The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2008 INDUCTEE PROFILE Short blaze of glory Elbow injury interrupts Blazier’s tenure with Phillies By Neil Rudel Altoona Mirror he Major League Baseball Draft is such an inexact sci - Tence that 50-plus rounds go by, and still players are left to sign as free agents. Ron Blazier was one of them. The big righthander from Bellwood- Antis was identified by former Altoona Area High School baseball coach Jay Perry, who served as a central Pennsylvania scout for the Philadelphia Phillies. "Ronny was a longshot," Perry said. "But he was throwing really hard in high school, close to 90, and eventually, he got up to 92-94." So Perry tipped off Ken Hultzapple, the Phils' regional scouting supervisor. Hultzapple liked Blazier's height (6-foot-6) that would grow into a 240-pound frame, his poise and his potential, and signed him following his sen - ior year at B-A in 1989. "He was a big, strong, green kid who had a good arm and was a competitor," he said. "He had a lot of improvement to do. He was coachable, and he lis - tened well and did what they told him. His control was good, and it got better every year." Through Princeton, W. Va., Batavia, N.Y., Spartanburg, S.C. Ron loosens up before a game against the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. and Clearwater, Blazier steadily ascended through the Phils' win an Eastern League title in the Paul Owens Award as the organization, improving at each 1995. The R-Phils' assistant general pitcher of the year in the Phils' stop. He was asked to switch from manager at the time? None other organization. He continued his starter to reliever. than Curve GM Todd Parnell. climb through Triple-A Scranton "I said I'll do whatever -- if it "Blaze played a big role for us in before his dream culminated, at gets me there [to the big leagues] Reading," Parney said. "Great arm age 24, with a May 1996 summon - quicker, I'll do it," Blazier said. "It out of the pen, big presence on the ing to Veterans Stadium. seemed like it clicked right from mound. He had great relationships He remembers having to the beginning. If you had a bad with the team and front office. He pinch himself in the Phils' bullpen. game as a reliever, you got right used to come over to our house for "You're used to playing in front back in there the next day picnics after Sunday games. I'm of 1,000, 2,000, maybe 5,000 and instead of having to wait a week." very proud of him." then to go and in front of 60,000 ... He helped Double-A Reading Shortly thereafter, Blazier won my first game, I was just looking -25- The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2008 Ron (center, back row) helped pitch Bellwood to the PIAA Class AA title game in 1989. around the bullpen in awe," he surgery in California, beginning a in high school, said. "He was a said. "Once I got the first game 16-month rehab that unfortunate - great kid and got along well with under my belt, it wasn't as bad." ly ended with his release from the everyone. It was exciting for me Blazier made an immediate Phillies during spring training of 2000. and exciting for the whole area to impact with the Phils. His fastball After signing with the Orioles, he see a local kid go from not being was up to 96, and he posted a was promoted to Double-A Bowie drafted to getting to the big 1.80 earned run average over his in the Eastern League, where his leagues. He would come back in first 10 appearances and, after luck would continue to be cruel. the offseason and come in in the one win, his picture appeared in With many of his family and morning and throw. He was an the Philadelphia Daily News under friends on hand at Blair County asset to our program." the headline "Blazing!" Ballpark -- those who made bus Blazier is the second Bellwood- Blazier stuck with the Phillies for trips to Philly and Pittsburgh in '96 Antis athlete, joining Steve Hatfield two seasons (1996-97) and wound and '97 -- Blazier only watched (Class of 1992) in the Hall of Fame. up appearing in 63 games. He and watched and ... It's made him appreciate people made the team out of spring "I pitched the day before we like Guyer -- "he ran a tight ship," training in 1998 but then began to came to Altoona, and then I did - he said -- along with those who experience elbow problems. He n't pitch in the four games we were instrumental. missed most of '98 and was sent played in Altoona -- and I had 200 "My parents took me all over to Venezuela for winter ball. people there," he said. the place, to games, practices, to Shortly thereafter, while pitching, He was released at the end of all-star games and tryouts once I he heard "a loud pop." the year. got older," he said. "My mom and "They wanted me to learn a "I wasn't throwing the ball as dad [Barb and Ron] are the biggest forkball and work on all my pitch - hard as I used to," he acknowl - influences on me, and my step - es," he said. "I knew something edged. dad [Mark Kleinfelter] took over was wrong." Today, Blazier works in construc - and helped me out." His ligament was damaged, tion for L.S. Fiore. He has three boys He said the Hall of Fame and he underwent Tommy John (Ronny, 9, Andrew, 2 and Alex, six honor "is a great accomplishment, months) and is but it hasn't sunk in yet." set to marry Blazier said he doesn't watch fiance Angel much baseball on TV, in part because, Brower. He "it's hard knowing if I didn't break Blazier bio resides in my elbow, maybe I'd still be playing." Bellwood, which At the same time, he still Sport: Baseball he helped lead enjoys and shakes his head at the Hometown: Bellwood to the '89 PIAA notoriety that never fully goes High school: Bellwood-Antis title game. away for a former professional Hall of Fame achievement: Spent "Ron had a athlete. two years with the Philadelphia lot of natural "People send me cards to sign, Phillies. (1996-97) as a relief pitcher. ability," Todd and I still get stuff in the mail," he Current residence: Bellwood Guyer, who said. "I wonder: How did they get coached Blazier my address?" -26-.