Bert Blyleven

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Blyleven's career with the Twins was marked by both triumph and turbulence. After debuting at age 19, he clashed with owner Calvin Griffith over his $65,200 salary in 1976, refusing to sign until the team traded him to the Texas Rangers on June 1 of that year. His time in Minnesota saw him lead the league in shutouts twice (1973, 1975), though he also allowed 50 home runs in 1986 and 46 in 1987—the highest two-season total of his career. Despite these struggles, he returned to the Twins in August 1985, where he passed the 3,000-strikeout mark in 1986 and helped secure a second World Series title in 1987. His resilience was evident when he broke his foot slipping on a baseball in 1984 yet still posted a 19–7 record with the Cleveland Indians.

In Their Own Story

On September 22, 1977, while pitching for the Texas Rangers, Blyleven threw a no-hitter against the California Angels just two weeks after recovering from a groin injury. This performance was his final start as a Ranger before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a massive four-team blockbuster on December 8, 1977. With the Pirates, he led the team in ERA and strikeouts in 1978 and contributed to their 1979 World Series victory, recording a then-record 20 no-decisions that season. Later, facing Cleveland, Blyleven endured injuries before mounting a late-career resurgence, finishing third in Cy Young voting back-to-back in 1984 and 1985. His curveball became the stuff of legend; Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson once noted it was "nasty... enough to make your knees buckle," cementing Blyleven's reputation as a dominating pitcher.

Reader's Guide

Blyleven's statistical footprint is immense: he ranks fifth in MLB history with 3,701 strikeouts and ninth with 60 career shutouts. His 430 home runs allowed stand as the ninth-most all-time, partly due to his longevity rather than poor control, as he surrendered a home run to only 2.1% of batters faced. Although he spent time with the Rangers, Pirates, Indians, and Angels, his tenure with the Twins (1970–1976 and 1985–1987) defined his legacy. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011 after receiving 79.7% of the vote, overcoming an initial low of 17.6% in 1998. Post-retirement, he served as a color commentator for Minnesota Twins broadcasts from 2020 and coached the Netherlands national team in multiple World Baseball Classic tournaments.

Did You Know?

• Blyleven was the first Dutch-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• He threw a no-hitter for the Texas Rangers on September 22, 1977, though it was not his final start for the team—he took the mound again on September 30 before being traded.
• His curveball was developed by throwing against a canvas backdrop over horseshoe pits built by his father in their backyard.
• Blyleven recorded 20 no-decisions during the 1979 season with the Pirates, but contrary to some claims, he did not have the most no-decisions by a starting pitcher that year.
• Blyleven led the American League in shutouts three times: in 1973 and 1975 with the Twins, and in 1977 with the Texas Rangers.