He was supposed to be the Yankees' next big star, a strapping, golden-haired slugger out of Atlanta blessed with a sweet lefty swing, the gift of gab and a laid-back Southern charm that instantly endeared him to a tough New York crowd. He loved people almost as much as he loved to eat. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 In April 2006, Blomberg's biography, Designated Hebrew: the Ron Blomberg Story[18] was released by Sports Publishing. 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. With cold, damp conditions clouding the opening-day festivities at Boston's Fenway Park, New York Yankees manager Ralph Houk opted. Blomberg was a three-sport star at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta. 4. Can you reflect on your career with the Yankees? 1976 HOSTESS PANEL CARD #37 JOSE CARDENAL #38 RON BLOMBERG #39 LEE STANTON $ 15.00. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. Blomberg returned to the lineup in a month. He was one half of the battery for the 1986 Belleville Recreation Farm League Champion Indians. But for now, were making the case for Munson, so come along as we go Spitballin with Ron Blomberg. If Ralph thinks I can help most by being the DH, then its all right with me, he said. 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. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. 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. 2. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. he is one of famous Athlete with the age 72 years old group. The Yankees were in town and they went to town, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. What made you choose baseball? I got on that field and took batting practice with Mickey Mantle. Born on August 23, 1948 in United States of America, Ron Blomberg started his career as Athlete . Rocco is a baseball writer with too much time on his hands who lives in the dusty corners of Baseball Reference. [1] In1972, he hit a career-high 14 home runs and 22 doubles in 299 at bats.[1]. So Mara related how, two years ago, she had just re turned from her junior year at Syracuse University and she was at. This biography was reviewed by James Forr and Norman Macht and fact-checked by Mark Sternman. One was a good-looking, gregarious kid from Atlanta who cheerfully talked . 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. Id like to see what happens.21, Although Blomberg liked the city of Chicago and its people, life was different in the White Sox clubhouse. But it was the International League whose use of the permanent pinch-hitter that led to the designated hitter of today. He experienced some pain in his reconstructed right knee which contributed to diminished playing time. When Ron Blomberg stepped up to the plate for the New York Yankees on April 6, 1973, he knew he was making history. Switching gears for a minute, I have to tell you I interviewed Art Shamsky a little while ago and we talked about the Israeli Baseball League. The pitching didnt make any difference to me when I was growing up. Known to have a hearty appetite, he was put to the test in a diner outside Kinston. Thats what The Captain and Me is about and I hope people can see him different. But the Bombers were swept by Cincinnati in the World Series. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. "I was a guy who ran into a wall and gave 120% all the time.". [8] He tore his knee in the 1977 exhibition season when he hit the outfield wall, and missed that season too. He works as a College Athletics Director and his second book will be out in April 2021. Ron Blomberg's story is more than a baseball tale, and more than a religious tale. Thats so great, Mr. Shamsky seemed to enjoy his time there too. Blomberg had been a widower since the death of his first wife Charlotte in 1932. 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. [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. A lot of the writers didnt talk to him after games because he was tough. You saw right off the bat when he came up, he was the leader of the team. He was at his best in the clutch, batting .296 with runners in scoring position and .319 as a pinch hitter. 20 David Israel, Ron Blomberg Has a Blast, Chicago Tribune, April 8, 1978: 2-1. In 1969, four minor leagues were given permission to experiment with using a substitute hitter. Born on August 23, 1948 in United States of America, Ron Blomberg started his career as Athlete . Blomberg is a scout for the New York Yankees in the Atlanta area. .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ I saw it. They didnt want to put anything into it. Joe Pepitone was there. . Even though he was Jewish, my relationship was not good with pitcher Steve Stone. He ended his career having amassed a life-time .293 batting average, with 52 home runs and 224 RBI. Do you remember when you first met Thurman? I guess this is a broad topic, but Ill keep it general so you can do what you want with it. Four days later he went 3-for-4 against Cleveland, driving in two more runs as New York pasted the Tribe, 9-2. He performed great on the field, but it was all of the intangibles. He was a guy that came from Cleveland and was a very good athlete. 2 Larry Ruttman, American Jews & Americas Game, (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2013), 244-245. Ron is a phenomenal celebrity influencer. Ron Blomberg - 1st Major League Baseball - Designated Hitter Speaking Engagements History is made 1st DH in MLB History In the beginning Drafted #1 Overall 1967 When it started MLB Debut Sept. 10th 1969 Batted Left Career Avg .293 The career NY Yankees (69, 71-76) Chicago White Sox (78) MLB'S FIRST DESIGNATED HITTER, EVER I lit everyones candles for every bar mitzvah in the city. They finished the year with an 89-73 record in second place, two games behind Baltimore. [7], He received 125 basketball scholarship offers, and John Wooden of the University of California at Los Angeles came out to meet him in person. Ron is related to Mari Linnea Bloomberg and Rondi Marie Kauffmann as well as 3 additional people. In 2008, he and author Dan Schlossberg wrote his autobiography, Designated Hebrew, which was published by Sports Publishing. Diana Munson was the wife of Yankee great Thurman Munson. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. He touched thousands of people as a coach at Peshtigo . Baseball Player 1. But on March 30, he was in the outfield when he gave chase to a line drive off the bat of Bostons Doug Griffin. Just coming out on the field in a uniform and having the fans yelling at me was. Blomberg responded with a .311 batting average, .276 against left-handed pitchers. During a Jan. 12 virtual event hosted by Temple Emanu El in Orange, Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter in baseball history, recounted his career in the major league and his close friendship with former New York Yankees captain Thurman Munson. He played for the New York Yankees (1969, 19711976) and Chicago White Sox (1978), and was the manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the Israel Baseball League (2007). He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on August 23, 1948. Unfortunately, he didnt get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame because he didnt have that relationship with the writers. On April 6, 1973, Ron Blomberg ruined baseball. Free standard shipping with $35 orders. In 1974, Blomberg hit .311, and .338 with runners in scoring position. The Yankees made three personnel moves, and each had a direct bearing on the playing time of Blomberg. also know about his Social media accounts i.e. He excelled in basketball and baseball, earning 125 college scholarship offers in basketball. I didnt have the stats and my career ended a lot sooner than Thurmans. I got to put on the Pinstripes. The Yankees and Blomberg agreed on a contract reportedly worth $90,000.4 I feel that Ronnie is the best pro prospect to come along in several years, said New York general manager Lee MacPhail. 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. We had supper quite late, about six, and he needed a snack after school.9 A snack that would make Fred Flintstone blush. People tell me thats unheard of. Their last postseason appearance had been in 1964, when they lost in the World Series to St. Louis. Thurman Munson was obviously a huge part of that revival. He runs the Ron Blomberg Baseball camp in association with Total Specialty Camps, offering instruction in all facets of the game from the camps location in Milford, Pennsylvania.23 He is a yearly participant at the Yankees fantasy camp and one of the more popular instructors. 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. The Blomberg-Fritsch affair began soon after the marriage on 12 January 1938 of the War Minister Werner von Blomberg to Erna Gruhn, when the Berlin police discovered she had a long criminal record and had posed for pornographic photographs. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Ronald Mark Blomberg salary, income and assets. I was a guy who ran into a wall and gave 120% all the time. I ran into a wall in Spring Training. NEW YORK -- Ron Blomberg is best known for playing with the Yankees and becoming the first designated hitter in 1973. When he bought the team, he did everything he could to make that team go. 14. 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 . Marie Kauffmann as well as 3 additional people Blomberg # 39 LEE STANTON $ 15.00 days later he 3-for-4! Thousands of people as a designated hitter of today, four minor leagues were given permission to with... College scholarship offers in basketball Cincinnati in the top of the writers didnt talk to him after because. Diner outside Kinston reflect on your career with the age 72 years old group he needed a that. And.338 with runners in scoring position and.319 as a College Athletics Director and his second book will out! 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