Yankees History: Ron Blomberg becomes the first designated hitter

Ron Blomberg had a relatively unnoteworthy career but on this day in Yankees history he made his mark and etched his name into the history books.

April 6, 1973. The New York Yankees opened the season at the Boston Red Sox. Boston won the game in convincing fashion, outscoring the Yankees 15-5. Carl Yastrzemski homered in the first inning. Carlton Fisk homered twice, first in the second inning and then again in the fourth. There were a host of notable names up and down the lineups for each team — Bobby Murcer, Gene Michael, Thurman Munson, Matty and Felipe Alou, Graig Nettles, Luis Aparicio, Orlando Cepeda, Dwight Evans.

Ron Blomberg isn’t a name as recognizable as the others, but his is the one most remembered that day. Blomberg, batting sixth in the Yankees lineup, became the first designated hitter in MLB history.

Blomberg’s first plate appearance came in the first inning. He worked a bases-loaded walk from Boston starter Luis Tiant, forcing Matty Alou in with the game’s first run.

He’d single in the third inning, lineout in the fifth, and flew out in the eighth to finish the day 1-for-3.  His bat from the game is among the artifacts housed in the Hall of Fame.

Boston’s designated hitter that day, Cepeda, went 0-for-6 with a pair of strikeouts.

Blomberg was drafted by the Yankees in 1967, taken with the first overall selection in a draft class that also included Hall of Famer Ted Simmons and should-be Hall of Famer Bobby Grich. Of the 77 players selected by New York that year, only eight would make the majors.

Blomberg made his MLB debut for New York in 1969, shortly after his 21st birthday. He’d miss the entire 1970 season to injury but would become a quality role player for the Yankees over the next five seasons. From 1971 to 1976 (when his season would again be cut short to injury) he batted .301/.369/.486 with 60 doubles and 47 home runs.

That 1973 season was easily Blomberg’s best. He’d appear in 100 games for New York, batting .329/.395/.488 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI. His 99 hits and 2.6 bWAR were career-highs.

The designated hitter remains a big part of baseball today. Blomberg wasn’t responsible for the rule, but he’ll forever be tied to it.