New York Yankees

First Designated Hitter in MLB history

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, August 23, 1948. Nicknamed "Boomer," he has the unique distinction of being the first ever designated hitter in Major League Baseball history! This occurred on April 6, 1973, when the New York Yankees played their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at Fenway Park, in Boston, Massachusetts.

In his first plate appearance in that historic role he walked against Red Sox hurler, Luis Tiant, with the bases loaded. The bat he used now permanently resides in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. Ron finished the 1973 American League season with a .329 batting average.

Bloomberg, had a career .293 batting average, with 52 home runs, and 224 runs batted in. He played with the New York Yankees, 1969, and 1971-76, and with the Chicago White Sox, 1978. He was very unfortunate as serious injuries curtailed what may have been a brilliant MLB career. He tore his knee in the 1977 exhibition season when he hit the outfield wall, and missed that entire season. All total the extremely likeable "Boomer" suffered four knee, and two shoulder injuries.

This very fine Southern gentleman was a 4 sport star in his scholastic days at Druid Hills High School, earning four letters each in baseball, basketball, football, and track, graduating in 1967. He was chosen for the Parade All-American teams in football, basketball, and baseball, the only person ever chosen for all three teams!

Bloomberg received 125 basketball scholarship offers, and HOF Coach John Wooden of the University of Southern California came out to meet him in person. Roger Couch, Bloomberg's basketball coach, said: "Bloomberg is the finest basketball player I ever saw, high school or college." He also received over 100 football scholarship offers.

He was selected by the New York Yankees with the first overall pick in the 1967 amateur draft, and signed for a bonus of $75,000, a huge amount in that era. Many iconic, future HOF players were not making that much salary in a year in 1967.

Bloomberg, a left handed hitter, and right handed thrower, made his MLB debut with the Yankees on September 10, 1969. "Boomer" was a natural hitter who had a remarkably quick bat with tremendous power.

Bloomberg was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He received the city of Atlanta’s Phoenix Award from Mayor Shirley Franklin for his outstanding service and achievements, both as a professional athlete, and citizen through his charitable works in Atlanta and throughout the country.

Bloomberg was voted as the most popular person in New York on two separate occasions.

The small color photo is of Len Rosa with his buddy Ron Bloomberg, former New York Yankees DH, designated hitter, in 2023, while he was visiting with me in The Villages, Florida. Ron is one of the sweetest down to earth guys you will ever have the pleasure to meet. His Georgian drawl will immediate make you feel at ease, and think you've known him your whole life. What a fine gentleman, and it was a pleasure to have him visit me which is when he signed this 8 x 10 color photo in his New York Yankees home pinstripe uniform, with a blue sharpie pen.

An interesting side story developed out of this meeting. I was at my neighbor Sam McDowell's house, the day before meeting up with Ron. McDowell, the star left handed flame throwing pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, was Bloomberg's teammate with the Yankees. Sam gave me a personal message to deliver to Ron which I did. I tried to get Sam to join us at my house but the timing could not be worked out. Still it was very cool to hear them both tell me stories about the other, and playing MLB in the 1960's and 1970's.

FROM THE PERSONAL 64 YEAR OLD PLUS PERSONAL COLLECTION OF LEN ROSA