The New York Yankees will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ron Blomberg’s historic designated hitter start by honoring him during Monday’s matchup.
MLB adopted the Designated Hitter Rule in 1973, allowing a team to designate a player to bat in place of the pitcher without having to take the field. The National League has not adopted this rule, and pitchers still hit in their lineup. The DH rule was controversial at first. But it has since become an accepted part of baseball, with National League adopting the same in 2022.
On the other hand, Ron Blomberg was a first-round draft pick by the New York Yankees in 1967 and made his debut in 1969. He played for the Yankees until 1976, then played one season with the Chicago White Sox before retiring in 1978. In his eight-year career, Blomberg had a batting average of .293, with 52 home runs and 224 RBIs. Apart from his glorious career, Ron is remembered to date for scripting history 50 years ago.
Yankees To Honor Their First Ever DH During Monday’s Game
Ron Blomberg, a former designated hitter for the New York Yankees, is set to be honored 50 years after making history as the first DH in Major League Baseball history. Blomberg was the first player to step up to the plate as a designated hitter in a regular-season game on April 6, 1973, against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The news came in as a surprise for Ron, who was reeling under injury issues in the spring. Despite this, the then manager, Ralph Houk, placed Blomberg as the DH in the Yankees opening day lineup.
The delayed game finally commenced on April 6, and Ron Blomberg walked up to the plate to face Luis Tiant. He drew a walk, making him the first player in MLB history to reach base as a designated hitter. Moreover, the bat Ron used during the game now stays instilled in Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, 50 years down the line, the Yankees look set to honor Ron’s historic moment. During Monday’s matchup, Ron Blomberg will throw out the first pitch at the iconic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and celebrate the 50th anniversary. Blomberg’s legacy continues to be felt in baseball today, as the DH rule remains a significant part of the game.
Bronx Bombers To Test Their Pitching Depth This Week
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees will play two games this week against the San Francisco Giants. After registering a cruising win on the opening day, the Yankees would eye to carry on the momentum. However, they still have to test their pitching bench strength in the wake of incessant injury concerns. As per multiple reports, Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Britto could be promoted to the starter’s role in the next two games.
Gerrit Cole had a perfect outing on Thursday with six shutout innings. But, towards the end, fatigue took over. Hence, he pulled out in the seventh. With 2/3rd of the regular lineup gracing the injury list, the Yanks need some support from the bullpen. Thus, the bench will have to step up a little early into the season this year.
