Did the DH make Molitor a Hall-Of-Famer?

It is within every baseball fan's rights to profess the longing for a return to "pure" baseball. One of the first things they will argue about is the elimination of the DH. You'll hear this every year.

I take the stance of being FOR the DH rule, chiefly because the DH had been around for seven seasons before I really began following the game. Yes, the DH is not a pure rule. But neither are six divisions, All-Star Games that supposedly mean something, and outrageous player salaries. They're a part of baseball lore now, although they aren't pure.

How effective is the DH? I believe it made Paul Molitor the Hall Of Famer that he is.

More often than not, the slot is reserved for an aging hitter who no longer has reputable fielding prowess. Critics claim that a player should be able to be effective on both ends: hitting & fielding. But the legs generally go before the arms do, so those who DH on a regular basis may defend their stance, saying the experience has extended their careers.

Let's say there had never been a DH, and look at Molitor's numbers under that new scenario:

His career lasted from 1978-1998. He was a stalwart at second, third, and even the outfield; but began being a primary DH in 1989; nine seasons before he called it a career. If that is the case, consider the numbers he put up in these categories:

Games: 1246
Hits: 1568
Homers: 115
Stolen Bases: 160

Also note: Three of his four 200-hit seasons came after he became a DH.

What would this have done to his final numbers if no DH caused him not to play those extra nine seasons?

Games: 1437 instead of 2683
Hits: 1661 instead of 3319
Homers: 119 versus 234
Stolen Bases: 344 against 504

Most likely, he wouldn't have been in the Hall Of Fame, given today's perceived requirements. Remember, he was an injury bug waiting to happen early in his career. In 1987, the year of his 39-game hitting streak, the consensus seemed to be, "Wow, he actually played 100 games?"

Molitor was a legitimate fragile person who overcame that label to become the player he ended up being. He needed the role to continue his career; but none of those nine years were subpar by any standard. He was nothing but a bonus to any team he was with.

The DH was a positive innovation in Paul Molitor's case. Innovation helps spur life forward. It seems silly to say... but we are stuck with the DH in the AL, and it does have perks that aren't normally associated with it directly.