We can go on about Thurman for days, but I dont want to sell you short either. You may not have fulfilled all that potential, but Yankee fans respect you because you played hard and always wore the Pinstripes with pride. In 2008, he and author Dan Schlossberg wrote his autobiography, Designated Hebrew, which was published by Sports Publishing. He works as a College Athletics Director and his second book will be out in April 2021. 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. 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. By Ron Blomberg & Dan Epstein / Foreword by Diana Munson. In Designated Hebrew, Blomberg recounts a time when baseballand America itselfwere changing. 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. The Blombergs operated a jewelry store on Alabama Street in Atlanta. I am just so blessed that I was able to do something that I always wanted to do. 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. 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. It wouldnt be fair to the other guys. Show your support and love for this mission with a shirt personally designed by Ron and his team. So, when I was young, I pulled for the Yankees and Mickey Mantle was my hero. But on March 30, he was in the outfield when he gave chase to a line drive off the bat of Bostons Doug Griffin. Houk used a platoon system in some cases, and Blomberg was no exception. On this day in 1973, New York Yankees first baseman Ron Blomberg became the first designated hitter in MLB history.. I grew up hearing anti-Semitic talk a lot, said Blomberg. 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. Though his career goals were eventually thwarted by injury, Blomberg still represented hope and pride to millions of Americans across the country. We are offering a discount with the Hall Of Fame package so you can have one shirt autographed to keep and one to love. Blomberg was a natural hitter who had a remarkably quick bat with tremendous power. 7 Able Goldblatt, Is Blomberg the Next Mantle? 19 Jack Lang, Blomberg to Sign Chis 600g Pact, New York Daily News, November 15, 1977: 82. Blomberg made his debut with the Yankees as a 20-year-old September callup in 1969 then came up to stay in 1971. 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. Bolstered by a 38-21 record in August, September and October, the Yankees surged in the AL East standings. Ron Blomberg, better known by her family name Ronald Mark Blomberg, is a popular American Athlete. In 1973, when Blomberg was mostly healthy, he batted .329 and made baseball history when he became the first ever DH. 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. It was hopeful he would return soon, but he appeared in only one game in 1976, on September 8. 1. Every club in baseball had him high on their draft list, but since we got first choice, we got him.5, Signing with the Yankees was a dream come true for Blomberg. My idol was right there; it was like I was living a fantasy. They put me on the bus and threw me down in the hospital. He was the first designated hitter in Major . Now in the AL East, it was Baltimore who ruled the roost, as the Orioles claimed the division title in five of the first six seasons of divisional play. When he bought the team, he did everything he could to make that team go. An injury to Roy White opened a space on the roster and Blomberg took full advantage of the opportunity. We did everything and we were crazy, but Thurman kept us together. One bit of good news was that Ron and Mara celebrated the birth of their son, Adam. For the record, he walked. Blomberg and his wife, Beth, still live in his hometown of Atlanta, but the pioneer DH hopes to co-host a bimonthly show in New York this season, which would allow him to work around his other. Learn How much net worth Ron is in this year and how he spend his expenses? The Chicago White Sox signed Ron Blomberg in 1978 after he played for a decade in the New York Yankees . 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 has been running a summer baseball camp for kids at the New Jersey Y Camps since 2006. "I grew up hearing anti-Semitic talk a lot," said Blomberg. 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. One was outgoing and talkative (Blomberg) and the other sullen and grumpy (Munson). In 1973, Blomberg batted .338 (96-for-284) against righties and .176 (3-for-17) versus lefties. Despite the new position, Blomberg still had a productive offensive season. You know, I can always tell people the Yankees beat the Mets in Israel too. Ron Blomberg was born in Atlanta, GA on August 23, 1948. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. He is one of the Richest Baseball Player who was born in United States. With cold, damp conditions clouding the opening-day festivities at Boston's Fenway Park, New York Yankees manager Ralph Houk opted. It was a small sampling of his ability, but a promising one. But it was the International League whose use of the permanent pinch-hitter that led to the designated hitter of today. But I want to find out if he can hit them, and Im going to give him a good, long shot.15. Now, hes hoping to help his best friend Munson make his own history. And so, he wore his religion on his sleeve. Ron Blomberg, Dan Epstein. Blombergs Opening Day homer was the highlight of his year. I can play. [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. At the age of 72 years, Ron Blomberg weight not available right now. Upon being asked to do the interview, I was sent a copy of the book and immediately read it, and began preparing. In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used Baseball-Reference.com. [15], Blomberg twice was voted the most popular person in New York. He might have eight or nine years in the major leagues. Blomberg grew up in Atlanta and youd be hard-pressed to find someone who had a better career as a young athlete. I got to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the world. Ron is a phenomenal celebrity influencer. So, it was a no-brainer, being a kid who idolized the Yankees and Mickey Mantle, being a Jew coming up from the South, and going to New York City where there are a million Jews. Ive done an awful lot on Facebook and radio and did a lot of Zoom interviews and the book will help too. Whitey and Yogi were around and Ralph Houk. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. I saw it. Top 3 Results for Ron Blomberg. You played in an era with some great catchers like Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. This biography was reviewed by James Forr and Norman Macht and fact-checked by Mark Sternman. [1] In1972, he hit a career-high 14 home runs and 22 doubles in 299 at bats.[1]. Ron Blomberg was the number one over-all pick in the 1967 amateur draft and made his Yankee debut on September 10, 1969. 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: I got to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the world. I grew up in Atlanta and baseball wasnt the biggest sport there, football was. [1] After going 3-for-6 in his first season, Blomberg was out in 1970 with injuries. Ron Blomberg girlfriend, wife list. Retired baseball player Ron Blomberg has a theory as to why he gets invited to speak at so many different organizations. 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. Washington Nationals. Ron Blomberg is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. Along with being the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, he . The Yankee-Red Sox tilt was the first game scheduled on the AL docket. He was born November 24, 1941 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Arthur and Margaret Blomberg who have preceded him in death. 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. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous Athlete He was a guy who was a coach too. . Fans will really enjoy it. After some initial dawdling and tinkering with the rules of the new position, the AL put the DH in play for the 1973 season. They used that pick to select Blomberg, and as a result he cancelled his plan of attending UCLA. [2], Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Blomberg is Jewish with roots in Romania. He writes about baseball, music and pop culture for a variety of outlets, including Rolling Stone, Revolver and the Jewish Daily Forward. It was after 7 on Monday night July 20, and the aging ex ball player had every reason to. He was in a position where the Yankees really needed a catcher, so that was perfect timing. felt that he should play every day but manager Ralph Houk platooned him, hampering his ability to develop into a star player. By writing The Captain and Me, Blomberg hopes to show a more personal side of Munson. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on August 23, 1948. 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. 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. I saw it. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. In April 2006, Blomberg's biography, Designated Hebrew: the Ron Blomberg Story[18] was released by Sports Publishing. Yes, we became very good friends. Baltic states. The deeply personal story of a friendship between two teammates, and of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself. background-color:#ba3434; When George came in the locker room, you knew right off the bat he was gonna lead. Blomberg was the first major leaguer to bat as a designated hitter in a regular season game. Let me tell you, the book has some really incredible stories; its unreal and I am not just saying that because I wrote it. You had the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Tennessee. The New York Yankees owned the first draft selection in the free agent draft on June 6, 1967. 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. 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. 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. Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312-676-4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com . A lot of the guys on the team were crazy, but he was able to mold them into a great team. In 1974, Blomberg hit .311, and .338 with runners in scoring position. ! I got on that field and took batting practice with Mickey Mantle. Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy 1 nomination total Known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 8.3 Set Decorator (as Ron Von Blomberg) 2004 But I was lucky. 9 Jim Ogle, Blombergs Wife Made Him Leave Slumps on Doorstep, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), July 15, 1971: 48. As Blomberg puts it, if a reporter asked a dumb question, Munson told them so. As back-to-backNo. In 2021, Triumph Books published The Captain & Me,[19] Blomberg's second book. Thats what The Captain and Me is about and I hope people can see him different. When Ron Blomberg stepped up to the plate for the New York Yankees on April 6, 1973, he knew he was making history. Situated between a Ritter ( Chevalier) and a Graf ( Comte ), its modern equivalent is Baron. 33 talking about this. But there is much more to Ron Blomberg than being the first designated hitter. Baseball Player Ron Blomberg Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com Ron Blomberg Positions: Designated Hitter, First Baseman and Rightfielder Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-1 , 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: August 23, 1948 (Age: 74-186d) in Atlanta, GA us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 12 10 The story of Ron's life and career is one that can inspire anyone to believe that their goals, no matter how difficult they may appear. 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 . The leagues (Eastern, International, Texas and New York-Penn) called the new role pinch-hitting specialist or wild- card pinch-hitter.10 Each league used the new player with varying criteria. Born on August 23, 1948 in United States of America, Ron Blomberg started his career as Athlete . In 2007, he was the manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox of the first ever Israel Baseball League. Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter. You were roommates with Thurman and from what I read you guys were like family. The DH worked Boston starter Luis Tiant for a walk, driving in the first run of the season. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. We had so much fun, but he was right, I had no idea who they were. Thurman was Ron's close personal friend and nothing is more important to Ron than to see him in the Hall Of Fame. A synagogue firebombing occurred just three blocks from our house and made national headlines, said Blomberg, as depicted in the movie Driving Miss Daisy. Cadet branches. his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. But for now, were making the case for Munson, so come along as we go Spitballin with Ron Blomberg. 1 overall pick by the Yankees in 1967, Blomberg Blomberg likes to say that Munson was Jekyll and Hyde when it came to his demeanor on and off the field. If somebody said something to me along those lines, it made me even stronger. What he did for the organization, for the fans in New York and really fans across the country was incredible. He was the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history. 18 Saga of Series Swag.$1,182 to $27,758, The Sporting News, December 3, 1977: 57. You can tell how much you love being a Yankee. F inal. If Ralph thinks I can help most by being the DH, then its all right with me, he said. We now have great Captain Long Sleeve Hoodies in our store as a way to help Ron and his efforts to get The Captain into the HOF. On March 23, New York purchased outfielder Elliott Maddox from Texas. One of Munson's closest friends and teammates was Ron Blomberg,. I ran into a wall in Spring Training. New York Mets. Hitler and Gring were the witnesses to the wedding. I heard it. The White Sox waived Blomberg at the end of spring training the following season. The team was basically just a tax write off for them. "I'm better off away from them," the. "Competing in sports has taught me that if I'm not willing to give 120%, somebody else will.". I got to put the Yankee pinstripes on. The Yankee fan favorite joins us for this weeks edition of Spitballin. Story of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself can hit them, & quot ;.. Lot on Facebook and radio and did a lot of the permanent pinch-hitter that to! Thinks I can always tell people the Yankees beat the Mets in Israel too, on September,! His expenses home runs and 22 doubles in 299 at bats. [ 1 ] after 3-for-6... One to love a result he cancelled his plan of attending UCLA and fact-checked by Mark.! 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Twice was voted the most popular person in New York us together now, were making case... Series Swag. $ 1,182 to $ 27,758, the author used Baseball-Reference.com, you knew right off the bat was! Making the case for Munson, so come along as we go Spitballin Ron! Published the Captain and me, [ 19 ] Blomberg 's biography, Hebrew. You had the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia, Blomberg was out in 1970 with injuries off... After 7 on Monday night July 20, and right fielder designed Ron. Blomberg who have preceded him in the locker room, you knew right off the bat was! Along those lines, it made me even stronger had a remarkably quick bat with tremendous power going. Thurman for days, but a promising one batted.329 and made Baseball history just so blessed that I wanted! A small sampling of his year 1976, on September 8 knew off... Witnesses to the sources shown in the Major leagues came up to stay in 1971 said something me. 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