Bert Blyleven is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and he is in the Hall of Fame. Blyleven is remembered for his unique pitching style, which included an excellent curveball and great control. He had a long and successful career, playing for 22 seasons and winning 287 games in the Major Leagues. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming just the 14th pitcher to receive the honor. In this article, we will explore why Bert Blyleven is in the Hall of Fame and why he deserves the honor.
Blyleven’s Career
Blyleven was born in the Netherlands and moved to Canada when he was young. He started his professional baseball career in 1969 and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the majors. He played for a variety of teams throughout his career, including the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers. He was a two-time All-Star and won 11 Gold Gloves. He also won the World Series with the Twins in 1987.
Blyleven’s Statistics
Blyleven had an impressive career, and his statistics are a testament to his greatness. He had 287 career wins, which is the 9th most all-time. He had 3,701 strikeouts, which is the 5th most all-time. He had 60 shutouts, which is the 7th most all-time. He had an ERA of 3.31, which is the 16th lowest all-time. He also had an impressive 7.7 WAR, which is the 40th highest all-time.
Blyleven’s Legacy
In addition to his impressive statistics, Blyleven also left a lasting legacy on the game of baseball. He was known for his unique pitching style, which included an excellent curveball and great control. He was also well-respected by his teammates and opponents, and he was widely considered one of the best pitchers of his era.
Blyleven’s Accomplishments
Over the course of his career, Blyleven had a number of impressive accomplishments. He was a two-time All-Star, won 11 Gold Gloves, and won the World Series with the Twins in 1987. He also won the Cy Young Award in 1973 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 1988. He was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Blyleven’s Hall of Fame Candidacy
Blyleven was a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame for many years. He was on the ballot for 15 years, and was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. He received 79.7% of the vote, easily surpassing the 75% threshold. He was the 14th pitcher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Why Blyleven Deserves The Honor
Blyleven was a great pitcher and deserves the honor of the Hall of Fame. He had a long and successful career, playing for 22 seasons and winning 287 games in the Major Leagues. He had impressive statistics, including 3,701 strikeouts, 60 shutouts, an ERA of 3.31, and a WAR of 7.7. He also had a unique pitching style and was well-respected by his teammates and opponents. He had a number of impressive accomplishments, including being a two-time All-Star, winning 11 Gold Gloves, winning the World Series, and winning the Cy Young Award.
Blyleven’s Impact on the Game of Baseball
Blyleven had a great impact on the game of baseball. He was one of the best pitchers of his era and his unique pitching style was admired by many. He also had a great influence on younger players, inspiring them to strive for excellence and work hard to reach their goals.
Conclusion
Bert Blyleven is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history and he deserves the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. His long and successful career, impressive statistics, unique pitching style, and great influence on the game of baseball are all reasons why he is in the Hall of Fame. He is a true baseball legend, and his induction into the Hall of Fame is a fitting honor for one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game.
FAQs
Q: What year was Bert Blyleven inducted into the Hall of Fame?
A: Bert Blyleven was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Q: What teams did Bert Blyleven play for?
A: Bert Blyleven played for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
Q: How many wins did Bert Blyleven have in his career?
A: Bert Blyleven had 287 career wins, which is the 9th most all-time.
Q: How many strikeouts did Bert Blyleven have in his career?
A: Bert Blyleven had 3,701 strikeouts, which is the 5th most all-time.