Bert Blyleven-MN Twins Team Hall of Fame interview 2002

The Average Guys of PACT-TV were media guests of the MN Twins on Saturday June 1st 2002 as this was the day Bert Blyleven was inducted into the MN Twins Hall of Fame. Here's a guy who pitched 22 seasons in Major League Baseball and pitched in three different decades 1970-1992. As a 19-year old rookie with the Minnesota Twins he won 10 games had an era of 3.18 while pitching in 164 innings and was named AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. From 1971-1980 Bert would amass an amazing record, as he averaged 270 innings over those 11 season's, he was a 20-game winner in 1973 a season that included an incredible 325 innings pitched. His curve-ball was legendary and the strikeouts that came with it, he's still 5th on the all-time strikeout list with 3,701 and he's been out of the game for over 15 years. Bert pitched a no-hitter with the Texas Rangers vs CA Angels in 1977. Plus two all-star appearances, oh and a couple of world series championships. Hall of Fame? For sure! Your in our hall of fame Bert. Cooperstown is missing a gem of baseball player who's steroid-free, keep your chin up Bert you are hall-worthy. We know we forgot to list some other amazing stats, but that's what makes Bert even more of a Hall of Fame candidate. Some of the forgotten stats are 60 shutouts, 692 games. This just in... 1/5/11 Bert Blyleven received 79.7% of the votes and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame!!!

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[gazerman65]

When's this video from?

[theaverageguys]

2002...It was a gas.

[NkrumahTure]

But, does he deserve to be inducted in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely. He had incredible "stuff", and when he was "on" he could pitch as great as anyone. He argubly has the greatest curve ever in MLB history in my opinion.

[RAPisntMUSIC111]

i like the let it be shirt the interviewer is wearing lol

[NkrumahTure]

Yes, 16 gold gloves is quite an accomplishment. It's hard to argue against that. I remember Jim "Kitty" Kaat, he was a great competitor on the mound, just fearless.

[NkrumahTure]

Absolutely, good point. Let's hope he gets in the Hall.

[ddenuci]

Nkrumah: You named some of the all-time greats there, but look at it from the other perspective. Fergie Jenkins, Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, and Gaylord Perry are all HOF'ers. It's true that all of these pitchers had more wins, and all except Jenkins actually recorded the magic 300+ wins. But none match Blyleven in K's or shutouts. Take a look at Niekro's numbers : 318 wins, 45 shutouts, 3342 K's, and 3.35 ERA. Even his winning pct of .537 is comparable to Bert's .534.

[NkrumahTure]

See, Blyleven does have formidable overall numbers but he had the unfortunate situation of playing in the era of pitchers like Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, & Jim "Catfish" Hunter, who over shadowed him. These guys set the standard for starting pitchers in their day. Blyleven never was THE dominant pitcher in any particular year he pitched. Also, he played for those mediocre Twin teams in the 70's, which is probably why his HOF candidacy is so questionable.

[ddenuci]

Actually, there's one more pitcher I left out: Jim Kaat. 25 year career. 283 wins, 31 shutouts, 2461 K's and 3.45 ERA. 3 time All-star but no Cy-Young's. However, he won the gold glove every year from 1962-77. 16 gold gloves!

[ddenuci]

Of the 4 pitchers mentioned in my earlier post, here is the number of times they made the All-star team : Blyleven (2), Tommy John (4), Jack Morris (5), and Saberhagen (3).

[ddenuci]

There are 4 pitchers from the 1970s-1990s whom I often think of as right on the borderline of being in the HoF. First is Blyleven, he deserves to be in. 287wins, 60 shutouts, 3701 K's and a 3.31 ERA. Next is Tommy John : 288, 46, 2245 and 3.34. Third is Jack Morris : 254, 28, 2478 and 3.90. Last is Bret Saberhagen : 167, 16, 1715, and 3.34. Saberhagen had the best winning pct with .588, and he won the Cy Young twice. The other three never won a CY.