When he was younger, his stuff was so good that he didn't need a changeup or pinpoint control. Position: Starting Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg) . Blyleven's curve breaks so quickly and so far that some batters swear they can hear it change direction. Now, in the previous paragraph there are three things going on: 1) Blyleven's RA/9IP, 2) his run support, and 3) well, a third factor that's hard to define. I practiced it by myself. Maglie's numbers are not overly impressive due to his stint in the Mexican League that got him banned from Major League Baseball. 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.. I wondered how anyone could pitch 7,000 innings like Cy Young. "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. "[His curveball] was nasty, I'll tell you thatenough to make your knees buckle. He can't speak Dutch, but to this day he still understands a little of it. See details. 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 Upon being traded to the Cleveland Indians, Blyleven initially struggled with injuries, but then enjoyed a late-career resurgence, finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting in back-to-back years, with Cleveland in 1984 and also the following 1985 season that he split between the Indians and Twins. 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. 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. 1. 1 fairway at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. We do. Blyleven went on to win the game 2-1, allowing five hits in seven innings and retiring the outsized Howard all three times he faced him. In 22 seasons, Blyleven had more than 3,700 career strikeouts, including more than 2,000 of those in 11 seasons with the Twins. by Handedness, 10 things I didnt know about Bert Blyleven, http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/forgotten-pennant-push-jim-kaat-1967/. [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. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment. Heck, Matt Lawton made two All-Star games. This is Anthony's first time on a golf course in 10 years, and second time ever. The list of 1-0 CG SHO, required the Play Index. and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions. 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. Bert Blyleven (born Rik Aalbert Blijleven, April 6, 1951) is a Dutch-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 to 1992, primarily with the Minnesota Twins. Monte tried to throw a curve, and something in his elbow snapped. Blyleven married Patricia Ann Whitehead, a friend from high school, during his second season in the majors, and they have raised a happy family. [citation needed], MLB Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson said of Blyleven: "[his curveball] was nasty, I'll tell you that. Autographed in English. Then theres the guy with six straight 20-win seasons (Fergie Jenkins) and the pitcher with eight 20-win seasons (Jim Palmer). But he did. Stand behind a tree 60 feet away and Ill whomp you with an optical illusion, challenged Dizzy Dean. I was a kid listening on the radio when Blyleven was in his short stint with the Rangers, and I loved his confidence in throwing that curve when everyone in the stadium and listening on the radio knew what was coming. On July 16, 2011, the Minnesota Twins formally retired Blyleven's number.[26]. Richie, you don't even exercise. Collectibles; Books & Magazines; Entertainment Memorabilia; Cell Phones . Call the curveball what you will. Naturally, he sinks all the birdie putts. 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. He also suggested publicly that the Indians might be better off trading him to a contender for younger talentas they would soon do with his friend Rick Sutcliffe. Ill be home soon. Nolan Ryan and Bert Blyleven had the tightest rotation and velocity combination," Schmidt was quoted as saying in a recent Associated Press story. Given another five years of success, Blyleven will have Hall of Fame credentials. There were players rolling around on the floor, laughing. They have a right to act any way they like.". The ones worse than him who are in are generally mistakes. One fan posted, "Pete Rose in the Phillies booth "he threw a c**k high fastball". How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the He also won a World Series in 1979 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. ", Blyleven raises every bid, and, finally, he says, "Sold to me. Blue 90672, raise your hand. And now he has a little more command. Blyleven threw two different styles of curveballs, the most unique one being the drop that he held across the seams, a grip that is said to have been mastered only by him, Bob Feller and, Koufax. Because of his competitive streak, Blyleven says things he probably shouldn't, and he usually says them with a biting wit. Communication. Blyleven's third batter was Frank Howard. Mike Jeffcoat. Shipping speed. He eventually came back after nearly two weeks. When he beat the Twins for Texas on July 26, 1976, Blyleven didn't mince words. Many new voters had entered the mix, and old ones passed on. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/forgotten-pennant-push-jim-kaat-1967/, interesting article. raw numbers and as a measurement against average. And let's not forget the classic knee-buckling curveball that has made countless hitters look foolish. "There's not a lot of dropoff in his stuff. In fact, the Blylevens feel so strongly about family living that they, and Anthony, have helped several baseball players and their wives to adopt children. Born in the Netherlands but raised in Southern California, Blyleven would spend many evenings listening to Vin Scullys radio description of what may have been the greatest curveball ever in the game. It was the last out of the inning. Bert Blyleven belongs in the Hall Of Fame because he pitched nearly 5000 innings, struck out 3700 batters, threw 60 shutouts, and compiled a career 3.31 ERA which was 18 percent better than the league . Blyleven's display includes his one no-hitter (win No. "I saw him when he was 19 and I've seen him now," Howser says. One of seven children, Bert grew up in Garden Grove as American as, well, Dutch apple pie. The only problem was that his name was published as "Blylevan," which is the way the Twins spelled it in those days. "It was an off year for ties," says Blyleven. But thats the problem, you had to go way back. Please note the delivery estimate is greater than 13 business days. ", Blyleven wraps up the evening. "It finally ended when I was out in the back of the house, pulling weeds. Chris Bando, who loves pizza, was given an almost-empty pizza box. He came back in 1992 but was mostly unproductive, going 8-12 with a 4.74 ERA. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Shop thrown with. "I open the bidding at $200. Known for his terrific curveball, pitcher Bert Blyleven won 287 games over a 22-year major league career. the ERA scale, A measurement of a player's top running speed, expressed See details. One of the most remarkable things about Blyleven's career marks is that, of the active pitchers who rank ahead of him (Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Tommy John, Jerry Koosman and Phil Niekro), the youngest is nearly five years older than he is. "I visualized the dropping motion.". When you divide his career into sections, it veers wildly. I have some sympathy for that approach, but ultimately remain agnostic. After I ran off the mound, I looked over at the St. Louis' dugout. "Thanks everyone for coming, and good night. 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. The question arose: Is there any way to adjust his W-L record by his run support? "O.K., we've got a golf bag and a dozen balls. The Pirates also acquired John Milner from the Mets. He blanked Milwaukee on four hits in his first start, followed by a three-hit shutout at Kansas City five days later. 5.0. of his glove and to the base on a stolen base or pickoff So far Blyleven has won 20 only once, in 1973, when he lost 17. That was the. I just wish we had more fans. See details. Blyleven became the first Dutch-born player to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Watching him, one of his partners said, "He seems like a great guy. The only thing Blyleven hates more than pitch counts is the use of . "Bert's always doing things for people," he says. and 32 degrees. velocity and launch angle. It's also nice of Blyleven to host this tournament. The left-hander won over 200 games and struck out over 2,500 batters in his 18-year MLB career. Blyleven said the Twins then played on the road in Detroit and there was a Twins fan with a sign, asking to be circled. Looking it up, in his 37 starts, the Twins scored 151 runs, 4.1/game. His breaking ball was literally untouchable. I know this sounds terrible, but who does Bert pitch for these days?". 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. Paired with his 98 mile-per-hour fastball, Gooden's sweeping curve made him one of the league's most feared pitchers during his playing days. Blyleven was happy to oblige. Blyleven went out and bought gifts for everyone. A doting daddy, Blyleven likes to spend time with his sons Timothy (above) and Thomas. The third pitch was a hard check swing. Blyleven, an intense competitor, wants it. "There were 32 scouts in the stands at the start," he recalls. Blyleven has reigned as the curveball champion longer than either Pascual or Koufax. "I have to say this for him, though. According to Matt Welch of Reason Magazine, "there had long been a strong case that the Dutch-born curveballista was the most deserving player on the outside of Cooperstown looking in. The incident occurred when Rose was commentating on a Phillies game last year and sharing a story when he said . No player who had debuted on the ballot since 1970 had a vote total that low and later won election to the Hall. Joe's brother, Cor, had gone to the U.S. before the war, and because it was easier to enter from Canada than from Holland, the Blylevens emigrated to Saskatchewan when Bert was two. It wasn't until he got married in 1971 that he noticed on his birth certificate that he's really Rik Aalbert. So you know: later this week as induction day nears, Ill have a Bert Blyleven career highlights piece up at THT Live. Those stats hit me in the face. "Bob Boone is building a house over there, Enos Cabell lives in those hills." 1979 - Blyleven goes 12-5 on 37 starts and the Pirates win the World Series. Bert Blyleven Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | MLB.com | baseballsavant.com Bert Blyleven P | B/T: R/R | 6' 3" 207LBS | Age: 71 Draft: 1969 | Rd: 3, #55, Minnesota Twins | Santiago HS (Garden Grove, CA) Stats Standard Splits Game Logs Minors Batting Pitching Fielding Visuals Standard MLB Pitching Statistics 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. Cleveland president Gabe Paul said, "Bert Blyleven isn't going anywhere. Call it sunspots for all I care, it aint run support. On June 5, 1970, Rigney gave Blyleven his first start, against the Washington Senators. and, on certain types of batted balls, Sprint Speed. It showed that of the last 20 guys elected to Cooperstown by the BBWAA (as of then), none had ever received 20 percent or lower of the vote in any election they were up for. When the Angels came to nearby Anaheim in 1966, Bert didn't switch his allegiance, although he did become one of the stadium rats. Joe worked on the railroads in Saskatoon and Regina and moved to California in 1955. He would continue to play for six different teams for the next 22 years . What we're talking about here is a humongous stuffed panda, and he's auctioning off the bear at the banquet. 1. 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. I used to say about myself that I knew the day I would have to grow up and get a real job- it was the day, in Babe Ruth League in Seattle in the summer of 1957, when a guy named Ron Waara threw me a curveball that scared the living daylights out of me. Id say 95 percent of that mysterious third element is luck, but does that mean its never anything else? When youre constantly winning 15 or more games a year, you dont need too many 20-win seasons to make this list. 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! If you just take his actual RA/9IP and pythag it with league-average, park-adjusted run support, it comes out that he should have gone 21-13 over 34 decisions. Actually, the best spelling of his name appears on one of his license plates: BLY11. Patty came out and said, 'Don't you think you should go back?' [27], On September 2, 2020, Blyleven broadcast his final game for the Twins.[28]. Not many of these around. Sold for $200. Bert Blyleven. Blyleven, who has a seven handicap, is teamed with a couple of Cadillac dealers and an attorney, a zany Mormon named Tom Anthony. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle Add in assorted aces Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Catfish Hunter, Mickey Lolich, Luis Tiant, and thats some list. The Pirates won the World Series in 1979 and Blyleven went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the Fall Classic after throwing a complete game in Game 3 of the NLCS. The Twins responded by trading him to the Texas Rangers. Blyleven's commentary was occasionally risqu for a baseball broadcast but provided interesting and friendly conversation between him and play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer. Phoenix, AZ 85004 "I would like to say to my family, to my fans, to all the Puerto Rican people and .