Macdonald (1815-1891), Jean Chretien (72)
• Mary J. Blige: hip-hop and soul singer (35)