You came up to the Yankees during a tough period, but they were building the team up to that late-70s success. [12] He played his final game for the White Sox on October 1, 1978, at 30 years of age. He loved people almost as much as he loved to eat. You may not have fulfilled all that potential, but Yankee fans respect you because you played hard and always wore the Pinstripes with pride. It is subtitled On and Off The Field with Thurman Munson. The Yankees played their home slate at the Mets Shea Stadium for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. But with this book, I want to do everything I could to get him in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, I came up and was going good but I got injured a lot. Yankee Stadium was shut down for two years as the ballpark underwent extensive renovations. When Ron was 13 years of age, his older brother Alan passed away from an undisclosed illness on April 20, 1961. 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). Blomberg, now 73, remains proud of his place in history. But he kept the team together for the entire time he was there. "No, you tell him; it's your story," Ron told his wife of nearly 10 months. His first stop on the Yankees minor league chain was Johnson City, Tennessee, in the Rookie Appalachian League. Since then, New York had swiftly descended in the AL standings, finishing in last place in 1966. The couple tied the knot on October 25, 1970, in Elmira. Blomberg grew up in Atlanta and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who had a better career as a young athlete. The Yankee fan favorite joins us for this week's edition of Spitballin'. 2 Larry Ruttman, American Jews & Americas Game, (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2013), 244-245. When U. Paul was visiting from El Cajon, California. . How did you become a baseball fan as a kid, and did you have any favorite players or teams? Ron Blomberg was born in Atlanta, GA on August 23, 1948. A powerful lefty and hard-nosed player, Blomberg was very productive when healthy. [7], Blomberg managed the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the 2007 inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League. Joe Pepitone was there. 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. Blomberg, a member of the Jewish Baseball Hall of Fame, has authored two books: his autobiography, "The Designated Hebrew," and "The Captain and Me," about his friendship with Munson. Drafted out of high school with the No. On June 30, manager Bob Lemon was fired and replaced by Larry Doby. 18 Saga of Series Swag.$1,182 to $27,758, The Sporting News, December 3, 1977: 57. I got drafted number one in the country and I got to play for the best team in the world. 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". [6] He was chosen for the Parade All-American teams in football, basketball, and baseball, the only person ever chosen for all three teams. But he had the finest offensive season of his career in 1973 with high marks in hits (99), runs (45), RBIs (57) and batting average (.329). Free standard shipping with $35 orders. 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. I definitely want to get into your book and thoughts on Thurman Munson, but first lets start at the beginning. Bosox skipper Eddie Kasko slated Cepeda to hit in the five-hole. Show your support and love for this mission with a shirt personally designed by Ron and his team. We are offering a discount with the Hall Of Fame package so you can have one shirt autographed to keep and one to love. One was a good-looking, gregarious kid from Atlanta who cheerfully talked . It's still possible to cover up - if only the 55 year old general Wilhelm Keitel, head of a department at the War Ministry, whose career Blomberg fostered - his daughter was married to Keitel's son - would cooperate. What was your first impression of George Steinbrenner? Along with being the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, he . There have been many great books written about Thurman and the way he played, including a great one by my friend Marty Appel. But it was the International League whose use of the permanent pinch-hitter that led to the designated hitter of today. 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. On this day in 1973, New York Yankees first baseman Ron Blomberg became the first designated hitter in MLB history.. Unfortunately, I had knee operations and shoulder operations, but there was nothing I could do about that. I was really lucky growing up because the only baseball games on TV were the Yankees. He touched thousands of people as a coach at Peshtigo . The league lasted one year, and my team was the champion and we beat Art for it. 15 Phil Pepe, Blomberg Faces Lefties in Desperation Move, The Sporting News, June 15, 1974: 16. On March 30, 1979, his career came to a screeching halt. There were constant Ku Klux Klan marches, with Klansmen wearing their pointed hats, giving out pamphlets that were anti-Semitic, anti-black and anti-Catholic.3. He wasnt this tough guy away from the field like he was in the locker room. . But against southpaws, he had little success. Expectations where high, as Ron was heralded as "the next Mickey Mantle." Though injuries would prevent Ron from ever matching "The Mick's" statistical glory, he still never failed to generate productive seasons, and was the . For the record, he walked. On the day, he was 2-for-5 with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Yankees 12-2 victory. Against left-handed pitching, he pulls away from the ball, he doesnt even break his wrists.13, The statistics support Houks statement. 12 Jim Ogle, Blombergs First DH Bat Earns Cooperstown Niche, The Sporting News, April 28, 1973: 17. I got drafted when I was 17 and they took me and my mom and dad on a trip up to New York City. NEW YORK -- Ron Blomberg is best known for playing with the Yankees and becoming the first designated hitter in 1973. 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. Blomberg takes great pride in that distinction. Piniella, the 1969 AL Rookie of the Year, would be a mainstay in the outfield in New York for the next 11 years. The deeply personal story of a friendship between two teammates, and of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself. Blomberg was a three-sport star at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta. They have also lived in Tacoma, WA and Puyallup, WA. Ronnie didnt eat that much, said his father. I guess this is a broad topic, but Ill keep it general so you can do what you want with it. 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). 1976 HOSTESS PANEL CARD #37 JOSE CARDENAL #38 RON BLOMBERG #39 LEE STANTON $ 15.00. Blomberg appeared in three more games, starting twice, and went 3-for-6. Thats what my book The Captain and Me is about. .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ [12] "I had four knee and two shoulder injuries," he said. 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. He was replaced by Bill Virdon, a center fielder for the Pirates in the 1960s who had managed the Bucs the previous two seasons. A. 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. 10 Jack Lang, Wild-Card Hitter to Get Trial in Four Minors Majors Watch Closely, The Sporting News, February 15, 1969: 45. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. While his career was an injury-riddled one that failed to meet high expectations, Blomberg earned a spot in Cooperstown thanks to his first at-bat on April 6, 1973, at Fenway Park. No matter what, he was gonna bring the Yankees to meet his highest expectations of himself and the fans. But I am gradually catching on.8. In the season opener against Boston, Blomberg brought the fans at Comiskey Park to their feet when he connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score at 5-5. So, how much is Ronald Mark Blomberg networth at the age of 72 years old? The Atlanta August 23, 1948-born Athlete expert is arguably the worlds most influential Ron Blomberg is expert, with a wide-ranging social media outreach. The only thing I didnt like was the food. 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. The main problem was that, as with many players who do not give an inch between the lines, injuries cut short his career. He was a guy who was a coach too. He started in right field in a home game against Washington on June 25 and stroked a two-run homer off the Senators Pete Broberg in the bottom of the third inning. Houk resigned to take the managing job in Detroit. You can tell how much you love being a Yankee. background-color:#ba3434; Ron Blomberg, better known by her family name Ronald Mark Blomberg, is a popular American Athlete. I have a couple more questions for you. 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. Retired baseball player Ron Blomberg has a theory as to why he gets invited to speak at so many different organizations. Von Blomberg first met Gruhn while taking a stroll through the Tiergarten in Berlin in September 1937. In 1974, Blomberg hit .311, and .338 with runners in scoring position. 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. By doctors orders, Blomberg wore a harness to immobilize his arm. 0. Ronald Mark Blomberg , nicknamed "Boomer", is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. A synagogue firebombing occurred just three blocks from our house and made national headlines, said Blomberg, as depicted in the movie Driving Miss Daisy. His contract was the cause of much derision and booing from the Comiskey Park fan base. It may have been happenstance that made Ron Blomberg own a piece of history as baseballs first designated hitter. Blomberg returned to the lineup in a month. I didnt blend in to the Chicago clubhouse as well as I had hoped. No matter what, he was there Blomberg # 39 LEE STANTON $ 15.00 any... 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