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. What was it like when you met him for the first time? 12 Jim Ogle, Blombergs First DH Bat Earns Cooperstown Niche, The Sporting News, April 28, 1973: 17. But for now, were making the case for Munson, so come along as we go Spitballin with Ron Blomberg. 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. "[8][13] Hebecame a free agent at the end of the 1977 season. Your book has already gained a lot of attention and it hasnt even been officially released yet. If you can help us improve this players biography,contact us. Blomberg was not the only DH in the Yankees lineup that season, nor was he the most utilized at that spot in the batting order as Jim Ray Hart started most games as the DH. You can tell how much you love being a Yankee. On May 4, 1975, at Milwaukee, he suffered what was at first believed to be a right shoulder strain. 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. 176 pages, Hardcover. Once he left the park, he was a different guy. W. Taijuan Walker (1-0) L. Joan Adon (1-6) A left-handed batter, the 17-year-old was the only player to participate in every game, and led the team in most offensive categories, posting a.297 BA with 10 home runs. Ron Blomberg never meant to make history. Thanks for joining us, Mr. Blomberg. How do you think Thurman stacked up against those guys? As back-to-back #1 draft picks for the New York Yankees, Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson made for an odd couple. I met so many great people in my career and anytime I get back to New York City, everyone treats me so great. It felt as if I had been shot by a shotgun.17. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous Athlete One bit of good news was that Ron and Mara celebrated the birth of their son, Adam. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. By Ron Blomberg & Dan Epstein / Foreword by Diana Munson. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and I told Diana Munson I was going to do everything I can to get him into the Hall of Fame. I lit everyones candles for every bar mitzvah in the city. The couple tied the knot on October 25, 1970, in Elmira. New York Mets. I got drafted number one in the country and I got to play for the best team in the world. The Captain15Team is organized by retired Yankees Slugger and MLB's 1st Designated Hitter Ron "Boomer" Blomberg #12. The team was basically just a tax write off for them. All those great schools in the south. Blomberg appeared in three more games, starting twice, and went 3-for-6. Ron Blomberg's story is more than a baseball tale, and more than a religious tale. One of those offers came from UCLA, and Blomberg signed a letter of intent to play for coach John Wooden and the Bruins. The following spring, with his shoulder healed, Blomberg was having an outstanding spring training. But the visitors were shellacked, 15-5. Ron Blomberg, Major League Baseballs first designated hitter and the "great Jewish hope" of the New York Yankees during the 1970's, is an icon of boyhood dreams achieved. (64 KB) Taken at Mallard Pointe, Cedar Falls, Iowa, in May 2002. 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. A short video about the first field marshal in the Wehrmacht Werner von Blomberg (1878-1946) Now, over 40 years after Munson's shocking death in a plane crash at age 32, Blombergopens upto author Dan Epsteinabout the beloved Yankees captain in an extraordinary memoir that reaches far beyond baseball. But he kept the team together for the entire time he was there. But this is the one book that looks at Thurman off the field and the friendship we had. He should have been in long ago. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. He added a .360 on-base percentage and a .473 slugging average. [15], Ron Blomberg Stats | Baseball-Reference.com, "Ron Blomberg Career Batting Splits Baseball-Reference PI", "Former Yankee Blomberg remembers glory days", "Holtzman, Blomberg, Shamsky to manage in Israel League MLB CBSSports.com Baseball", "Baseball / IBL / Baseball, kosher-style Haaretz Israel News", "Designated Hebrew: The Ron Blomberg Story: Ron Blomberg, Dan Schlossberg: Books", "How I became the Yankees' Jewish star (and made friends with Thurman Munson along the way)", "Ex-Yankees slugger Ron Blomberg's new book 'The Captain & Me' chronicles close friendship with Thurman Munson", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Blomberg&oldid=1137742409, September 10,1969,for theNew York Yankees, October 12,1978,for theChicago White Sox, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 06:02. [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. They finished the year with an 89-73 record in second place, two games behind Baltimore. While at Manchester, Blomberg met his future wife, Mara Goldsmith, during a series at Elmira. One was outgoing and talkative (Blomberg) and the other sullen and grumpy (Munson). Darryl Hinton 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. Blomberg was the first major leaguer to bat as a designated hitter in a regular season game. GFM Werner von Blomberg, then Germany's defence minister, married Margarethe Gruhn at the War Ministry on January 12, 1938. I was very, very lucky to play with the greatest organization in the world. The designated hitter may have been created partially in response to the Year of the Pitcher in 1968 when hurlers dominated baseball. On the day, he was 2-for-5 with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Yankees 12-2 victory. 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 He did his own thing. The New York Yankees opened 1973 against arch-rival Boston at Fenway Park. 4 Jim Ogle, Yanks Nab Top Pick Blomberg For $90,000, The Sporting News, July 8, 1967: 13. 2 Larry Ruttman, American Jews & Americas Game, (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2013), 244-245. Blomberg marriage. Its selling like crazy. 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 . But I want to find out if he can hit them, and Im going to give him a good, long shot.15. July 24, 2021 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. 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. Blomberg, who went 1 for 3 on the day, was quite surprised at the gathering of reporters at his locker. Ron Blomberg was expected to carve a role in New York Yankees history when the franchise selected him with the No. I also had a football scholarship with Bear Bryant at Alabama. We had a great time there. The following season at Kinston of the Class A Carolina League, Blomberg was switched from first base to center field, a position he had never played. Blomberg made his debut with the Yankees as a 20-year-old September callup in 1969 then came up to stay in 1971. Once I signed with the Yankees, I could not play any type of college sports, said Blomberg. Many[who?] You now can have me personalize your copy with an inscription and autograph. Just coming out on the field in a uniform and having the fans yelling at me was. I lived my dream. There are a handful of players who most agree belong in the Hall of Fame who played during Blombergs era. When George came in the locker room, you knew right off the bat he was gonna lead. Please scroll down to see information about Ron Blomberg Social media profiles. Blomberg, a first basemanoutfielder, was unsure of what the new position entailed. You played in an era with some great catchers like Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. Blombergs Opening Day homer was the highlight of his year. Family Photos: Elizabeth Bennett Family (12 KB) Uncle Paul Brunning and Ron Blomberg. [14], In 2007 Blomberg received the city of Atlantas Phoenix Award from Mayor Shirley Franklin for his outstanding service and achievements, both as a professional athlete and citizen through his charitable works in Atlanta and throughout the country. Freiherr is a German title of nobility. Luckily, I did, and it was great!6, Like most young players, Blomberg was leaving home alone for the first time. This has been really enjoyable and its great to hear how much Thurman Munson meant to you personally and its really fantastic you are pushing him for the Hall of Fame. The Blombergs operated a jewelry store on Alabama Street in Atlanta. But it was the International League whose use of the permanent pinch-hitter that led to the designated hitter of today. I played against Fisk and Bench was great. By doctors orders, Blomberg wore a harness to immobilize his arm. Ron Blomberg is a member of the following lists: American Jews, People from New York City and People from Atlanta, Georgia.. Helen Blomberg's familty tree; Badgeguy's Family (3680 KB) All of the family and everybody that's married in. Houk resigned to take the managing job in Detroit. Maddox started in center field for most of the games (108) during the 1974 season. What he did for the organization, for the fans in New York and really fans across the country was incredible. A 34-40 record at the end of June landed them in fifth place of the AL West, but just five games behind first-place Texas. In addition, there were a lot of born-again Christians on the team who held regular prayer meetings. Nowadays, they scope it and youre ready to play in eight weeks. Youre basically pinch-hitting for the pitcher four times in the same game11, With two down in the top of the first inning, the Yankees loaded the bases to bring Blomberg to the plate. They have two children, daughter Chelsey who is a speech pathologist for Forsyth County Schools, and. Rons income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful American Athlete. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. I felt it tear when I swung and I knew I was in more trouble, said Blomberg. Despite his absence, Blombergs teammates did not forget about him. Known to have a hearty appetite, he was put to the test in a diner outside Kinston. Pay Less. 5 Like Share Most relevant Tony Miano 1y Ron Blomberg was born in Atlanta, GA on August 23, 1948. His first stop on the Yankees minor league chain was Johnson City, Tennessee, in the Rookie Appalachian League. Can you talk about Thurman and the Baseball Hall of Fame? This is Ron's. The former NL star had signed with the Red Sox in the off season after playing a year in Oakland in 1972. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. All rights reserved. Apr 17, 2022, 5:19 PM (GMT+3) baseball. Ron Blomberg girlfriend, wife list. Dan Epstein, a well-known baseball writer, assisted Blomberg, and Munson's widow wrote an introduction. 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. How did you become a baseball fan as a kid, and did you have any favorite players or teams? Munson made for an odd couple write off for them a regular season game was put the. The park, he was gon na lead of born-again Christians on the field in ron blomberg wife and. A tax write off for them pinch-hitter that led to the test in a uniform having! Greatest organization in the locker room, you knew right off the bat he gon... 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