Ron Blomberg

Born: 8/23/1948 in Atlanta, GA, USA

MLB Debut: 1969-09-10 | Final Game: 1978-10-01

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Ronald Mark Blomberg

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Biography

Ron Blomberg, born in 1948, was a notable American baseball player who made an impact in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1978. Primarily known as a position player, Blomberg played a total of 461 games throughout his career. He distinguished himself with a .293 batting average, accumulating 391 hits, including 52 home runs and 224 runs batted in (RBIs). His offensive prowess was complemented by his speed on the basepaths, as he recorded 6 stolen bases during his time in the league. Blomberg's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, bridging the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Notably, he became the first designated hitter in MLB history when he batted for the New York Yankees on April 6, 1973, a role that would later revolutionize the game. His strong batting skills and left-handed swing made him a valuable asset for the teams he played for, particularly the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. Ron Blomberg remains a significant figure in the history of the designated hitter position, illustrating how strategic changes in baseball can influence player roles and game dynamics.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
461	1333	184	391	67	8	52	224	6	140	134	0.293	0.360	0.473	0.832	4832.1

Career AVG .293 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — +15.8% above league average.

Career OBP .360 vs. league average .321 across their career seasons — +12.0% above league average.

Career SLG .473 vs. league average .369 across their career seasons — +28.1% above league average.

Career OPS 0.832 vs. league average 0.690 across their career seasons — +20.6% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1969	NYY	AL	4	6	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.500	—	—	—	—	0.0
1971	NYY	AL	64	199	30	64	6	2	7	31	2	14	23	0.322	.249 (+29%)	.316 (+15%)	.365 (+31%)	.682 (+23%)	734.8
1972	NYY	AL	107	299	36	80	22	1	14	49	0	38	26	0.268	.243 (+10%)	.310 (+14%)	.353 (+38%)	.664 (+27%)	1431.9
1973	NYY	AL	100	301	45	99	13	1	12	57	2	34	25	0.329	.256 (+28%)	.325 (+21%)	.378 (+32%)	.703 (+27%)	1531.5
1974	NYY	AL	90	264	39	82	11	2	10	48	2	29	33	0.311	.256 (+21%)	.324 (+16%)	.369 (+30%)	.693 (+24%)	1096.7
1975	NYY	AL	34	106	18	27	8	2	4	17	0	13	10	0.255	.257 (-1%)	.327 (+3%)	.374 (+29%)	.701 (+17%)	263.2
1976	NYY	AL	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1978	CHW	AL	61	156	16	36	7	0	5	22	0	11	17	0.231	.257 (-11%)	.323 (-14%)	.378 (-2%)	.702 (-7%)	-226.0