14th time's the charm: Bert Blyleven elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
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Finally, Bert Blyleven is headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The longtime Minnesota Twins pitcher received 463 votes (79.7%) from the Baseball Writers Association of America -- surpassing the 75% mark required for induction in his 14th year on the ballot.
He'll be inducted along with infielder Roberto Alomar and executive Pat Gillick on July 24 in Cooperstown N.Y.
Blyleven, 59, will become the fourth player in Twins history to have a plaque in the Hall, joining Harmon Killebrew (1984), Rod Carew (1991) and Kirby Puckett (2001).
"I am thrilled that Bert will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame," Killebrew said in comments distributed by the Twins. "I could not be happier if it was my own son. I played in the first game Bert pitched for the Minnesota Twins in 1970. He's been a credit to the Twins organization and all of baseball. I wish it wouldn't have taken so long but now that he is in, it's wonderful."
The American League Rookie of the Year in 1970, when he broke into the big-leagues with the Twins at age 19, Blyleven pitched 22 seasons that also included stops in Cleveland, California, Pittsburgh and Texas. He compiled a 287-250 record with a 3.31 earned-run average, 242 complete games and 60 shutouts, which ranks ninth all-time.
"This is a great day for baseball in general and Twins fans in particular," Carew said in a statement. "Bert's election to the Hall of Fame is well deserved and long overdue. Bert was as fierce a competitor as I ever faced on the mound. I look forward to being in Cooperstown in July and welcoming Bert Blyleven to the most exclusive club in the world.
Blyleven remains the Twins' all-time leader in complete games (141), shutouts (29) and strikeouts (2,035). Traded to Rangers on June 1, 1976, Blyleven returned to the Twins On Aug. 1, 1985 in a trade with the Indians and won Game 2 of the 1987 World Series before finishing his career with the Angels in 1992, at age 41.
Since 1995, Blyleven has served as a color analyst on Twins television broadcasts.
"The Pohlad family and Minnesota Twins organization would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bert Blyleven on his long-awaited election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame," Twins President Dave St. Peter said in a statement. "Bert's on-field contributions and statistical resume speak for themselves and make him quite deserving of a place in Cooperstown.
"In addition, Bert's election serves as a wonderful opportunity for all of baseball to salute one of the game's great characters and true ambassadors. I speak for millions of fans across the Upper Midwest in stating we intend to make Cooperstown Twins Territory during HOF Induction Weekend."
