But I was lucky. 1 draft picks for the New York Yankees, Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson made for an odd couple. Yankee Stadium was shut down for two years as the ballpark underwent extensive renovations. [8] He tore his knee in the 1977 exhibition season when he hit the outfield wall, and missed that season too. 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 he kept the team together for the entire time he was there. He went to Williams College, but was very big at the University of Michigan. Rons income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful American Athlete. He was the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history. But as he was entering his prime, injuries cost Blomberg . [1] After going 3-for-6 in his first season, Blomberg was out in 1970 with injuries. 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. It was a small sampling of his ability, but a promising one. So Mara related how, two years ago, she had just re turned from her junior year at Syracuse University and she was at. Like Blomberg, Chambliss was a left-handed batter, and he would be the starting first sacker for the next several seasons. His lifetime record at Marist, from 1975-2005, was 616-199 . You had an incredible scholastic career as a football, baseball and basketball All-American. Upon being asked to do the interview, I was sent a copy of the book and immediately read it, and began preparing. At the age of 72 years, Ron Blomberg weight not available right now. Please help Baseball Wiki by revising it. On the day, he was 2-for-5 with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Yankees 12-2 victory. But I am gradually catching on.8. The deeply personal story of a friendship between two teammates, and of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself. Then he saw the crowd joining them to daven behind the food concession. It was after 7 on Monday night July 20, and the aging ex ball player had every reason to. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, NetWorth & Know More. I hope he does. Being a number one pick like myself, we became good friends. Nowadays, they scope it and youre ready to play in eight weeks. "No, you tell him; it's your story," Ron told his wife of nearly 10 months. On October 22, New York shipped Bobby Murcer to San Francisco for Bobby Bonds. Thats what The Captain and Me is about and I hope people can see him different. [1] In1972, he hit a career-high 14 home runs and 22 doubles in 299 at bats.[1]. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. We had crazy guys on that team, thats why they called it The Bronx Zoo. Blomberg, who went 1 for 3 on the day, was quite surprised at the gathering of reporters at his locker. My conviction was strong.2, Many of Blombergs teammates in youth baseball leagues did not know or had never met a Jewish person. In addition, there were a lot of born-again Christians on the team who held regular prayer meetings. 1draft picks for the New York Yankees, Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson made for an odd couple. In 1971, Blomberg began the season at Syracuse. On June 30, manager Bob Lemon was fired and replaced by Larry Doby. [12], The White Sox signed Blomberg as a free agent for $300,000 in 1978. The best result we found for your search is Ron W Blomberg age 70s in Lebanon, TN. For 87 years, Ron Blomberg was one of those special people. 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. 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. Back then, when you got injured, you didnt have modern medical technology. I got drafted when I was 17 and they took me and my mom and dad on a trip up to New York City. 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. The matter reaches the Fhrer. 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. Blomberg was not receiving much of an opportunity to face southpaws. 10 Jack Lang, Wild-Card Hitter to Get Trial in Four Minors Majors Watch Closely, The Sporting News, February 15, 1969: 45. Ron Blomberg is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. Ron along with many great fans will boost the charge and do whatever humanly possible to make this happen. On April 6, 1973, Blomberg, nursing a sore hamstring, faced Boston's Luis Tiant, becoming the game's first-ever designated hitter. It felt as if I had been shot by a shotgun.17. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. At 1:53 p.m., New York's Ron Blomberg became Major League Baseball's first designated hitter when he took ball one. It was a big improvement, and a giant obstacle overcome by Blomberg. The New York Yankees have been blessed with some of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game. One of those players is Ron Blomberg. Expect More. Ron Blomberg was born in Atlanta, GA on August 23, 1948. 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. I was contacted by one of his representatives at Triumph Books and was told I would have about a half hour . Despite receiving 125 college basketball scholarships including one from John Wooden at UCLA,. American Jews & Americas Game: 242. 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. Can you talk about your friendship with him? I was very, very lucky. In April 2006, Blomberg's biography, Designated Hebrew: the Ron Blomberg Story[18] was released by Sports Publishing. Blombergalso offers a fascinatingglimpseintobaseballhistory,includingthe first-ever strike and lockout,theescalationof theYankeesRedSox rivalry, and thestartoffull-scale free agency. The club offered to send him to AAA Iowa, but Blomberg refused. You had the Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Tennessee. But if you can hit, you can hit anybody.14. Blomberg hit the free agent market and signed a four-year pact worth a reported $600,000 with the Chicago White Sox.19 Chicago was coming off a tremendous year in 1977. Even though he was Jewish, my relationship was not good with pitcher Steve Stone. But the Bombers were swept by Cincinnati in the World Series. Expansion caused each league to be split into two divisions of six teams apiece. Ron Blomberg - 1978 Ron Blomberg is someone that the White Sox should have avoided. They kept him out of the Hall of Fame because he was tough at the ballpark to writers. I grew up hearing anti-Semitic talk a lot, said Blomberg. I have a couple more questions for you. "I was a guy who ran into a wall and gave 120% all the time.". I dont know if Im supposed to say it, but theres even been some talk about making a documentary about it, thats how good it is. [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. Just as Blomberg was coming into his prime, he missed virtually two full seasons. Now, you pull a hamstring, and you take your time to recover. But hes right, I didnt know anyone. Ilived in Riverdale, and when I was injured, people came up to me and waved to me and hugged me. 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. Blombergs career statistics included a .293 batting average with 52 home runs and 224 RBIs. I got drafted number one in the country and I got to play for the best team in the world. Whitey and Yogi were around and Ralph Houk. His first stop on the Yankees minor league chain was Johnson City, Tennessee, in the Rookie Appalachian League. My first interview was with Walter Cronkite and it took off from there. He attended DeKalb Junior College part-time, and later majored in psychology at Farleigh Dickinson University.[6]. 20 David Israel, Ron Blomberg Has a Blast, Chicago Tribune, April 8, 1978: 2-1. I also had a football scholarship with Bear Bryant at Alabama. But he didn't . Also learn about how he is rich at the age of 49 years old? Maddox started in center field for most of the games (108) during the 1974 season. I didnt have the stats and my career ended a lot sooner than Thurmans. They took us out to the stadium and there were only about 7,000 people at the game because they didnt have the greatest team. Bosox skipper Eddie Kasko slated Cepeda to hit in the five-hole. In 2007, he was the manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox of the first ever Israel Baseball League. I also feel like I am blessed to be able to write a book about my best friend. When Ron was 13 years of age, his older brother Alan passed away from an undisclosed illness on April 20, 1961. We did everything and we were crazy, but Thurman kept us together. I got to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the world. I was really lucky growing up because the only baseball games on TV were the Yankees. 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. Through a quirk of fate the young Jewish Yankee became the first designated hitter to play an MLB game. [9], Blomberg was selected by the Yankees with the first overall pick of the 1967 amateur draft, and signed for $75,000 ($610,000 today). Now they have trainers and nutritionists and are really taken care of. It's the story of a Designated Hebrew?and there is no other tale quite like it. 3 Peter Ephross with Martin Abramowitz, Jewish Major Leaguers: In Their Own Words, (Jefferson, NC: McFarland 2012), 156. My idol was right there; it was like I was living a fantasy. You played in an era with some great catchers like Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. Blomberg is using the book to advocate for Munson's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[20]. It wouldnt be fair to the other guys. I cant blame him for wanting to catch on right away in the majors. 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. 23 https://totalspecialtycamps.org/excel-in-sports/baseball/ Accessed March 21, 2021. A lot of the writers didnt talk to him after games because he was tough. 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 Atlanta August 23, 1948-born Athlete expert is arguably the worlds most influential Ron Blomberg is expert, with a wide-ranging social media outreach. Ron Blomberg was the number one over-all pick in the 1967 amateur draft and made his Yankee debut on September 10, 1969. Im gonna lead you to be a good team. Thats why he became the captain. The Blombergs operated a jewelry store on Alabama Street in Atlanta. Thurman was like George. Injuries ended Blombergs time in the Bronx. 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. But against southpaws, he had little success. The Yankee fan favorite joins us for this week's edition of Spitballin'. 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. 1992 The Wiz/American Express New York Yankees of the '60's - [Base] #_ROBL. Rocco is a baseball writer with too much time on his hands who lives in the dusty corners of Baseball Reference. "[8][13] Hebecame a free agent at the end of the 1977 season. [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. 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. Blomberg returned to the lineup in a month. 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. 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). he is one of famous Athlete with the age 72 years old group. "[7] He also received 100 football scholarship offers. Luckily for baseball, Blomberg chose to wear the Pinstripes like his boyhood idol Mickey Mantle. When Ron Blomberg stepped up to the plate for the New York Yankees on April 6, 1973, he knew he was making history. I am getting better, but Im not a natural [as a complete player].12. Being Jewish and living in the South, there werent too many of us there. Four days later he went 3-for-4 against Cleveland, driving in two more runs as New York pasted the Tribe, 9-2. I love to play, but I know Im a better hitter than anything else. I was very, very lucky to play with the greatest organization in the world. . 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 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. 2 Bid - 1972 Topps Set-Break #203 Ron Blomberg NR-MINT *GMCARDS* $ 0.79. 1 Obituaries, Atlanta Constitution, April 22, 2961: 18. [12] He played his final game for the White Sox on October 1, 1978, at 30 years of age. What do you think of the way fans have been reacting to The Captain and Me? 14. Dan Epstein, a well-known baseball writer, assisted Blomberg, and Munson's widow wrote an introduction. He would get in your face in a second if he didnt like something, but that was only at the ballpark. 1 overall pick in the 1967 MLB draft. Its a different type of book, all of the personal stories off the field. Unfortunately, his long-range plans were interrupted by constant injuries. 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. 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. Once he left the park, he was a different guy. In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used Baseball-Reference.com. [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. Ron Blomberg played for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox during his eight seasons in the Major Leagues. Helen Blomberg's familty tree; Badgeguy's Family (3680 KB) All of the family and everybody that's married in. 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. Top 3 Results for Ron Blomberg. He played on different teams with different guys, but he was always the glue that held it all together. Ron Blomberg's story is more than a baseball tale, and more than a religious tale. A terrible scandal. 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 64 games, Blomberg batted .322, with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. What was it like when you met him for the first time? Not so much against Carter because he was in the National League, but they all had great careers. F inal. I got to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the world. Bolstered by a 38-21 record in August, September and October, the Yankees surged in the AL East standings. RON BLOMBERG 2003 UD YANKEES SIGNATURE SERIES AUTOGRAPH CARD !! Youre talking about three Hall of Famers right off the bat. Luckily, I did, and it was great!6, Like most young players, Blomberg was leaving home alone for the first time. Free standard shipping with $35 orders. They took me down on the field to take batting practice and Mickey Mantle was walking around. He did everything he could to get a winner, and he did. 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. The University of Michigan author used Baseball-Reference.com though the meetings were supposed to be a good.... 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