Family. Beyond the
obvious, it’s a term generally used to describe a special bond between two or
more people. The word represents images of
caring, unity, and kinship.
(In Photo: Ron Blomberg)
I had the privilege to speak with Ron Blomberg – the former
Yankee first baseman/outfielder, and Major League Baseball’s first ever
designated hitter. He, along with Mickey Rivers, is an honorary starter for the Damon Runyon 5K run/walk for CancerResearch at Yankee Stadium on August 12th.
Through our entire discussion, the theme of “family”
repeatedly came up – and rightly so. How
can it not when discussing the courageous fight of those affected by cancer? They form a very large,
close-knit community of victims and supporters, and in the end...they are family.
Our talk transitioned from one “family” to the next – the
Yankee family. With both, I could sense a
deep passion from Mr. Blomberg. He genuinely
cares about those he directs his generosity to, as well as those he shared
dugout steps with in the early 70’s.
As a kid in upstate New York, I remember plopping down in
front of the TV to watch my beloved Yankees during those years. They didn’t win championships, and often they
struggled. It was a frustrating era for
fans of the Bombers. One of the team’s
real offensive threats was Ron Blomberg, and I can recall thinking each time he
stepped to the plate that number twelve was our best chance at either getting
back into a game, or taking a lead. He
really was, for me, one of the good memories of those barren seasons.
Without further ado, and with a very special “thank you” to
a true-blue Yankee, here is our interview with Ron Blomberg.
BYB: Mr. Blomberg, how special is it to be an honorary starter with Mickey Rivers for the
Damon Runyon 5k run/walk at Yankee Stadium for you?
Ron Blomberg: It is a big
honor for myself and for Mickey. Anytime you’ve been out of baseball for many
years and they ask you to do something like this, it makes you feel very wanted.
I’ve been very lucky in my life that I have two doctors as kids that I
understand what cancer is all about. I travel all around doing charity
events like this across the country. Just to be part of this at Yankee
stadium and to do something with the ribbon (ceremony) it means an awful lot to
me.
BYB: I know you’ve been Honorary Chairman of the Israel Cancer Research
Fund. Is that how you came to be so involved with cancer research?
Ron Blomberg: No, not
really. I was however very involved when Catfish Hunter passed away with
ALS. I do so many events in Atlanta, New York and all across the
country. To be affiliated with something that you really truly believe in
makes you feel good. As an athlete I was very lucky in my life and I look
at fans as the heroes, not me as the hero. So, if I can help somebody in
different situations, it’s great.
BYB: You played nearly all of your career with the Yankees. Describe
the Yankee clubhouse from 1971 to 1975 – how was that?
Ron Blomberg: When I first signed
with the Yankees it was not with the Steinbrenners and it was not a good
team. When George first took over it was probably a middle-of-the-road
team. The clubhouse was unbelievable. We still had players like
Thurman Munson, Roy White, Bobby Murcer, Fritz Peterson, Mike Kekich, Gene Michael. I’m very close with the Steinbrenners – Hal, Hank and
Jennifer. They are like second parents to me and they take very good care
of me. I do many things at the stadium and am so much
involved. I bleed Yankee blue and I’m very, very proud of it. When
George came along, you could tell we had a great team. 
(In Photo: Oscar Gamble)
We had Mickey
Rivers, Oscar Gamble, Catfish Hunter, Chris Chambliss, Spark Lyle and Reggie of
course. George Steinbrenner was like a second father to me and he
was a wonderful human being. To this day I think that he is by far the
greatest boss I’ve ever had, and they are by far – outside of my own family –
the best family I’ve ever met throughout my lifetime.
BYB: From those teams you played for, who were the guys you hung around
with?
Ron Blomberg: Well I was very, very
close with Thurman. He was my roommate for four years. My friends
on the team included: Chris Chambliss, Mel Stottlemyre, Oscar Gamble,
Mickey Rivers and Elston Howard - who was a coach. I also hung around all
season with Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bill White. Back then, it’s
not like it is today. We became very close because number one- we did not
make any money. We had to do things together. We had to go to the
ballpark together, and we went out together in the evenings to eat on road
trips. We couldn’t go out and spend $50 - $60 back then for a steak
because we made like $8 or $9 a day for meal money. The financial
situation is much easier now, but I would not trade my time that I played with
the Yankee organization with the time now because we were so close knit.
You know, we go to Old Timers’ Day and see Derek, Mo, Tino, Posada, and all
those guys and they are like brothers to us. It was big for us
(when we were players) when we’d go and see Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.
We go into the clubhouse these days and the guys open their arms to us because
they know that one day they’ll be in the same situation.
BYB: Ron, everyone knows you as the first designated hitter in MLB
history. How did that come about, and did you enjoy it?
Ron Blomberg: Well, you know I
screwed up the game in 1973 being the first DH. To be honest, I thought I
was a glorified pinch-hitter. When I played DH, it was just a
pinch-hitter. No one knew what it would eventually be. How I became
it – I had a pulled hamstring down in spring training. I came off a good
year in 1972 and was having a good spring in ‘73. They didn’t want to put
me on the DL because we were supposed to break camp five days later .
They asked me if I would be the DH against Luis Tiant up in Boston. I
said “of course” because I didn’t want to go on the DL. I thought it was
going to die just like the designated runner did. I never thought it was
going to be this big.
Recently, I had Paul Konerko come up
to me and thank me for extending his career five more years.
Yes, I changed history in ’73 and
50% of the people liked it and 50% of the people hated it. I don’t think
the National League will ever adopt it. It’s great to be part of baseball
history and be noticed because of it. People recognize me when I make
airplane reservations or hotel reservations. It’s really been fun for me.
BYB: How do you think Derek Jeter would have handled the
clubhouse of the ‘70s – back when you played?
Ron Blomberg: Derek is a
unique player. He is a wonderful human being. He never gets into
trouble and he is great with the people and great with charity. He is
great for baseball. He would have conformed to our clubhouse. I think the
guy that would really relate to our clubhouse would be Nick Swisher.
Swish is great for the game of baseball. He puts a smile on people’s
faces. People love him because he’s fun.
The Yankees as a whole are a
different breed. George Steinbrenner has conformed, but didn’t
force, these guys into a family and that’s why Old Timer’s Day is so
gratifying.
Here’s a prime example: Cecil Fielder spent most of his career in Detroit, and he comes back (to Old Timer’s
Day) because he spent a couple of years with the Yankees. He told me
there’s no way that the Tigers would do this. The Yankees are the only
team that would. It’s a family. It’s a very simple thing. If
you feel you are a part of a family you react to it and you do things for
others in the family.
(In Photo: Mickey Mantle)
BYB: Growing up, who did you admire the most in baseball?
Ron Blomberg: Mickey
Mantle. Mickey Mantle was my idol and I met him when I was 17 and signed
with the Yankees. He was always very nice to me. He was part of the
“family” and was great to me and my family.
BYB: What player or players from your day do you still stay in touch with?
Ron Blomberg: Mickey Rivers,
Oscar Gamble, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage, Roy White and lots of guys. I talk to
them in the off-season and see them at golf tournaments. We are all part
of a “family”. It’s like anyone’s family. You don’t call them up
every week , but we contact one another if say, unfortunately someone is
ill. We stay in tune with each other.
BYB: People don’t realize that your nickname was “Boomer” long
before David Wells had that nickname. Who gave you that name?
Ron Blomberg: Phil Rizzuto. I
used to hit my home runs way up into the upper deck. To this day so many
people recognize that.
BYB: One final question. Do you have anything (website,
autograph session, etc) that you’d like to plug to our readers?
Ron Blomberg: I do have a
website. It’s ronblombergyankees.com. If people want to email me, they can at ronblomberg12@gmail.com.
A special thanks to Steve Skinner for conducting this interview with Ron Blomberg. And again, be sure to check out the information involving the Runyon 5K Run at Yankee Stadium on August 12th. Go to www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium and sign up today, you won't be sorry. Trust me. --Casey
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
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