"Designated Hebrew" Ron Blomberg -- the former Jewish Major Leaguer and Israel Baseball League manager best known for his appearance as baseball's first designated hitter -- will be signing autographs at the White Plains Collectors Show from 12-2 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.
Prices, according to an ad in the March 25 issue of Sports Collectors Digest, are as follows:
- $10 for cards, photos (under 16X20") and other flat items -- including books, magazines, etc. -- supplied by collectors.
- $15 for collector's bat, jersey or over-sized (16X20"+) photo.
- $20 for promoter's 8X10 photo.
- $30 for promoter's baseball.
Collectors can have Bloberg add one inscription to each autograph at no charge. Additional inscriptions cost $10 each.
For more information, and to confirm the status of the appearance, collectors should call JP's Sports/Rock Solid Promotions at (631) 243-1028.
Blomberg memorabilia is plentiful, affording collectors lots of choices -- both in terms of type and price point.
He is the subject of numerous cards. Blomberg's pasteboard includes vintage and modern issues, including Upper Deck's Yankees history and the Jewish Major Leaguers sets (Beckett.com offers a complete checklist).
The author of Designated Hebrew, Blomberg's story is also featured prominently in the Jews & Baseball: Volume 2, The Big Book of Jewish Baseball, and The Baseball Talmud. Movie collectors can find Blomberg featured in Holyland Hardball and Jews & Baseball: A Love Story.
Blomberg was also featured with Yankees teammate Bobby Mercer on the front cover of the July 2, 1973 issue of Sports Illustrated.
A frequent signer, Blomberg items -- including signed and inscribed baseballs, photos, bats, jerseys and cards -- are plentiful on Beckett.com, eBay and Amazon.com. SCD offers a database of recent auction prices, allowing collectors to determine approximate values of Blomberg memorabilia.
Collectors can also purchase memorabilia directly from Blomberg, via his website.
Do you plan on attending the signing this weekend? Can you share stories of meeting Ron in-person? Do you have "The Designated Hebrew" in your collection? If so, what is your favorite piece of Blomberg memorabilia?
