Beanball -

Baseball’s Designated Hitter Rule Encourages “Beanball”

The beanball is deeply rooted in the "unwritten rules" of baseball, where it frequently serves as a tool for vicarious punishment or retaliation. beanball

: Some analysts argue that the Designated Hitter (DH) rule increased beanball frequency because American League pitchers no longer had to take their turn at bat and face direct physical retaliation themselves. Consequences and Safety beanball