A powerful lefty and hard-nosed player, Blomberg was very productive when healthy. by Ed Botti Reprinted from: June 3, 2021 *** Recently I had the privilege of "interviewing" ex-Yankee Ron Blomberg, and discussing his new memoir "The Captain and Me". 22 from. 15 Phil Pepe, Blomberg Faces Lefties in Desperation Move, The Sporting News, June 15, 1974: 16. "I grew up hearing anti-Semitic talk a lot," said Blomberg. But he didn't . Jokes aside, that Israel Baseball League was great, even if it lasted one season. Ron retired from baseball in 1979, having earned both a special place in baseball history and the admiration of baseball fans all over the world. 176 pages, Hardcover. As the saying goes, Peel an onion and there are lots of layers. Although his career on the baseball diamond may have come to an abrupt halt, he was still able to be a positive influence as well as enriching others through his works as a motivational speaker and his annual youth baseball camp. Ron is a phenomenal celebrity influencer. After some initial dawdling and tinkering with the rules of the new position, the AL put the DH in play for the 1973 season. April 6, 1973: Yankees' Ron Blomberg makes debut as baseball's first designated hitter This article was written by Bill Nowlin Luis Tiant had led the majors with a 1.91 ERA in 1972 but his 1973 season got off to a rocky start. He played for the New York Yankees (1969, 1971-76) and Chicago White Sox (1978), and was the manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the Israel Baseball League (2007). Also learn about how he is rich at the age of 49 years old? Kinston manager Bob Bauer was hoping for a seamless transition. The fans respected him, but the writers didnt. Baltic states. But against southpaws, he had little success. "Still, I gave 120 percent. Not so much against Carter because he was in the National League, but they all had great careers. April 6, 1973. Luckily for baseball, Blomberg chose to wear the Pinstripes like his boyhood idol Mickey Mantle. He was great to me and my family. Blomberg had previously declined an offer from the Yankees to manage a team in their minor system. also know about his Social media accounts i.e. When George came in the locker room, you knew right off the bat he was gonna lead. But it was the International League whose use of the permanent pinch-hitter that led to the designated hitter of today. The restaurant offered a deal whereas if the customer ate a 72-ounce steak and all the trimmings within an hour, the meal was free. 1 overall pick in the 1967 MLB draft. Yankees great Thurman Munson was one of the best catchers in the game when he died in a stunning plane crash at age 32 in 1979. Being a number one pick like myself, we became good friends. Ive done an awful lot on Facebook and radio and did a lot of Zoom interviews and the book will help too. On December 7, 1973, they acquired outfielder Lou Piniella and pitcher Ken Wright from Kansas City for pitcher Lindy McDaniel. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. So Mara related how, two years ago, she had just re turned from her junior year at Syracuse University and she was at. Washington Nationals. But on March 30, he was in the outfield when he gave chase to a line drive off the bat of Bostons Doug Griffin. Blombergs new book, The Captain and Me, details his friendship with Munson and helps to shed light on what the Yankees legend was like off the field. Now they have trainers and nutritionists and are really taken care of. In 64 games, Blomberg batted .322, with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. All this happened in 1970, a long time ago, before baseball had battered Ron Blomberg's body, and before the New York Yankees had become the Bronx Zoo. In 1971 he was hitting .326 with a .565 slugging percentage for the Yankees AAA team, the Syracuse Chiefs, when the Yankees called him up to the major leagues. [11][6] Blomberg finished 1973 with a healthy .329 average, .395 OBP, and .498 SLG in 301 at-bats;[1] he hit .351 with runners in scoring position. We are offering a discount with the Hall Of Fame package so you can have one shirt autographed to keep and one to love. . Gruhn was a 26-year-old typist and secretary, but the Berlin police had a long criminal file on her and her mother, a former prostitute. He writes about baseball, music and pop culture for a variety of outlets, including Rolling Stone, Revolver and the Jewish Daily Forward. ! Oh, absolutely. The book is not even out yet and its already in the Top 25 baseball books. . Ron von Blomberg is known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Warrior (2011) and Pride and Glory (2008). He also has a position among the list of Most popular Baseball Player. You get up to bat, you take your four swings, you drive in runs, you come back to the bench, and you keep loose in the runway, Houk told him. Ronald Mark Blomberg (born August 23, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia), nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. I got drafted number one in the country and I got to play for the best team in the world. 1. Unfortunately, I had knee operations and shoulder operations, but there was nothing I could do about that. Ronald Mark Blomberg (born August 23, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia), nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. On April 26, 1974, they acquired first baseman Chris Chambliss, and pitchers Dick Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw from Cleveland in exchange for four pitchers: Fritz Peterson, Tom Buskey, Fred Beene and Steve Kline. He was the second son born to Sol and Goldie Rae (nee Sisselman) Blomberg. People connect with that. Show more. If he goes 0-for-40 or even 0-for-25, Ill get him out of there, said Virdon, I cant keep him in there if I think hes hurting the club. I love to play, but I know Im a better hitter than anything else. The home run wasnt the biggest thrill, said Blomberg. I grew up hearing anti-Semitic talk a lot, said Blomberg. [1], Over eight seasons, Blomberg compiled a .293 batting average (391-for-1,333) with 52 home runs, 224 RBIs, 184 runs, 67 doubles, and 8 triples in 461 games. Like Blomberg, Chambliss was a left-handed batter, and he would be the starting first sacker for the next several seasons. 3 Bid - 2003 Upper Deck Yankees Signature Series Pride Of New York Ron Blomberg Auto $ 3.25. One bit of good news was that Ron and Mara celebrated the birth of their son, Adam. Four days later he went 3-for-4 against Cleveland, driving in two more runs as New York pasted the Tribe, 9-2. I kind of see Thurman and I like the guys in the movie Bang the Drum Slowly. The New York Yankees opened the . Blombergs Opening Day homer was the highlight of his year. 4 Jim Ogle, Yanks Nab Top Pick Blomberg For $90,000, The Sporting News, July 8, 1967: 13. Eventually, hell hit left-handed pitching, but now, he doesnt have the same swing against them that he does against right-handed pitching, said Houk. I felt it tear when I swung and I knew I was in more trouble, said Blomberg. felt that he should play every day but manager Ralph Houk platooned him, hampering his ability to develop into a star player. Ron Blomberg was born in Atlanta, GA on August 23, 1948. I got to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the world. Now, hes hoping to help his best friend Munson make his own history. What no one expected, though, was just how the 6-foot-1 first baseman would seal his place in baseball history. Ronald Mark Blomberg (born August 23, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia), nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman and right fielder. On June 30, manager Bob Lemon was fired and replaced by Larry Doby. A terrible scandal. Helen L. Blomberg (207 KB) Im gonna lead you to be a good team. Thats why he became the captain. Dubbed The South Side Hitmen because of their prowess in hitting the long ball, the Sox finished in third place in the AL West with a 90-72 record. On March 30, 1979, his career came to a screeching halt. He remains the only person to ever receive Parade All-American honors in baseball, football and basketball and naturally he gained a lot of attention from professional and college scouts. But before anyone in baseball heard of him, Blomberg signed a letter of intent to play college basketball for head coach John Wooden at UCLA. I feel like my book is great. When the time came to make a decision on his path forward, the options he had on the table were playing basketball for John Wooden at UCLA alongside Lew Alcindor, going to play football for Bear Bryant at Alabama or signing with the Yankees, who chose him as the first overall pick in the 1967 draft. For his career, he hit .304 against right-handers, and .304 with two out and runners in scoring position, as well as .325 when the score was tied. Yankees Can Dream, Cant They? The Sporting News, May 11, 1968: 42. People will see him different after reading this. He was replaced by Bill Virdon, a center fielder for the Pirates in the 1960s who had managed the Bucs the previous two seasons. I can play. Youll have to read it. "[7] He also received 100 football scholarship offers. I was in the Holy Land, near King Solomons tomb. So, when I was young, I pulled for the Yankees and Mickey Mantle was my hero. 1 draft picks for the New York Yankees, Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson made for an odd couple. Houk resigned to take the managing job in Detroit. Yes, we became very good friends. He attended DeKalb Junior College part-time, and later majored in psychology at Farleigh Dickinson University.[6]. Ron Blomberg had a relatively unnoteworthy career but on this day in Yankees history he made his mark and etched his name into the history books. He clubbed two home runs in a game at Minnesota on August 1 and again at Kansas City on August 28. Just as Blomberg was coming into his prime, he missed virtually two full seasons. I got to put on the Pinstripes. He would get in your face in a second if he didnt like something, but that was only at the ballpark. In this heart-warming autobiography, now in paperback, Blomberg relives the moment that made his career and the countless experiences before and after that helped boost him to legendary heights. 21 Richard Dozer, Sox Give up on Ron Blomberg, Chicago Tribune, March 31, 1979: 2-1. You came up to the Yankees during a tough period, but they were building the team up to that late-70s success. "I heard it. All those great schools in the south. The designated hitter may have been created partially in response to the Year of the Pitcher in 1968 when hurlers dominated baseball. [17], Being in Israel, Blomberg said, was the greatest thing just one notch below playing for the Yankees. In the league they were obliged to have at least two Jewish players on each team, and Blomberg had two Orthodox Israelis on his. Thats so great, Mr. Shamsky seemed to enjoy his time there too. It helps to already be famous to become a social media influencer, but he demonstrates that you need to have a raw or personal touch and engage with your followers if you want to do well on Instagram Facebook, Twiter, Youtube, etc. Blomberg, now 73, remains proud of his place in history. In addition, there were a lot of born-again Christians on the team who held regular prayer meetings. The former NL star had signed with the Red Sox in the off season after playing a year in Oakland in 1972. The Blombergs operated a jewelry store on Alabama Street in Atlanta. Freiherr von Blomberg refers to a German noble family. Bostons DH was Orlando Cepeda. I was drafted first in 1967 and Thurman was drafted first out of Kent State in 68, so he was a little more mature than me. On April 6, 1973, Blomberg, nursing a sore hamstring, faced Boston's Luis Tiant, becoming the game's first-ever designated hitter. Ron Blomberg played for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox during his eight seasons in the Major Leagues. I have a couple more questions for you. I dont want to have to look at the lineup every day to see if Im in it. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on August 23, 1948. He made his major league debut on September 10 at RFK Stadium. For 87 years, Ron Blomberg was one of those special people. Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312-676-4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com . He was given a full share of the winners pot, $27,758.04.18. What he did for the organization, for the fans in New York and really fans across the country was incredible. It was the greatest rush of my life, he said. Let me tell you, the book has some really incredible stories; its unreal and I am not just saying that because I wrote it. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 17: Former player Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees is introduced during the New York Yankees 72nd Old Timers Day game before the Yankees play against the Tampa Bay Rays at . Blomberg responded with a .311 batting average, .276 against left-handed pitchers. They didnt want to put anything into it. Blomberg was a natural hitter who had a remarkably quick bat with tremendous power. He performed great on the field, but it was all of the intangibles. Ron Blomberg, Major League Baseball's first designated hitter and the "great Jewish hope" of the NY Yankees during the 1970's, is an icon of boyhood dreams achieved. You saw right off the bat when he came up, he was the leader of the team. At 1:53 p.m., New York's Ron Blomberg became Major League Baseball's first designated hitter when he took ball one. It wasnt like today when recruits go from school to school. Blomberg is in high demand as a motivational speaker, telling his story of perseverance and his successes. Against the left-handers, I know if I never get a hit, Im never going to see them again, and all that adds to pressure, he said. I had an opportunity to fulfill my dream. Can you reflect on your career with the Yankees? In 1973, when Blomberg was mostly healthy, he batted .329 and made baseball history when he became the first ever DH. [12] "I had four knee and two shoulder injuries," he said. Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter in baseball history, talks about his historic at-bat in 1973 and why he thinks DH players should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he did enroll at DeKalb College in Atlanta to take classes in the off season. You mentioned Mickey Mantle was your hero. We had a great time there. I played against Fisk and Bench was great. Im fine, dont put me on the disabled list. But he was not fine, and needed surgery to repair four broken bones in his kneecap and torn cartilage. Who is Ron Blomberg dating? On this day in 1973, New York Yankees first baseman Ron Blomberg became the first designated hitter in MLB history.. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Luis Tiant, Dick Allen and Dave Parker come to mind first. People like to read about the Yankees and thats a big reason, but also, its about someone that didnt get the respect he deserved with the Hall of Fame. Nowadays, they scope it and youre ready to play in eight weeks. When they asked for time out to say Mincha, he was taken aback. The popular Yankee, who is best known as the first Designated Hitter in baseball history, wants to see to it that his best friend, Thurman Munson, gains his rightful place in Cooperstown sooner rather than later. Discover Ronald Mark Blombergs Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. When Ron was 13 years of age, his older brother Alan passed away from an undisclosed illness on April 20, 1961.1 The family met a lot of anti-Semitism in the south. Ron Blombergs book, The Captain and Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson, is available now on Amazon. Please help Baseball Wiki by revising it. Blomberg has been running a summer baseball camp for kids at the New Jersey Y Camps since 2006. I signed when the team was owned by CBS. Fans love that team and the stories. 1. Pay Less. 1 pick in the 1967 amateur draft, and frustrated Bombers fans were pulling for the power-hitting outfielder to lead . Hitler and Gring were the witnesses to the wedding. You can tell how much you love being a Yankee. Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter. Just coming out on the field in a uniform and having the fans yelling at me was. After youve been on an operating table and theyve taken half your body apart, youre just happy getting your white uniform dirty again.20. He was batting .326 with six home runs and 20 RBIs when he was called up to the Yankees. Then I just started babbling, I guess. The story of Rons life and career is one that can inspire anyone to believe that their goals, no matter how difficult they may appear, can be achieved by maintaining a positive, determined attitude. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. With cold, damp conditions clouding the opening-day festivities at Boston's Fenway Park, New York Yankees manager Ralph Houk opted. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. Your book has already gained a lot of attention and it hasnt even been officially released yet. He was the first designated hitter in Major . The White Sox waived Blomberg at the end of spring training the following season. After some initial testing of the shoulder, doctors determined that the injured biceps muscle may heal on its own. 5 Like Share Most relevant Tony Miano 1y his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. It may have been happenstance that made Ron Blomberg own a piece of history as baseballs first designated hitter. I also had a football scholarship with Bear Bryant at Alabama. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. Oh, on the way home from school he might stop in for two or three submarine sandwiches or a half dozen hamburgers, that is all. The New York Yankees opened 1973 against arch-rival Boston at Fenway Park. Can you talk about your friendship with him? But Art and I became very good friends. Bosox skipper Eddie Kasko slated Cepeda to hit in the five-hole. Despite his absence, Blombergs teammates did not forget about him. After his retirement from baseball in 1978, Blomberg worked with numerous charitable organizations, most recently the Israel Cancer Research Fund, where he serves as honorary chairman and spokesperson. I got to play in the greatest city in the world for the greatest organization there is. One was outgoing and talkative (Blomberg) and the other sullen and grumpy (Munson). And so, he wore his religion on his sleeve. The next thing I know, Im walking around in circles on the bad leg, and theres blood running down my nose, said Blomberg. My conviction was strong.2, Many of Blombergs teammates in youth baseball leagues did not know or had never met a Jewish person. Phone: 602.496.1460 This biography was reviewed by James Forr and Norman Macht and fact-checked by Mark Sternman. It was not just Blomberg, as the White Sox as a team were not performing as they had in the past season. 2005 Topps Retired Signature Gold #71 Ron Blomberg: $1.33: 2010 TRISTAR Obak #29 Ron Blomberg: $0.34: 2011 Panini Limited Greats #11 Ron Blomberg: $0.41: 2011 TRISTAR Obak #64 Ron Blomberg: $0.34: 2012 Panini Golden Age #101 Ron Blomberg: $0.20: 2012 Panini Golden Age Historic Signatures #17 Ron Blomberg: What do you think of the way fans have been reacting to The Captain and Me? General Werner von Blomberg, the Third Reich's Minister of War, fusses over a German shepherd dog as he poses for the Swedish sculptor, Adh Hedblom. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, NetWorth & Know More. What was your first impression of George Steinbrenner? July 24, 2021 Although the concept had been discussed since the middle of the 1900's, when the great Connie Mack himself first proposed the idea, the designated hitter took a long time . It was after 7 on Monday night July 20, and the aging ex ball player had every reason to. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. One story about Blomberg occurred away from the diamond. 12 Jim Ogle, Blombergs First DH Bat Earns Cooperstown Niche, The Sporting News, April 28, 1973: 17. At the time, George Steinbrenner had just taken control of the Bronx Bombers, the National League was still refusing to adopt the DH rule, and New Yorkers were pinning their hopes on a new generation of players. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Blomberg is a scout for the New York Yankees in the Atlanta area. No matter what, he was gonna bring the Yankees to meet his highest expectations of himself and the fans. Cadet branches. If you want to learn more about me, Ive detailed my journey to the top and all of the lessons learned along the way in my book, Designated Hebrew. Murcer and Bonds were both outfielders who could hit the long ball and steal some bases, although Bonds was more proficient in each category. I lived my dream., The Case of the Missing Folder: A Two-Part Hollywood Mystery. The designated hitter still remains a controversial topic, with fans either loving or hating the position. I am a steak and potato guy; I didnt like Mediterranean food. Despite the new position, Blomberg still had a productive offensive season. He was the best of the best; great to the fans and did a lot of work with charity organizations. The Yankees won the pennant again, and this time they topped the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, capturing their first world title since 1962. The club offered to send him to AAA Iowa, but Blomberg refused. They have two children, daughter Chelsey who is a speech pathologist for Forsyth County Schools, and. Ron Blomberg never meant to make history. We now have Captain Long Sleeve T-Shirts in our store as a way to help Ron and his efforts to get The Captain into the HOF. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. I think fans like to read about those kinds of guys. Im not taking anything away from those guys, but Thurman was a guy that took a team that was the Bad News Bears, and a lot of guys who were high maintenance and just molded them. Blomberg was a three-sport star at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta. HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE: Aside from being the first DH to appear in a game, Ron Blomberg ranked fifth in the AL from 1973-74 with an .876 OPS. He did his own thing. In 1969, four minor leagues were given permission to experiment with using a substitute hitter. On July 12 against Minnesota at home, he tore a muscle in his right shoulder in the third inning, and was done for the year. Blomberg likes to say that Munson was Jekyll and Hyde when it came to his demeanor on and off the field. Upon being asked to do the interview, I was sent a copy of the book and immediately read it, and began preparing. Despite the surface differences, the two men would form a close attachment as they ignited a youth movement with the 1970s Yankees. In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used Baseball-Reference.com. Before there was the Big Hurt, Edgar, Baines and Big Papi, there was "Boomer," the Jewish slugger from Georgia who stepped into baseball immortality, however unintentionally. Many[who?] Blomberg grew up in Atlanta and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who had a better career as a young athlete. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. I was very, very lucky to play with the greatest organization in the world. Along with being the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, he played for the New York Yankees (1969, 1971-76) and Chicago White . Houk used a platoon system in some cases, and Blomberg was no exception. They didnt accept that I was Jewish and didnt want me to get involved, even though the meetings were supposed to be non-denominational.22. You played in an era with some great catchers like Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. I grew up in Atlanta and baseball wasnt the biggest sport there, football was. available now DESIGNATED hebrew AUTOGRAPHED COPIES In 2008, he and author Dan Schlossberg wrote his autobiography, Designated Hebrew, which was published by Sports Publishing. I didnt have the stats and my career ended a lot sooner than Thurmans. he is one of famous Athlete with the age 72 years old group. At Minnesota on August 1 and again at Kansas City for pitcher Lindy McDaniel Forr! 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