Though he won twenty game’s just once in his career, Bert Blyleven pitched for 22 seasons, baffling batters with his easy delivery and nasty curveball. He won World Series rings in both major leagues, even though just 34 of his 287 career victories came outside the American League.
Blyleven was born in Holland, the first pitcher to have any sort of career who had been born there. In his 1970 debut with Minnesota, 6/5/70, he gave up a home run to the first batter he faced (the Senators Lee Maye). He would eventually yield 430 gopher balls, including a major league record 50 in 1986.
The right-hander went 20-17 in 1973, hurling 325 innings. Seventeen times he topped the 200 inning mark, including five times after the age of 34. He was a durable workhorse that ate up innings for his teams. He toiled for the Twins until he was dealt to the Rangers in May of 1976. With Texas he hurled a no-hitter in 1977. Despite being popular in Texas, the Rangers needed offense and traded Blyleven to the Pirates in the winter of 1977. In his first season he won 14 games and in 1979 he picked up 12.
The Pirates won the World Series in 1979 in unlikely fashion – rallying from a 3-1 deficit. Blyleven posted a 1.80 ERA in one start and a relief appearance. He lasted in Pittsburgh just one more season before returning to the American League with Cleveland. He pitched well in the strike-marred 1981 season but injuries slowed him the next two years. In 1984 he won 19 games for the Indians and the ’85 he was an All-Star.
The Twins acquired him for the stretch drive in 1985 and by 1986 he was anchoring the young staff. He won 15 games for the Twins World Series winners of 1987 – winning two more games in the ALCS and one in the Fall Classic. He had his second ring.
Blyleven lost 17 games in 1988 but rebounded with the Angels in 1989 to win 17. For his effort he won the Comeback Player of the Year honor. He had two more mediocre seasons with California, inching closer to the 300-win mark. But his failure to make the Twins staff in 1993 at the age of 42 left him 13 victories shy. He retired third on the all-time strikeout list, with 3,701. His masterful curveball was one of the best of his era.
Blyleven's curveball was considered the best of his generation, and many, including Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew, called it the toughest breaking pitch they ever faced.