Actually, this is more like Blyleven fever.

You give me fever.

Fever!

Part 3: Burt Blyleven

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball?

Newspaper archives really don’t really help me out here. Blyleven didn’t really play in baseball mad environments, so the relative anonymity might be a big minus. A quick check of people older then I who had a chance to see Burt play said this:

“BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”

I think its safe to say that Blyleven was not ever considered the best player in baseball.

2. Was he the best player on his team?

In 1973, and 1989, he was probably the best player those Twins and Angels teams. That is actually a big reason why Blyleven isn’t thought of as being as good as he was. The man had a career that was broken up so much that its tough to get a read on his actual skill level. That’s what happens when your best years are 16 years apart on two different teams.

In 1971-1975, 1977, 1981, 1984-1986, and 1989, he was the best pitcher on his team. In 1985, he was actually still the best Indian despite his trade to the Twins on August 1st.

3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position?

In 1973, the Holland Hammer was the best pitcher in the AL (better then Ryan), and shared the honor of Best Pitcher in the World with Tom Seaver.

1989 was the Year of Saberhagen, the Return. Sorry Burt.

4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races?

The three years he made the playoffs, he pitched well in September, posting a 3.01 ERA. His call up in 1970 helped push the Twins into the ALCS. I guess that’s ok.

5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime?

Blyleven had the general pattern of all very good players. He peaked, the plateau’ed, he declined, and then he had a one year return to greatness. Blyleven was affective as a pitcher until 1989, at age 38. After that, he treaded water.

6. Is he the very best baseball player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame?

No. I would say that players such as Ron Santo and Minnie Minoso were better players.

7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame?

This is a big one. Eight of the ten players deemed most comparative to Blyleven are in the Hall. Sutton, Perry, Jenkins, Roberts, Seaver, Wynn, Niekro (?), and Carlton are all in. Tommy John, and Jim Kaat watch from the outside, but they wouldn’t be the worst pitchers in the Hall.

8. Do the player’s numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?

Sure, by Standards he ranks an average 50. The Monitor ranks him a tad bit higher with a score of 120.5.

9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?

He was called a leader. I watched an TWIB with him in the late 80s that was him talking about pitching while picking his nose the whole time. It was kinda gross, but my seven-year-old mind thought it was awesome.

10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame?

Carl Mays is the only pitcher that can really claim being better than Blyleven. Maybe Goose Gossage. He’s still a top 30-35 pitcher in big league history.

11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?

He was never the MVP of his league, and probably didn’t ever deserve it. He never came particularly close to winning the Cy Young either, but, as most awards, I’ll chalk that up to writer idiocy.

12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the players who played in this many All-Star games go into the Hall of Fame?

Despite being one of the best pitchers in baseball in 1989, Rik stayed at home. He was only invited to two All Star games. Again, a very bad oversight and a pox on the fans.

13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant?

Neither the 1973 Twins, nor the 1989 Californians were pennant teams. He was the best starting pitcher for the 1979 Pirates that won the World Series. Kent Tekulve really was something that year. We are family…

14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?

He is currently fifth on the all time strikeout list. He is also the winningest pitcher to not be in the Hall with 287. Other then that, nothing really.

15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

Oh heck, I don’t know. He was Dutch for God sakes.