My dad built a mound in the backyard and had a canvas hung behind a horseshoe pit. Fine pitchers, but a definite step down from what had come before. With the power of the internet, Lederers persistenceand, oh yeah, Blylevens own solid casehell have a nice weekend in upstate New York this year. Look at Blyleven in that 1974 campaign. But Blyleven debuted on a ballot near the end of a stretch of 11 consecutive years with at least one 300-game winner up for nomination. When The Chicken brought his act to Cleveland, pitchers (from left) Ernie Camacho, Blyleven, Luis Aponte and Mike Jeffcoat were his plucky backups. [11][12] With the Pirates, he led the team in ERA, strikeouts, and complete games in 1978, and he helped them to a World Series victory in 1979. Escape Velocity takes the average of a player's batted ball velocities subtracted from 88. Thats especially the case for the guys who finished near the top of the list (and where Blyleven would be if he didnt weirdly have those 17 missing wins). Please note the delivery estimate is greater than 13 business days. Blyleven married Patricia Ann Whitehead, a friend from high school, during his second season in the majors, and they have raised a happy family. Digging a little deeper into the numbers, it looks like it really was just luck, because Blyleven was at his best when it counted the most. He had looked up the records of Walter Johnson and Cy Young when he was young. attempt. Blyleven's first two teams, the Twins and Rangers, usually weren't very good, and even though the Pirates won the World Series in '79, Blyleven had some philosophical differences with manager Chuck Tanner. i surely did my campaigning for blyleven too back in the day. window") of the runner is at least 30 ft/sec. The Orioles legend has four 20-win seasons, a World Series title and a Cy Young Award to his name. Born: April 6, 1951 in Zeist, Netherlands nl Draft: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1969 MLB June Amateur Draft from Santiago HS (Garden Grove, CA).. High School: Santiago HS (Garden Grove, CA) Last Game: October 4, 1992 (Age 41-181d) In his last game with the Twins in 1976 before being traded, he made an obscene gesture to the crowd while walking off the mound. He can't speak Dutch, but to this day he still understands a little of it. 1 fairway at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Blyleven proceeded to finish Pittsburgh's sweep of Cincinnati in the National League Championship Series, pitching a complete game in the Pirates' 7-1 triumph in Game 3. Maglie's numbers are not overly impressive due to his stint in the Mexican League that got him banned from Major League Baseball. He later wished he could have erased the 3-2 fastball he threw to the first batter he faced, Lee Maye. Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick and Bert Blyleven on stage during a press conference during the 2011 Hall of Fame Weekend. Updated: Saturday, March 4, 2023 3:30 AM ET, Park Factors That was where I learned to throw and control the pitch.. Statcast defines a 'hard-hit ball' as one hit with an And I could throw it over at any time, any count."[6]. The Pirates won by the same score in Game 5 of the World Series, as Blyleven earned the decision with four shutout innings of relief. Fansboth at home and at road gamescarried signs to the games saying "Circle me Bert". If he underachieved because of his own personal failings, then why was he so successful when things entirely depended on him? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1997 Fleer Star Stickers Baseball #10 - Bert Blyleven - Minnesota Twins at the best online prices at eBay! His breaking ball was literally untouchable. He also has balls from his 14 complete-game 1-0 victories, which put him third on the alltime list, tied with Christy Mathewson, behind Walter Johnson (an uncatchable 38) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (17). Bert Blyleven discusses how the game has changed 12/01/2021 at 1:19 PM 12/01/2021 at 1:19 PM The 5 greatest seasons for Twins pitchers Blyleven was recently inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame after recording over 3,700 strikeouts in his career. That upset Blyleven, especially because he has given of himself to Cleveland. I have to ask him, 'Bert, what would you throw if you had my stuff?' His answer told you all you need to know about the major-league curveball: Dont bother. Now he throws an excellent change, an occasional slider, an assortment of fastballs and, of course, his curve. He pitched a no-hitter, was chosen to a pair of All-Star teams and also won two World Series Championships. A couple of years ago when he was on the disabled list and back home, he came to watch my son Monte pitch. I wanted to be like him, he said. He throws it a little differently than most pitchers, holding the ball so that every finger except his pinky is touching a seam. [23] "It's been 14 years of praying and waiting," he said on a conference call from Fort Myers, Florida. 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ a batted-ball event with a launch angle between eight He argued vehemently with the official scorer and later phoned the league office when outfielder George Vukovich wasn't given an error on a play on which two earned runs scored. In his seven losses, the Indians scored only six runs. I threw him an 0-2 curve and it snapped. Blyleven has often been labeled a troublemaker. "And then he went down." Sold to me for $25. About 10 years ago, there was a debate at the late, great Rob Neyer Message Board about Blylevens Hall of Fame chances. For the benefit of those who don't knowand it's quite understandable so don't feel ashamedBlyleven, a right-hander, pitches for the Cleveland Indians. How to separate run support from that murky third factor? He wound up completing 242 games and throwing 60 shutouts, the two numbers of which he is most proud. Calico Jack (Suwinski) is Back for the Attack. His 20 no decisions in 1979 are the most by an MLB starting pitcher in a season, dating back to at least 1908.[13]. The left-hander won over 200 games and struck out over 2,500 batters in his 18-year MLB career. He has all the stats of a potential Hall of Famer. See details. In Texas, Blyleven got blamed for something he never did. And those TWENTY no-decisions on the WORLD CHAMPION Pittsburgh Pirates are probably a record of sorts. The team finishes at 3-under and out of hunt. The third pitch was a hard check swing. ", Last year Blyleven was 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA against the American League West champion Royals. Here you go. By this approach, Blyleven comes out nine wins behind. produces a result. I wanted 300 wins, 5,000 innings, and 4,000 strikeouts, he admits, but after shoulder surgery in spring training in 1993, I would pitch four or five innings and my body would say no more. "I have to say this for him, though. A renowned curveball pitcher, Blyleven was also a two-time All-Star and World Series champion. The Baseball Analysts: Optimal Fastball-Changeup Speed Separation *Examining the Past, Present, and Future* Lineup Card Rich Lederer Baseball Beat Patrick Sullivan Change-Up Jeremy Greenhouse Touching Bases Dave Allen F/X Visualizations Sky Andrecheck Behind the Scoreboard Marc Hulet Around the Minors Al Doyle Past Times Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1971 Topps Bert Blyleven #26 Rookie Minnesota Twins at the best online prices at eBay! Blyleven wanted $85,000, which seems like a piddling sum now, and the Twins were offering $65,000. In 2008, he received 336 votes, or 61.9% of the vote. So far Blyleven has won 20 only once, in 1973, when he lost 17. All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. Ron Necciai is one of the most dominating pitchers that never materialized in the Major Leagues. Blyleven said the Twins then played on the road in Detroit and there was a Twins fan with a sign, asking to be circled. He struck out 109 batters in 43 innings in his first season and 172 in his 126 career innings in Class D. Much like Nolan Ryan, Satchel Paige did not use his curveball as his primary pitch, but he still had a damn good one. There is some argument as to whether Candy Cummings or Fred Goldsmith invented the curveball, but there is no argument about this: Bert Blyleven perfected it and rode it to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Blyleven appeared as himself in the 1990 James Belushi film Taking Care of Business. The answer is 11. But he's not a bad guy. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment. People in and out the game lauded Blyleven for having the games best curveball, but he was also temperamental. Dutch-American baseball player (born 1951), Cleveland Guardians Opening Day starting pitchers, Los Angeles Angels Opening Day starting pitchers, List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders, List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers, List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders, List of Major League Baseball career shutout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, "Twins' Bert Blyleven, a Fort Myers resident, moves from broadcast booth", "HOFers have long history with World Baseball Classic", "Wednesday's game marked Bert Blyleven's last Twins broadcast", "Bert Blyleven Society for American Baseball Research", "Sports of The Times; Blyleven And His Beard", -NY Times article Alomar and Blyleven elected to hall of fame, 1/5/11, "Blyleven traded to Texas in six-player transaction", Former Indians Blyleven, Alomar Elected to Hall of Fame, Durso, Joseph. Watching him, one of his partners said, "He seems like a great guy. Let's look at some of the names. Arguments for inducting Bert Blyleven into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Many years ago, I figured this out for the careers of nearly 200 pitchers, and only three did this bad (Tim Keefe and Curt Simmons both at 18, and Dizzy Trout the champion at 22). None spent as many years as low on BBWAA ballots as Blyleven. He currently resides in Fort Myers, Florida. He's also not afraid to throw inside to a hitter. ". [1] He serves as the pitching coach for the Netherlands national baseball team, having done so in the 2009, 2013 and 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classic. Despite retiring at age 30, Sandy Koufax recorded 2,396 strikouts, won four World Series Championships and three Cy Young Awards. Lets back up for a second. Go figure. Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers 10 of 10 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Despite retiring at age 30, Sandy Koufax recorded 2,396 strikouts, won four World Series. I just wish we had more fans. After all, 17 wins in eight years is a lot. Rik Aalbert Blyleven was born in Zeist, the Netherlands on April 6, 1951. I bid $250. Thats doesnt sould too bad. Blyleven was happy to oblige. He repaid some of his debt to Flores this off-season when he hosted a tournament to benefit the Hemophilia Foundation; Flores's grandson has that disease. Rik Aalbert Blyleven was born in Zeist, a municipality in Utrecht, Netherlands, the son of Johannes Cornelius and Jannigje Blijleven. the fastest reactions and most direct routes in the "O.K., we've got a golf bag and a dozen balls. In 1985 he again led the American League in shutouts with five. That year, he pitched 293.2 innings and completed 24 games, a feat that has not been repeated since. The worst election by any of 20 guys who had gone on to election was one time Tony Perez finished exactly one vote shy of 50 percent. Nice. So did Steve Busby, Jeff Conine, Bill Singer, John Smiley, and Ron Fairly. 2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan, 1998 Major League Baseball home run record chase, The last night of the New York Yankees dynasty (2001), Chicago Cubs end the Billy Goat curse (2016), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Blyleven&oldid=1142574454, American expatriate baseball players in Canada, Major League Baseball players from the Netherlands, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, October 4,1992,for theCalifornia Angels, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 05:13. Theres a better factoid, though: Blyleven won 15 different 1-0 complete games, more than anyone else since Walter Johnson. This is Anthony's first time on a golf course in 10 years, and second time ever. ", In a list full of "Uncle Charlies" (a common nickname for a curveball), Doc Gooden's deuce is "Lord Charles.". In the middle of the 1976 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, where he threw a no-hitter in his final start for the team. So while the Sept. 22, 1977, contest wasn't a home game for Blyleven's Texas Rangers, it felt like it for Blyleven - who celebrated by pitching a no-hitter. Played in the Big Leagues from 1971-1990 and 1992. Ill be home soon. "We have a beautiful cutlery set. Like the first time, it doesn't go well, as he allows two runs in two innings and the NL wins, 6-1. Nicknamed "the Barber," Sal Maglie commanded the corners of the plate as well as any pitcher in the history of baseball. The Pirates also acquired John Milner from the Mets. Upon his return, he was plagued by chronic stomach ulcers and a torn rotator cuff. ", Not only does Blyleven pitch for the Indians, he actually likes being an Indian. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011 . [29] During a 2006 broadcast, Blyleven forgot the name of the movie and had to be reminded of it by a technician in the broadcast booth. Who does Bert pitch for these days? and, on certain types of batted balls, Sprint Speed. The ones better than him who are not in would make legitimate candidates. You've got to be kidding. OK, now lets figure out what Blylevens record should be based on pythaging his actual RA/9IP and his actual run support. Everything keyed off the fastball, but I could throw it at any time in the count, 3-2, bases loaded, I could throw it and throw it where I wanted, he said. Robin Roberts hung on a long time but was a shell of himself for many years. Blyleven's third batter was Frank Howard. Blyleven became the first Dutch-born player to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Also, while I think Blyleven is a better pitcher than Kaat, I wrote a column on Kaat years ago arguing in 1967 he had the greatest stretch run by a pitcher ever in a pennant race: Shipping speed. The Blyleven abode, one of many handsome houses on his street, should bear a plaque commemorating one of the best baseball lines of this decade. Phone: 602.496.1460 Blyleven made his major league debut at age 19 for the Twins. Rik Aalbert (Bert) Blyleven [1951] Bert Blyleven was and still is the only native Dutchman to have made a successful career, as measured by quality of play, in American professional baseball. In his second stint in Minnesota, Bert Blyleven helped the Twins win the 1987 World Series and won his 250th career game a year later. He responded with a flippant gesture. Wait a minute. Hmmm, maybe I should bid on it. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. Known for his terrific curveball, pitcher Bert Blyleven won 287 games over a 22-year major league career. The kids see how hard he works. Blyleven was one of baseball's most notorious dugout pranksters during his playing days. "Mets Get Ken Henderson, Outfielder, From Rangers,", "From 1908 to 2018, Recorded no decision, as Starter, sorted by greatest number of games in a single season matching the selected criteria", "Indians' Blyleven The Subject Of Angel Trade Talks", "Ponson to play for Netherlands in World Classic", How a Part-Time Blogger Changed the Face of Baseball's Hall of Fame, The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News, "Henderson, Rice elected to Hall of Fame", Alomar and Blyleven elected to Hall of Fame, Gallery Blyleven inducted into Twins Hall of Fame, Twins to immortalize Blyleven by retiring No. Koosman was also an crucial piece to the Mets improbable World Series Championship in 1969. He pitched in eight postseason games and went 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA. (And the difference between Blylevens actual record and the second projection quantifies that murky third factor, but well get back to that in a second). The only thing Blyleven hates more than pitch counts is the use of . Free shipping for many products! Other; Seller feedback (2,522,561) s***c (1508 . Thanks in no small amount to a campaign led by Rich Lederer to get Bert Blyleven into the Hall of Fame, Blyleven saw his vote total gradually rise up, election after election, until he got in. The Dodgers were ready to draft him in the first round in 1969, but in one of his last high school games, Blyleven got shelled. And he couldn't help it if he was injured. If you went back further, you could find guys whod risen up: Billy Williams, Luis Aparicio, Bob Lemon. Bert was an Instructional League Twin at 18 in 1969 and a Pittsburgh playoff winner at 28 in '79. A batted ball with the perfect combination of exit ", Says Mike Ferraro, a K.C. Terrys reaction was to swing straight down, like he was chopping the plate with an axe. Brett Butler was presented with an autographed picture of his favorite soap opera star. For years he thought his first name was Rikaalbert. Friendship may be the tie that binds Blyleven and Scheinblum, but occasionally Bert can get snippy. However, his election was a slow curve that was thrown to Blyleven, not being elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America until his 14thseason of eligibility despite 287 victories and 3,701 strikeouts. Thanks, Bob. "This is for a free membership to Racquetball World. Blyleven dominated batters for more than two decades with one of the best curveballs the game has ever seen and an underappreciated fastball. 28, "Longtime Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven hangs up the mic", June 2, 1976: Minneapolis Tribune column on Blyleven's trade to Texas Rangers. Fortunately for him, life wasnt going to throw him that curve, and he now has his place in history. A banquet in a Riviera dining room follows the golf tournament, and Blyleven, nattily dressed in a camel's hair sports coat, navy blue trousers, blue shirt and uncut tie, is the master of ceremonies. Buyer pays for return shipping. He still he ranks fifth all-time in that department. Saved him a lot of pain." A Bolt is any run where the Sprint Speed (defined as In Blyleven's first spring training with the Twins, manager Bill Rigney watched him throw batting practice and yelled to his pitching coach, Marv Grissom, "Get him out of there. Popular categories from this store. 5.0. "Thirty-one of them must have left by the third inning." To answer the question, I went to my usual modus operandi: I looked at recent historical trends. Blue 90672, raise your hand. The in/out line for the Hall has never been 300 wins. [4] His family moved to Melville, Saskatchewan, when Blyleven was two years old before ultimately settling in Garden Grove, California, in 1957 when Blyleven was five years old. There are 16 names, but only one 300-game winner. You cant do a simplistic, reductionistic system. The no-hitter was his final start as a Ranger; not until Cole Hamels during the 2015 season would a pitcher be traded after pitching a no-hitter in his most recent start for the team that traded him. "Here's a ball autographed by the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. 1971 TOPPS # 26 BERT BLYLEVEN NICE CARD. CLEVELAND'S NETHERLANDS-BORN STAR, PITCHER BERT BLYLEVEN, PUTS HIS PEDAL TO THE METAL ON THE FIELD AND OFF Steve Wulf TABLE OF CONTENTS ORIGINAL LAYOUT Bert Blyleven addresses the ball.. Blyleven's first two full seasons back with the Twins produced major league records for home runs allowed in a single season (50) and in back-to-back seasons (96). After just 21 minor league starts, he found himself called up to the Majors at age 19 on June 2, 1970. That just leaves the years in his apparent prime, from 1970-77, when he won 17 fewer games than youd expect. They just started throwing me the curveball.. 5.0. Now he owes the Indians and the city of Cleveland something in return.". Bert (Blyleven) was a terrific pitcher - a dominating pitcher." After the 1977 season, he was traded to the Pirates in a rare four-team trade. "[His curveball] was nasty, I'll tell you thatenough to make your knees buckle. From 1984-89, he went 95-71 with a 115 ERA+. Call it sunspots for all I care, it ain't run support. This year he is 4-6, with a 2.97 ERA. Normally a guy entering the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot with 287 wins is pretty impressive.
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