THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOVEMBER 17/Ron Blomberg

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOVEMBER 17

 

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1977: The White Sox signed Ron Blomberg, the first designated hitter in Major League history in 1973 for the Yankees, as a free agent. Blomberg was the classic Bill Veeck reclamation project in the tradition of Eric Soderholm and Steve Stone. Blomberg, a left-handed hitter, had struggled with injuries in his career with the Yankees. He never played more than 107 games in a season between 1969 and 1977 and injuries cost him all or most of the 1975, 1976 and 1977 seasons in the Bronx. Blomberg came to the Sox hoping to fill the offensive void left by departing sluggers and free agents Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble. That plan got off to a great start when Blomberg socked a game-tying homer in the ninth inning of the White Sox 6-5 win over Boston before 50,754 on Opening Day at Comiskey Park. That, though, was the high point of Blomberg’s stay with the White Sox. He played in just 61 games and hit .231 with five homers and 22 RBIs in his only season with the team. His career with the Sox, which began with the promise of a four-year guaranteed contract, came to an end with his release on March 30, 1979.