Game Changers: DH Ron Blomberg

Boston. April 6, 1973. The Red Sox’s Luis Tiant walks Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter in Major League history, and a new baseball era officially commenced. As far back as the early twentieth century the idea for a designated hitter had supporters, like Hall of Famer Connie Mack. With pitchers ruling in 1968’s “Year of the Pitcher” it became apparent pitching was dominating the game, so a push for more offense followed. After some spring training trial runs, the American League was ready to try it for the 1973 season.

Thus, the honor of being the first designated hitter in MLB history fell to Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees.  A former Yanks overall first-round pick from 1967, Blomberg was a talented prospect for the Bronx Bombers. Let’s be clear. Blomberg was a great athlete. For example, in 1967 he was chosen for three Parade All-American teams—football, basketball, and baseball—the only person ever chosen to all three. He received 125 basketball and 100 football scholarship offers coming out of high school. Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden actually paid a visit to Georgia to see Blomberg play basketball.

The 1973 season was Blomberg’s career-best. In 100 games he hit .329 with 12 homers, 57 RBI and an excellent .395 OBP. Closer examination of his APBA card reveals good power numbers of 11-5, 33-6, and 66-1, along with three 7s and an additional 8. This is not far removed from his 1971 rookie card, which features a little more speed, but less power.  

Blomberg’s .293 career batting average ranks in the top ten all-time for Jewish baseball players. He loved playing in New York because of the large Jewish fan base and the attention it brought him. Blomberg was always proud of his Jewish heritage. As a matter of fact, in 2004 Blomberg was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and even titled his 2012 autobiography Designated Hebrew: The Ron Blomberg Story.

Injuries greatly curtailed Blomberg’s career. A particularly horrible 1977 knee injury cost him the entire season. By 1978 he retired at age 29. In 2007 Blomberg managed the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League. They won the league championship. 

The implementation of the designated hitter changed baseball—and it all started with Ron Blomberg. Perhaps most significantly, it extended the careers of legends like Carl Yastrzemski, Paul Molitor, and Harold Baines. It also became the primary position of stars like Edgar Martinez, Frank Thomas, Jim Thome and David Ortiz. Still, many purists will dismiss the designated hitter to this day—but don’t blame that on Ron Blomberg. He was just the designated original.