Blyleven's third batter was Frank Howard. No two curveballs have the same rotation speed, velocity toward the hitter, arm delivery angle, or break. Blyleven starred on the Santiago High School baseball team, also running cross country to build up his stamina and leg strength. But nobody really cared. Blyleven thinks little of drugs, pitch count. Ball No. "We have those long, strong fingers," he says. 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. So close he might hang for No. For some reason it has taken Blyleven 3,422 innings, 468 games, 195 wins, 15 years and four teams to be appreciated. Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt became something of an expert on the curveball during his career. It's like the fellow at the golf tournament said. "He knows how to finish a game now," says Indian pitching coach Don McMahon. Enjoy this run through the 10 best curveballs in the history of baseball. He had looked up the records of Walter Johnson and Cy Young when he was young. He began teaching the pitch to himself, learning to throw a drop in junior high. Blyleven set the record that still stands with 50 gopher balls in 1986, and then topped the league again with 46 in 1987. How much spin, in revolutions per minute, a pitch was He never surrendered more than 24 home runs in any year before, and after the 198687 campaigns, he averaged 21 allowed homers per season over the course of his career. ", In a list full of "Uncle Charlies" (a common nickname for a curveball), Doc Gooden's deuce is "Lord Charles.". Like the first time, it doesn't go well, as he allows two runs in two innings and the NL wins, 6-1. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. outfield. Calico Jack (Suwinski) is Back for the Attack. Phoenix, AZ 85004 A 1971 Milwaukee Brewers uniform, No. 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 has a ball for every one of his regular-season major league victories, as well as for his win in the 1979 National League Championship Series for the Pirates and his '79 World Series victory over the Orioles. There aren't many higher compliments than that for any pitcher. i surely did my campaigning for blyleven too back in the day. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. It was his second world championship. [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. The list of 1-0 CG SHO, required the Play Index. In the '60s, Koufax had it. Blyleven has often been labeled a troublemaker. shouts someone from a passing golf cart. How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the Before the All-Star break, he was 150-140 with a 3.47 ERA, but after it he was 137-110 with a 3.12 ERA. How quickly, in seconds, a catcher can get the ball out Camilo Pascual threw only two pitches, his fastball and his nasty overhand curveball, so as one can imagine those pitches were dominant. Blyleven also won so many games because he was a great workhorse. However, the velocity on his fastball adding to the effectiveness of his curveball. 1971 TOPPS # 26 BERT BLYLEVEN NICE CARD. Then he filled out, picked up some speed on his fastball and wowed batters in rookie and A ball. Tanner is almost universally beloved, so Blyleven came out as the bad guy in Pittsburgh, especially after Tanner called him "Cryleven." Even alone Blyleven is a terror, whether he's giving a hotfoot, tying clothes in knots, cutting neckties or pulling down McMahon's pants. In the end, he fell virtually inches short of what would have been an unquestioned Hall of Fame career, just missing 300 wins (13 shy), 5,000 innings (30 shy), and 4,000 strikes (299 shy). "I would like to say to my family, to my fans, to all the Puerto Rican people and . How much did this cost him? Two words Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson used to describe Bert Blyleven's curveball: "nasty" and "knee-buckling.". Nolan Ryan and Bert Blyleven had the tightest rotation and velocity combination," Schmidt was quoted as saying in a recent Associated Press story. And those TWENTY no-decisions on the WORLD CHAMPION Pittsburgh Pirates are probably a record of sorts. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/forgotten-pennant-push-jim-kaat-1967/, interesting article. He won fewer games than he should have, right? "Thanks everyone for coming, and good night. Mike Cuellar was one of the filthiest breaking ball pitchers the game has ever seen. Corrales feels the secret of Blyleven's curve is not in the grip but in his big, strong hands. It has also appeared as Ricalbert and Ribalbert. And I could throw it over at any time, any count."[6]. Yet last year was the first time he ever got a vote for the Cy Young Award. In the early days it was fashionable to deny that a curveball actually curved, many scientists even claiming it was nothing but an optical illusion. "I thank the baseball writers of America for, I'm going to say, finally getting it right. Position: Starting Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg) . background-color:#ba3434; ". [21] In 2009, he gained only two votes, for a total of 338, 62.7%. This is a free article. Robin Roberts hung on a long time but was a shell of himself for many years. His run support wasnt that good every year, but by and large it was better than I wouldve guessed. Who does Bert pitch for these days? There's the looping 12-6 curveball, which drops off the table just as the hitter thinks he has a read on it. Escape Velocity takes the average of a player's batted ball velocities subtracted from 88. Blyleven is well above the Coveleski line, regardless of how you slice his record. Look at Blyleven in that 1974 campaign. Blyleven went to the California Angels in 1989 and pitched a 2.73 ERA for a 175 record in his first season; he led the league for his third and final time in shutouts (5). "And then he went down." The answer is 11. Blyleven was the epitome of dominant. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The only thing Blyleven hates more than pitch counts is the use of . A batted ball with the perfect combination of exit Maye hit it out of the park. See all categories. The lone hit in that game was a bunt single by slow-footed Ed Kirkpatrick in the fifth inning. 1. Only nine? . 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. 30 day returns. 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ For two years we paid him a good salary, and he did nothing because he was hurt. These arent items I learned in the last week, but they are things I found out during the course of Blylevens seemingly never-ending Cooperstown candidacy. Go figure. What we're talking about here is a humongous stuffed panda, and he's auctioning off the bear at the banquet. If you grew up in the 1980s, you likely have a major memory of Blyleventhe guy who gave up all those homers. The incident occurred when Rose was commentating on a Phillies game last year and sharing a story when he said . "A Carl Yastrzemski bat. Blyleven missed the entire 1991 season following rotator cuff surgery. He also claims his heritage has something to do with his curveball, which is the one against which all others in the big leagues are judged. He may have been the best pitcher in the history of baseball. Hes going in. 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. "Bob Boone is building a house over there, Enos Cabell lives in those hills." The likelihood, in percent, that an outfielder will be It was during this second stint with Minnesota that Blyleven became the tenth member of the 3,000-strikeout club in 1986 and won a second World Series title in 1987. Kid Nichols is the all-time champ. "The guys who were real cheap during the season got real cheap gifts," he says. He was 17-5 for the Angels last season, allowing only 14 home runs. And I said, 'Yes.' Catfish Hunter lasted only a few months more. Blyleven married Patricia Ann Whitehead, a friend from high school, during his second season in the majors, and they have raised a happy family. 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. Upon his return, he was plagued by chronic stomach ulcers and a torn rotator cuff. "[17], Blyleven was a pitching coach for the Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Jack Brickhouse, a Chicago Cubs broadcaster, described the pitches Paige threw as "not quite legal but not quite illegal.". Francisco, come up here. Again last season he got embroiled in a couple of controversies. How high/low, in degrees, a ball was hit by a batter. "[19] Still, it was not until his 14th year of eligibility, in 2011, that he was elected; he received 79.7% of the vote. But bleep them. Hmmm, maybe I should bid on it. He also won a World Series in 1979 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hal Newhouser barely won 200 games. Spanky, we love you.". It's one of the hardest things in sports to execute. "Brought it in from Cleveland," comes the host's reply. Note that since the Neyer Board discussion ten years ago, things have already shifted. Blyleven was quoted as saying, "My dad built me a mound in the backyard with a canvas backdrop over our horseshoe pits, and I would go back there and just throw and throw and throw until I developed it, and it became my curveball. Even the guys who didnt completely implode aged poorly. No two curveballs have the same rotation speed, velocity toward the hitter, arm delivery angle, or break. On a recent afternoon Blyleven went to see Todd play basketball for his seventh-grade team. Hmmm, I wanted the color TV. 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. When he beat the Twins for Texas on July 26, 1976, Blyleven didn't mince words. Despite winning 17 fewer games than he should have in his pre-Pittsburgh years, Blyleven can still claim to be one of only 16 men in the liveball era to win 150 games before turning 30. [27], On September 2, 2020, Blyleven broadcast his final game for the Twins.[28]. Though his age-28 season, Blyleven tossed 2,624 innings, more than anyone since Pete Alexander. He keeps a collection of baseball memorabilia in his study. The Blyleven tribe includes Kimberly, 10; wife Patty; Timothy, 3; Bert; Todd, 12; and Thomas, 17 months. How is a batter supposed to hit a curveball when he constantly has to be ready for the 100 mile per hour heater? Blyleven went out and bought gifts for everyone. When announcing partner Bremer attempted to circle fans with the telestrator, he drew geometric forms that were non-circular, and Blyleven and fans started to jostle Bremer with phrases like "Rhombus me, Dick" or "Triangle me, Dick". So did Steve Busby, Jeff Conine, Bill Singer, John Smiley, and Ron Fairly. In 1996, Blyleven became a television color analyst for the Twins, calling games for WCCO-TV and Midwest Sports Channel (later Fox Sports North). If you think you just heard some big names, listen to these. On June 5, 1970, Rigney gave Blyleven his first start, against the Washington Senators. No other prominent pitcher in his prime had such a lousy divergence from his expected W-L record based on his real-life run support as Blyleven did. An inveterate practical joker, Blyleven likes to snip cravats. However, during his time in the Mexican League, he was coached by Dolph Lugue, a curveball mastermind, which helped him rely on the pitch upon returning to the majors. He wound up completing 242 games and throwing 60 shutouts, the two numbers of which he is most proud. Bert was a terrific pitchera dominating pitcher. [15] Blyleven was unhappy playing for the lackluster Indians and forced a trade back to the Twins,[16] where he passed the 3,000-strikeout mark and helped the Twins to a 1987 World Series victory. He has lines around his eyes and a scar on the inside of his right elbow, testimony to the strain and pain of 15 years in the major leagues. ", Bert also inherited a love of the Dodgers from his father; he worshiped two in particular, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. "My friends and I used to wait until they turned the lights out in the park," he says. At the Blyleven the biggest celebrity, literally and figuratively, is Lou Ferrigno, television's erstwhile Incredible Hulk. 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. That just leaves the years in his apparent prime, from 1970-77, when he won 17 fewer games than youd expect. Blessed with one of the greatest curveballs the game has ever seen, Blyleven stands among the elite in several statistical categories, ranking fifth all-time in strikeouts (3,701), ninth in games started (685) and shutouts (60), and 24th in wins (287). That upset Blyleven, especially because he has given of himself to Cleveland. All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, But the injuries may have been a blessing in disguise, because they made him a better pitcher. Blyleven was born in the Netherlands, one of only nine major leaguers to have been born in Holland as of 2020 (several major leaguers were born in the Kingdom of the Netherlands outside Holland). OK, now lets figure out what Blylevens record should be based on pythaging his actual RA/9IP and his actual run support. How to separate run support from that murky third factor? He needed elbow surgery in '82 after throwing only 20 innings, and in '83 he missed most of the last two months with a right shoulder injury. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Shop In fact, he never came close. and 32 degrees. Jerry Koosman was a two-time, all-star for the New York Mets and, like most lefties, relied heavily on his curveball for success. He knows how to pitch. attempt. From 1971 (his second year in the majors but first full season in a big league rotation) through 1975, Blyleven struck out 200-plus batters each season (224, 228, 258, 249 and 233, respectively).. He's fifth on the active list in shutouts, sixth in strikeouts, eighth in victories and eighth in innings pitched. There were players rolling around on the floor, laughing. It was this way when hitters faced Blyleven, as former San Diego catcher Terry Kennedy can attest. 1996-2023 DIY Baseball LLC All Rights Reserved. "What other team gets to wear a picture of its general manager on its jacket?" Thereupon he drives the addressee 250 yards straight down the middle of the No. 300. Popular categories from this store. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. He became interested in baseball as a young boy watching Sandy Koufax pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers and listening to Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett announce the Dodgers' radio broadcasts. At which point Richie Scheinblum yells across the room to his wife, "We already have a Koufax ball!" Blyleven was one of baseball's most notorious dugout pranksters during his playing days. Fansboth at home and at road gamescarried signs to the games saying "Circle me Bert". 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. 1979 - Blyleven goes 12-5 on 37 starts and the Pirates win the World Series. The question arose: Is there any way to adjust his W-L record by his run support? I still kid him about it.". 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. Of course, it's never as nice as the one he cut.". Kirkpatrick, 40, is sitting in the back of the dining room with his wife, Judy. In 2010, Blyleven had 74.2% of the votes, missing admission to the Hall of Fame by only 5 votes (0.8%).[22]. The ones worse than him who are in are generally mistakes. Blyleven has ridden the curve to a career ERA of 3.00. That may not mean much to you, but Ron Theobald is the only man in baseball history to go into the on-deck circle without his bat. He pitched in eight postseason games and went 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA. This isn't a tournament along the ropes of, say, the Hope or the Crosby. At that time only 15 to 20 percent of the electorate supported him. Nearly a decade later while an Indian, he flipped the bird to fans in Baltimore. 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. [18] He returned in his role for 2013 and 2017.[2]. So how many wins did Blyleven lose solely due to his run support? He pitched a no-hitter, was chosen to a pair of All-Star teams and also won two World Series Championships. Saved him a lot of pain." I threw him an 0-2 curve and it snapped. 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). He responded with a flippant gesture. His miniature car is a favorite. 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. [2] From 1996 to 2020, he was a color analyst for Minnesota Twins television broadcasts.[3]. It gives the opposition fits when thrown properly. Bert Blyleven, in August of 1986, pitching with the Minnesota Twins against the Angels. CLEVELAND'S NETHERLANDS-BORN STAR, PITCHER BERT BLYLEVEN, PUTS HIS PEDAL TO THE METAL ON THE FIELD AND OFF, 2023 ABG-SI LLC. "Two pitchers that I know about who held it the way I do," says Blyleven, "were Koufax and Bob Feller.". time of a pitcher's first movement or pitch release. However, Blyleven's early career with the Twins was not always pleasant as he was hounded by critics and fans. Normally a guy entering the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot with 287 wins is pretty impressive. He has always hovered around .500: 10-9, 16-15, 17-17 twice. With the power of the internet, Lederers persistenceand, oh yeah, Blylevens own solid casehell have a nice weekend in upstate New York this year. Who the hell wanted this old-timer in the HOF anyways? He's now 200-173. Tom Waddell. Don Drysdale was done two weeks after his 33rd birthday. 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. Lets back up for a second. This is Anthony's first time on a golf course in 10 years, and second time ever. Others will call it pitching to the score. [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. It can ruin a career. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011 . "I know Ed thinks the world of him.". 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? Free local pickup from Brooklyn, New York, United States. 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 That was the. In 1973, he pitched nine shutouts, the most of any AL pitcher that season. thrown with. Known for his terrific curveball, pitcher Bert Blyleven won 287 games over a 22-year major league career. Poor Terry. the fastest reactions and most direct routes in the Now, does that really seem like an answer to the question of run support? When you cant lift your arm for two days after throwing, you cant do any more.. Bert Blyleven grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., less than 10 miles from Anaheim Stadium. Blyleven became disgruntled with the Pirates and threatened to retire during the 1980 season if he was not traded. one base to another, like Home To First. "I open the bidding at $200. "feet per second in a player's fastest one-second Bert Blyleven Twins 2022 Topps Gilded Collection 1X Case 18X Box Break #7 | Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop, Sports Trading Cards, Trading Card Box & Case Breaks | eBay! From 1970-77, Blyleven went 122-113 despite an ERA+ of 134. pitch. Shipping speed. Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Joe Adcock, Eddie Mathews. Sold for $150. If you go through the above, he comes out to 298-239 for his career, ever so incredibly shy of 300. 1 fairway at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Finally we'd make like we were playing the outfield and jump over the fence in left.". 300, a la Early Wynn. 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. Statcast refers to the spin that contributes to movement 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. Blyleven's display includes his one no-hitter (win No. Around (over?) If it weren't for drug and injury issues late in his career, he easily could have reached the 3,000-strikeoutplateau. Maglie's numbers are not overly impressive due to his stint in the Mexican League that got him banned from Major League Baseball. His answer told you all you need to know about the major-league curveball: Dont bother. Many (especially in THT-land) will call it luck. Scheinblum's son, Monte, who's active in SADD at Villa Park High School in Villa Park, Calif., asked Blyleven if he'd help him organize a tournament. 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. Blyleven was recently inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame after recording over 3,700 strikeouts in his career. Those stats hit me in the face. There once was a rookie hitter who didnt need to be convinced the curve was something more than an optical illusion. And so he ended his career, waiting and wondering if he would get into the Hall of Fame. Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick and Bert Blyleven on stage during a press conference during the 2011 Hall of Fame Weekend. How far off the mound, in feet, a pitcher releases the That means isolating it. 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. [8] He pitched well with the Rangers, posting a 2.76 ERA. See details. It's hard to say anything based on one game, but he looks like he's got a great future ahead of him.". Blyleven, who has a seven handicap, is teamed with a couple of Cadillac dealers and an attorney, a zany Mormon named Tom Anthony. Terry Kennedy was a young player with St. Louis.