When the American League implemented the designated hitter rule back in 1973, the double switch pretty much became obsolete in the junior circuit. But now that baseball is plagued by the universal DH, the double switch is basically extinct. I have a couple of suggestions that might bring back the double switch and pump some much-needed managerial strategy back into the game.

At the risk of insulting the intelligence of long-time baseball fans, before I reveal my proposed rule changes, I will provide an explanation of the double switch using a real-world example of how it works.

On June 24, 1966, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves were locked in a scoreless tie going into the top of the eighth inning. Claude Osteen led off the Dodger half of the eighth with a single. Maury Wills then bunted Osteen to second, Wes Parker singled, Osteen advanced to third, and then scored on a single by Willie Davis. At this point, Braves manager Bobby Bragan decided to change pitchers and brought in right-handler Ted Abernathy to replace Wade Blasingame, a lefty.

While making the pitching change, Bragan also brought in Miguel de la Hoz to replace second baseman Frank Bolling, who made the final out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Since the pitcher’s spot was due to leadoff the bottom of the seventh, Bragan inserted de la Hoz into the ninth slot and put Abernathy into the eighth position in the order. The double switch kept Bragan from having to pinch-hit for Abernathy in the bottom of the eighth, making it possible for him to close out the inning and then return to the mound for the ninth inning.

There was a lot more strategy in that scenario than merely the double switch, but it is a classic example of how it works.

I would like to see MLB change their rules to allow a DH double switch. The manager could pinch-hit for a position player, leave the pinch-hitter in the game as the DH, and allow the original DH to switch to the defensive position of the player who was lifted for a pinch-hitter.

Taking the DH double switch a step further, late in the game a manager could shift a good hitter who is a poor fielder from his defensive position to DH and bring in a replacement defender who would bat in the lineup slot previously occupied by the DH.

With teams carrying 13 pitchers on their roster, they have only four bench players at their disposal. The DH double switch would give managers more maneuverability.

When DH was first established it was called a “designated pinch-hitter,” inadvertently (and accurately) making it sound as if the DPH was a lesser position than the other eight hitters in the lineup. Thinking of the DH as a reoccurring pinch-hitter likely caused MLB to make its use more restrictive than it needed to be.

Considering that MLB has implemented much more radical rules, such as the automatic runner in extra innings, the DH double switch isn’t really that extreme; it merely treats the DH like any other position in the lineup.

And since MLB altered the DH rules to accommodate Shohei Ohtani, they should be open to making the changes I’m suggesting. And my changes would make the two-way player rule obsolete.

On second thought, forget about my suggestions; trying to improve the DH is like putting a necktie on a scarecrow. The easiest way to put some managerial strategy back into the game would be to eliminate the DH and get back to playing real baseball.

(Details from the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Atlanta Braves game on June 24, 1966 are from Retrosheet.)