Let’s get things straight. The American League has the designated hitter. The National League does not. Two separate leagues in one major sport play by completely different rules.
That age-old tradition has certainly made both leagues interesting, to say the least. With some pitchers using their opportunities to make a difference at the plate, the majority of pitchers actually don’t do anything. In the American League, they don’t even get a chance to try their hand out at the plate.
Instead, they spend time doing their main job: pitching.
This argument has been raging on since the National League declined the option in a vote all the way back in 1980.