The New York Yankees owned the first draft selection in the free agent draft on June 6, 1967. Turn Back the Clock - 1973 Ron Blomberg. In this heart-warming autobiography, now in paperback, Blomberg relives the moment that made his career and the countless experiences before and after that helped boost him to legendary heights. Ronald Mark Blomberg (born August 23, 1948), nicknamed "Boomer", is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. Its a different type of book, all of the personal stories off the field. 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. I am a steak and potato guy; I didnt like Mediterranean food. 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. I got to put the Yankee pinstripes on. his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. I was really lucky growing up because the only baseball games on TV were the Yankees. 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. On March 23, New York purchased outfielder Elliott Maddox from Texas. Dan Epstein, a well-known baseball writer, assisted Blomberg, and Munson's widow wrote an introduction. It was the greatest rush of my life, he said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. Expect More. Learn How much net worth Ron is in this year and how he spend his expenses? So Mara related how, two years ago, she had just re turned from her junior year at Syracuse University and she was at. 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. Against left-handed pitching, he pulls away from the ball, he doesnt even break his wrists.13, The statistics support Houks statement. I was very, very lucky. 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. A terrible scandal. This illuminating remembrance of Munsonisfilled with untold stories about his analytical-yet-hard-nosed approach to baseball, as well as his kindness and generosity off the field. But I am gradually catching on.8. Before Blomberg arrived in New York, the Yankees only employed three Jews in the entire organization. But nobody confronted Blomberg because he was often the best player on whatever team he played for. Even though he was Jewish, my relationship was not good with pitcher Steve Stone. But on March 30, he was in the outfield when he gave chase to a line drive off the bat of Bostons Doug Griffin. Thurman was like George. Helen L. Blomberg (207 KB) He writes about baseball, music and pop culture for a variety of outlets, including Rolling Stone, Revolver and the Jewish Daily Forward. The Yankee fan favorite joins us for this weeks edition of Spitballin. Blomberg is using the book to advocate for Munson's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[20]. And trust me, when he lays that moniker on you in conversation, you feel like youre one of his old Yankee pals he reveres so much. Blomberg, a Jewish superstar athlete from Georgia, and the gruff Munson were roommates for five years and were more family than they were friends. Then I just started babbling, I guess. 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. The popular Yankee, who is best known as the first Designated Hitter in baseball history, wants to see to it that his best friend, Thurman Munson, gains his rightful place in Cooperstown sooner rather than later. By doctors orders, Blomberg wore a harness to immobilize his arm. [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). 1 Obituaries, Atlanta Constitution, April 22, 2961: 18. I hope he does. Blomberg also likes to call people Big Guy, no matter how big or small you might be. All those great schools in the south. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. My parents had always told me you have to have a strong faith, you will always have adversities in life, people will be against the Jews, that I had to watch out for it and had to be a lot stronger. [7], Blomberg managed the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the 2007 inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League. He likes early 20th century baseball nicknames, pullover polyester jerseys and Old Hoss Radbourn. 10 Jack Lang, Wild-Card Hitter to Get Trial in Four Minors Majors Watch Closely, The Sporting News, February 15, 1969: 45. One of Munson's closest friends and teammates was Ron Blomberg,. He made his major league debut on September 10 at RFK Stadium. After some initial testing of the shoulder, doctors determined that the injured biceps muscle may heal on its own. [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. You think about Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig and you dont want to miss time. In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used Baseball-Reference.com. There have been many great books written about Thurman and the way he played, including a great one by my friend Marty Appel. felt that he should play every day but manager Ralph Houk platooned him, hampering his ability to develop into a star player. In 2021, Blomberg, along with Dan Epstein, authored The Captain and Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson. Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312-676-4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com . Blomberg grew up in Atlanta and youd be hard-pressed to find someone who had a better career as a young athlete. Born on August 23, 1948 in United States of America, Ron Blomberg started his career as Athlete . In 64 games, Blomberg batted .322, with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. Maddox started in center field for most of the games (108) during the 1974 season. You better give 120% or he was gonna get rid of you. I love to play, but I know Im a better hitter than anything else. The short right field porch at Yankee Stadium lent itself to being a cornucopia of home runs for left-handed hitters capable of developing a power stroke. Unfortunately, he didnt get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame because he didnt have that relationship with the writers. I feel like my book is great. 3 Peter Ephross with Martin Abramowitz, Jewish Major Leaguers: In Their Own Words, (Jefferson, NC: McFarland 2012), 156. He was injured in 1975, and missed all but one game of the pennant-winning 1976 season. 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. Please help Baseball Wiki by revising it. He played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. RECEIVE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY AND ADD A PERSONAL INSCRIPTION WHEN CHECKING OUT. available now DESIGNATED hebrew AUTOGRAPHED COPIES First published March 1, 2006. 19 Jack Lang, Blomberg to Sign Chis 600g Pact, New York Daily News, November 15, 1977: 82. Blomberg was the first major leaguer to bat as a designated hitter in a regular season game. "[4], Through 2010, he was seventh all-time in career batting average (behind Hank Greenberg, Ryan Braun, Buddy Myer, Lou Boudreau, Phil Weintraub, and Kevin Youkilis) among Jewish major league baseball players. 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. Murcer and Bonds were both outfielders who could hit the long ball and steal some bases, although Bonds was more proficient in each category. Blomberg made his debut with the Yankees as a 20-year-old September callup in 1969 then came up to stay in 1971. 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. I was very, very lucky to play with the greatest organization in the world. Blomberg, a member of the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, will tell more tales of his years as a Yankee slugger, as well as his stint managing the Israel Baseball League's Beit Shemesh Blue Sox, at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Men's Night Out event on Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Now, you pull a hamstring, and you take your time to recover. But against southpaws, he had little success. Once I signed with the Yankees, I could not play any type of college sports, said Blomberg. I was very, very lucky. 15 Phil Pepe, Blomberg Faces Lefties in Desperation Move, The Sporting News, June 15, 1974: 16. 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. Youll have to read it. A lot of the guys on the team were crazy, but he was able to mold them into a great team. Not so much against Carter because he was in the National League, but they all had great careers. After his retirement from baseball in 1978, Blomberg worked with numerous charitable organizations, most recently the Israel Cancer Research Fund, where he serves as honorary chairman and spokesperson. You saw right off the bat when he came up, he was the leader of the team. 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. 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). As back-to-back No. But I want to find out if he can hit them, and Im going to give him a good, long shot.15. 1. 12 Jim Ogle, Blombergs First DH Bat Earns Cooperstown Niche, The Sporting News, April 28, 1973: 17. This time, the injury was in a different location and he traveled to California to have surgery on April 16 to mend the tendinitis in his biceps. 2 Bid - 1972 Topps Set-Break #203 Ron Blomberg NR-MINT *GMCARDS* $ 0.79. They took me down on the field to take batting practice and Mickey Mantle was walking around. 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 deeply personal story of a friendship between two teammates, and of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself. With cold, damp conditions clouding the opening-day festivities at Boston's Fenway Park, New York Yankees manager Ralph Houk opted. He wasnt this tough guy away from the field like he was in the locker room. What was your perspective of that as Thurmans best friend? In Designated Hebrew, Blomberg recounts a time when baseballand America itselfwere changing. background-color:#ba3434; The Yankees were figuring that with Bonds, a right-handed batter in the lineup, they would face more right-handed hurlers. There are a handful of players who most agree belong in the Hall of Fame who played during Blombergs era. Hitler and Gring were the witnesses to the wedding. 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