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Blyleven, Bert

Rik Aalbert Blyleven
Born: April 6, 1951, Zeist, Netherlands,
Bats: 
Right
Throws: 
Right
Played For: 
Minnesota Twins (1970-76, 1985-88), Texas Rangers (1976-77), Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-80), Cleveland Indians (1981-85), California Angels (1989-90, 1992)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers: 2011
Biography: 

Bert Blyleven was armed with outstanding control and a wicked curveball that proved to be one of the toughest to hit in the history of the game. The tall right-hander with a fluid pitching motion came to the majors at 19 and remained durable over 22 big league seasons with five different teams, garnering 287 wins and 60 shutouts. The "Dutch Master" also compiled 3,701 strikeouts, baseball's third highest career total at the time he retired. He was a key cog in two playoffs, contributing to Fall Classic crowns for both the 1979 Pirates and the 1987 Twins.

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Induction Speech

 

Did You Know: 
that Bert Blyleven, a native of Holland, moved with his family to Saskatoon, Canada, in 1953, before relocating to Southern California in 1957?