Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1971 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Bert Blyleven
Position/Team: Pitcher for Twins
Card #: 26
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Bert Blyleven, born Rik Aalbert Blijleven, was a Dutch-American professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned 22 seasons (1970-1992). He is most renowned for his devastating curveball, a pitch often cited as one of the best in baseball history.
Blyleven made his MLB debut in 1970 at just 19 years old with the Minnesota Twins. From the start, his curveball, often called “The Hammer” or “The Yakker,” was his primary weapon. He quickly established himself as a frontline starter. In 1973, he posted a 20-17 record for a Twins team that finished below .500 and led the league with 9 shutouts. His curveball, combined with good control, made him a premier strikeout artist. He finished his career with 3,701 strikeouts.
Blyleven was a key acquisition for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1977 and helped them win the 1979 World Series. Later in his career, he returned to the Minnesota Twins and played a crucial role in their improbable 1987 World Series championship.
After years of advocacy from statisticians and a growing number of voters, Blyleven was finally elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, receiving 79.7% of the vote.
After retiring, Blyleven became a popular and often humorous color commentator for Minnesota Twins television broadcasts, a role he held for many years, further endearing him to Twins fans. The Minnesota Twins retired his uniform No. 28 in 2011, the same year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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