Ron "The Boomer" Blomberg

Ron who? Blomberg! Thats right your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. He used to play first base but nobody seems to be able to remember him or the team he played for, even though his jersey and bat were send to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

For Ron Blomberg it happens every year at exactly the same time. The media wave appears just before April 6, and then settles down in the days that follow. Sometimes the swell is larger than others, but every year without fail the wave comes crashing toward him. And the former first baseman will be fielding questions from over 100 new papers, radio men and TV cameras about the day in 1973 when he earned the honor of baseballs first designated hitter.

The designated hitter was originally adopted by the American League to improve its faltering fan base by adding an element of excitement with the replacement of the pitcher in the batting order, 30 years later the DH remains a one league phenomenon, continuously criticized in competition committees and barroom arguments. Baseball fans either love the DH or they hate it. There is not middle ground on this very controversial subject.

The Yankees selected Blomberg number one overall in the 1967 armature draft. He breezed though the minor leagues made his debut in Yankee pinstripes at the end of the 1969 season. Although he was hampered by injuries throughout his career, he was a .293 career hitter over his 8 years in Major League baseball. His career batting average did not get his jersey and bat into the baseball hall of fame in coopers town. But when he walked to the plate on that April day in 1973 the game of baseball would be forever changed. As baseballs first DH, Blomberg drew a walk and walked his way into the Hall of Fame

Lady Luck also played a major role in getting Blombergs memorabilia to the hall of fame. "Boomer" as he was known to teammates had pulled his hamstring muscle during the last week of spring training. Although he was never used as the DH during spring training in Florida, Yankee manager Ralf Houk inserted Blomberg in the DH role that day because it was below freezing in Boston and he did not to risk further injuring of Blombergs hamstring. Now established as the first Yankee DH, Blomberg still had to get to the plate in the first innings or the opportunity would shift Bostons DH and hall of famer Orlando Cepeda. As Lady Luck worked her magic Boston ace Louis Tiant got into trouble in the first innings and Blomberg came to bat with the bases loaded. The Blomberg walked and sealed his place in baseball history.

Although Blomberg hit .329 in 1973, drawing that walk on April 6 would be the one and only highlight of his career. He was injured half way through the 74 season and only played in 35 games during the 75 campaign. He again injured himself during spring training in 1976 and after playing in only 1 game the entire season the Yankees chose not to re-sign him. He spent all of 1977 in the minor leagues trying to regain his form having lost most of the last three to injuries. In 1978 he played 61 games with the Chicago White Sox, but after hitting just .231 in a back up role the White Sox released Blomberg and he retired from baseball. Blomberg still lives in his hometown of Roswell Georgia. He now spends his time coaching amature baseball teams and giving free batting instruction to young players.