Bert Blyleven had one of the best curveballs in the sport, it made the opposition’s knees buckle, and he was the true ace on almost every team he pitched for yet he is still an outsider looking in, as far as the National Baseball Hall of Fame is concerned. Will that change this year? It should, besides I would vote in this starter over any closer that’s currently out there and waiting as well.

At 19, he was the youngest player in the majors back in 1970. Blyleven was 287 and 250 with a 3.31 ERA w/ 242 complete games, 60 shutouts, won 20 once, 4969.99 IP (he is currently ranked 13th on the all-time list), 4632 hits and 1322 walks, 3701 K’s (he is ranked 5th on the all-time list), was once 19-7 and 17-5. He played for the Twins, Indians, Pirates, Texas and the Angels. He pitched a no-hitter, does that count for anything? His playoff and World Series numbers speak volumes LCS 24 IP 3-0 2.59 ERA (imagine the Josh Beckett-type press he would have gotten in this day and age), WS 23 IP 2-1 2.35 ERA. When he retired he was the second active K leader to Nolan Ryan. He was once ranked eighth all-time in games started. He is currently ranked 11th with Tom Glavine on his heels and most feel that he is a slam dunk for the hall, I know he has 300 wins. He is ranked 26th on the all-time wins list and there are players that fall below him that are in the hall. He is also ranked 13th on the all-time batters faced list as well. He played 22 seasons and he never made more than $2 million in a season. Can you imagine what he might be worth on today’s market?

If you want to compare him to somebody look no further than Hall of Fame starter Phil Niekro. The former Braves ace had 318 wins and 274 losses pitching in two more seasons and did have three 20-win seasons but after that he loses the comparison. Niekro struck out 3,342 a nice number but not the same. His career-ERA is higher at 3.35 as compared to a 3.31. Niekro had 45 shutouts as compared to Blyleven’s 60 (he is ranked ninth on the all-time list). Niekro’s LCS numbers are weak, 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Niekro did get in because he had 300 wins otherwise he would still be waiting.

Milestones help gauge a player’s greatness but milestones change as the game changes. There will be a lot of players in the future that will get a lot less than 300 wins, 250 will be the new high water mark. Now that the steroid era has put a black cloud around some other players’ chances of getting in the hall, this terrific pitcher should get the call this year without question. Will he? Lets wait and see.