"[19] Still, it was not until his 14th year of eligibility, in 2011, that he was elected; he received 79.7% of the vote. "I visualized the dropping motion.". In 2010, Blyleven had 74.2% of the votes, missing admission to the Hall of Fame by only 5 votes (0.8%).[22]. "Bob Boone is building a house over there, Enos Cabell lives in those hills." July 16, 1985: For the second time Blyleven pitches in an All-Star Game. He won his first World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979. To answer the question, I went to my usual modus operandi: I looked at recent historical trends. So you know: later this week as induction day nears, Ill have a Bert Blyleven career highlights piece up at THT Live. Carter only had one really low year, and it was never as low as Blyleven. The in/out line for the Hall has never been 300 wins. "Then we'd sneak down into the dugouts and grab whatever we couldresin bags and broken bats. Who the hell wanted this old-timer in the HOF anyways? Let's look at some of the names. Only nine? 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. None spent as many years as low on BBWAA ballots as Blyleven. When The Chicken brought his act to Cleveland, pitchers (from left) Ernie Camacho, Blyleven, Luis Aponte and Mike Jeffcoat were his plucky backups. 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. "It was an off year for ties," says Blyleven. Weve already figured out what Blylevens record should be based on pythaging his RA/9IP and league-average run support. An inveterate practical joker, Blyleven likes to snip cravats. That way I know he won't lose it on me like he did that one time. "Here's something special. From a Cooperstown point of view, the debate is semantics. Blyleven has put on more than his share in the past, for a variety of causes, and this is his second of the current off-season. background-color:#ba3434; xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle Blyleven recorded 3,701 career strikeouts, the fifth-most in MLB history. But the injuries may have been a blessing in disguise, because they made him a better pitcher. In 1973, he pitched nine shutouts, the most of any AL pitcher that season. And once he came up, he stuck around. ", Not only does Blyleven pitch for the Indians, he actually likes being an Indian. [2] From 1996 to 2020, he was a color analyst for Minnesota Twins television broadcasts.[3]. Blyleven was the epitome of dominant. He is very much at ease on the podium as he describes various raffle prizes, calls off winning numbers and awards golf trophies. I still kid him about it.". So far Blyleven has won 20 only once, in 1973, when he lost 17. "We have those long, strong fingers," he says. 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. "Matlack, Milner Go In FourTeam Trade,", Durso, Joseph. 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. Terrys reaction was to swing straight down, like he was chopping the plate with an axe. In 1985 he again led the American League in shutouts with five. The Mets got from the Braves Willie Montaez and from the Rangers Tom Grieve and Ken Henderson who was sent to New York to complete the transaction three months later on March 15, 1978. So did Steve Busby, Jeff Conine, Bill Singer, John Smiley, and Ron Fairly. During the winter there are many of these Monday events in the Los Angeles area. Though his age-28 season, Blyleven tossed 2,624 innings, more than anyone since Pete Alexander. coach who was Blyleven's manager in Cleveland for half a season, "He should win 30 games with the stuff he's got. US $3.00Standard Shipping. When he was younger, his stuff was so good that he didn't need a changeup or pinpoint control. If youre a fan of sabermetrics, and of internet-based populism, this weekends induction ceremony is thus a double victoryone for Blyleven and one for Lederer. A dozen of his 1-0 complete game shutouts came from 1970-77. window.". The First Annual Blyleven Celebrity Golf Classic, to benefit Students Against Drunk Driving and the Orange County Trauma Society, is under way. He has to have it. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment. To me, that was the characteristic that made him an unquestionable HOFer. 4.9. Blyleven appeared as himself in the 1990 James Belushi film Taking Care of Business. In his first season, his sharp curveball helped him to ten victories, and he was named AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. The tournament follows a scramble format, in which all four team members play from the same lie, as determined by the foursome's best previous shot. Call it sunspots for all I care, it aint run support. Blyleven was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2002[25] and was chosen to the fan-elected "Wendy's- Minnesota Twins All-Metrodome Team" on July 28, 2009. This past baseball season he merely cut up American League batters, finishing as the third-leading vote getter in the Cy Young Award balloting, behind relievers Willie Hernandez and Dan Quisenberry. Stand behind a tree 60 feet away and Ill whomp you with an optical illusion, challenged Dizzy Dean. Blyleven has always had trouble with his name. Now, in the previous paragraph there are three things going on: 1) Blylevens RA/9IP, 2) his run support, and 3) well, a third factor thats hard to define. 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. His father, Joe, was a handyman who, during World War II, hid his future father-in-law from the Nazis so he wouldn't be put in a concentration camp. For some reason it has taken Blyleven 3,422 innings, 468 games, 195 wins, 15 years and four teams to be appreciated. Spanky, we love you.". 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. 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. You have a half-dozen 300 game winnersGaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Don Sutton, Nolan Ryan, and Tom Seaver. From 1984-89, he went 95-71 with a 115 ERA+. At which point Richie Scheinblum yells across the room to his wife, "We already have a Koufax ball!" After all, 17 wins in eight years is a lot. Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Joe Adcock, Eddie Mathews. Sold for $150. Poor Terry. How hard, in miles per hour, a fielder throws the ball. ", In a list full of "Uncle Charlies" (a common nickname for a curveball), Doc Gooden's deuce is "Lord Charles.". Tom Waddell. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Blyleven-Bert.png, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, an eight-hit, complete-game victory, 7-1, on October 5. Nolan Ryan and Bert Blyleven had the tightest rotation and velocity combination," Schmidt was quoted as saying in a recent Associated Press story. See all categories. For a pitcher it is the average of his softest 50% of batted balls allowed. Even back in 1969 Blyleven had his sensational curve. Here he is, a workhorse with superlative ERAs and a world-renown curveball, but he only made the All-Star team twice, in 1973 and 1985. ++ (FREE SHIPPING) at the best online prices at eBay! June 14, 1985: Bert Blyleven achieves a career milestone as he collects his 200th career win, defeating the A's, 6-1. Thats surprising. "O.K., we've got a golf bag and a dozen balls. 300, a la Early Wynn. Blyleven and his Villa Park neighbors could probably win the American League West. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. Blyleven started the season in Triple A. Theres a better factoid, though: Blyleven won 15 different 1-0 complete games, more than anyone else since Walter Johnson. Played in the Big Leagues from 1971-1990 and 1992. However, ESPN.com columnist Jayson Stark said, "No player has everand again, that word is 'ever'had his Hall of Fame candidacy helped more by the sabermetrics boom than Blyleven. 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). The likelihood, in percent, that an outfielder will be In 1996, Blyleven became a television color analyst for the Twins, calling games for WCCO-TV and Midwest Sports Channel (later Fox Sports North). See details. That year, he pitched 293.2 innings and completed 24 games, a feat that has not been repeated since. Look again at that list of young big winners. And as for Reggie Jackson, well, hed just as soon take the day off as hit against Blyleven, who struck him out 47 times and held him to a .214 career average. The curve ball was something to behold, but the argument that a guy belongs because of the aesthetics of a pitch's arc is simply ridiculous. 28, "Longtime Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven hangs up the mic", June 2, 1976: Minneapolis Tribune column on Blyleven's trade to Texas Rangers. Kirkpatrick, 40, is sitting in the back of the dining room with his wife, Judy. 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.. One of the nicknames for a curveball is a "yakker." Well, if its not luck, youre saying in so many words that the guy choked or lacked mental toughness. On a recent afternoon Blyleven went to see Todd play basketball for his seventh-grade team. His breaking ball was literally untouchable. Lets back up for a second. The difference between the two projections should be what his run support cost him. 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. When youre constantly winning 15 or more games a year, you dont need too many 20-win seasons to make this list. 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 "You know, from sticking our fingers in the dikes. The left-hander won over 200 games and struck out over 2,500 batters in his 18-year MLB career. "[19], By 2006, his total had increased to 53.33%. "One curve I'll always remember was when I was pitching for Pittsburgh, Blyleven once recalled. This is Anthony's first time on a golf course in 10 years, and second time ever. Despite retiring at age 30, Sandy Koufax recorded 2,396 strikouts, won four World Series Championships and three Cy Young Awards. Popular categories from this store. The ones better than him who are not in would make legitimate candidates. He had thought all his life his given name was "Rikaalbert". 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. 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. velocity and launch angle. Escape Velocity takes the average of a player's batted ball velocities subtracted from 88. I have some sympathy for that approach, but ultimately remain agnostic. [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. Heres the chart showing how he shakes out year-by-year by this system: Looking at it above, how come he didnt win more games when pitching so great in the early part of his career? However, Blyleven's early career with the Twins was not always pleasant as he was hounded by critics and fans. Others will call it pitching to the score. Adrian Devine, Tommy Boggs and Eddie Miller were traded from the Rangers to the Braves. Heck, Manny Trillo made four. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. His heart is invariably in the right placeit's just that his foot sometimes ends up in his mouth. Do I hear $275? And then when everybody was gone, we'd go out to the mound and make believe. They had a profound disagreement over how often Blyleven should pitch; he wanted to go every fourth game, and Tanner gave him the ball every fifth. Well, its that murky third factorthe luck/pitch-to-the-score/sunspots one. How is a batter supposed to hit a curveball when he constantly has to be ready for the 100 mile per hour heater? "There's not a lot of dropoff in his stuff. He pitched a no-hitter, was chosen to a pair of All-Star teams and also won two World Series Championships. This likely hurt him in the early Cooperstown voting. Then he filled out, picked up some speed on his fastball and wowed batters in rookie and A ball. "We've got some baseball memorabilia donated to us by the players," Blyleven says, "and the money will go to help Ed Kirkpatrick back there. He's fifth on the active list in shutouts, sixth in strikeouts, eighth in victories and eighth in innings pitched. Francisco the busboy? 1996-2023 DIY Baseball LLC All Rights Reserved. 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. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Shop 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. A curveball can also be thrown with some velocity in an attempt jam a hitter. Jerry Willard. They have a right to act any way they like.". In 2007, Blyleven's total dipped to 47.7% (75% is the minimum required for admission to the Hall). Yeah, over his career. A Pirate fan friend named Mike Emeigh told me about Blylevens early-1980 walkout. It was his second world championship. Blue 90672, raise your hand. Now, does that really seem like an answer to the question of run support? He came back in 1992 but was mostly unproductive, going 8-12 with a 4.74 ERA. [8] He pitched well with the Rangers, posting a 2.76 ERA. Blyleven has reigned as the curveball champion longer than either Pascual or Koufax. Thats the question. Esteban Loaiza made two. I checked all pitchers with at least 25 SHO from 1920-2011. A range-based metric of skill that shows how many outs a Blyleven wanted $85,000, which seems like a piddling sum now, and the Twins were offering $65,000. Thats easy to figure: Take the difference between his actual win-loss record and what he should have had based on a pythaging of his actual run support and his actual RA/9IP. "[17], Blyleven was a pitching coach for the Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The Twins responded by trading him to the Texas Rangers. Terry Kennedy was a young player with St. Louis. How much time, in seconds, it takes a runner to get from How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the 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. 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. He pitched in eight postseason games and went 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA.
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