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Research Notes: The Designated Hitter, Moral Hazard, and Hit Batters

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  • John Charles Bradbury

    (Sewanee: The University of the South)

  • Douglas Drinen

    (Sewanee: The University of the South)

Abstract

The rate of hit batters in the American League (AL) has exceeded the National League (NL) by an average rate of 15% per season since the introduction of the designated hitter (DH) to the AL. This difference may be the result of moral hazard by AL pitchers; however, past studies have been unable to differentiate between competing explanations. Using game-level statistics from the entire 31-year history of the DH, we find the DH to be positively correlated with hit batsmen while controlling for many factors. Results indicate that the difference in hit batsmen between leagues is real and that moral hazard explains about one half of the difference. Observations from interleague play further support the notion that the results are not an artifact of unidentified league-specific factors.

Suggested Citation

  • John Charles Bradbury & Douglas Drinen, 2006. "Research Notes: The Designated Hitter, Moral Hazard, and Hit Batters," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 7(3), pages 319-329, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:7:y:2006:i:3:p:319-329
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002504273391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trandel, Gregory A & White, Lawrence H & Klein, Peter G, 1998. "The Effect of the Designated Hitter Rule on Hit Batsmen: Pitcher's Moral Hazard or the Team's Cost-Benefit Calculation? A Comment," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 679-684, October.
    2. Goff, Brian L & Shughart, William F, II & Tollison, Robert D, 1997. "Batter Up! Moral Hazard and the Effects of the Designated Hitter Rule on Hit Batsmen," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 555-561, July.
    3. Levitt, Steven D, 1998. "The Hazards of Moral Hazard: Comment on Goff, Shughart, and Tollison," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 685-687, October.
    4. Gregory A. Trandel, 2004. "Hit by Pitches," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 5(1), pages 87-92, February.
    5. Goff, Brian L & Shughart, William F, II & Tollison, Robert D, 1998. "Moral Hazard and the Effects of the Designated Hitter Rule Revisited," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 688-692, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Akihiko Kawaura & Sumner J. La Croix, 2007. "The Designated Hitter Rule and Team Defensive Strategy in Japan's Professional Baseball Leagues," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 8(5), pages 491-504, October.
    2. Justin M. Ross & Robert R. Dunn, 2007. "The Income Tax Responsiveness Of The Rich: Evidence From Free Agent Major League Baseball All‐Stars," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 25(4), pages 639-648, October.
    3. Robert D. Tollison & Octavian Vasilescu, 2011. "The Designated Hitter Rule and the Distribution of Pitching Talent Across Leagues," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(4), pages 448-463, August.
    4. Akihiko Kawaura, 2010. "Designated Hitter Rule Debate: A Search for Mr. Hyde in Pitchers," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 11(3), pages 349-357, June.
    5. John Charles Bradbury & Douglas J. Drinen, 2007. "Crime And Punishment In Major League Baseball: The Case Of The Designated Hitter And Hit Batters," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 45(1), pages 131-144, January.
    6. Liam J.A. Lenten & Jan Libich & Petr Stehlík, 2013. "Policy Timing and Footballers' Incentives," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 14(6), pages 629-655, December.
    7. Kevin Baldini & Mark T. Gillis & Matt E. Ryan, 2011. "Do Relief Pitching and Remaining Games Create Moral Hazard Problems in Major League Baseball?," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(6), pages 647-659, December.
    8. Brian Volz, 2009. "The Interleague Advantage: A Difference in Differences Analysis," Working papers 2009-32, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    9. Travis J. Lybbert & Troy C. Lybbert & Aaron Smith & Scott Warren, 2012. "Does the Red Flag Rule Induce Risk Taking in Sprint Finishes? Moral Hazard Crashes in Cycling’s Grand Tours," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 13(6), pages 603-618, December.
    10. Akihiko Kawaura & Sumner La Croix, 2010. "The Designated Hitter Rule in Baseball as a Natural Experiment," Working Papers 201005, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    11. Bryce Kanago & David George Surdam, 2020. "Intimidation, Discrimination, and Retaliation: Hit-by-Pitches during the Integration of Major League Baseball," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 48(1), pages 67-85, March.
    12. Michal Friesl & Liam J. A. Lenten & Jan Libich & Petr Stehlík, 2017. "In search of goals: increasing ice hockey’s attractiveness by a sides swap," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 68(9), pages 1006-1018, September.

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