Hall of Fame

Finally, Bert Blyleven is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The man who won 287 games, who spent the first six years of his career with a .500 ballclub, who threw what was perhaps the best curveball of the 1970s, the man who went 2-1 in four career world series starts.  In 1973, Blyleven posted a record of 20-17 despite an ERA 58% below the league average that year. His team won 81 games and he won nearly 1/4 of them. Most Mortal Pitcher's arms would implode after throwing 750,000 curveballs. Blyleven just kept winning games until he was 40 years old.

Plus, he was a major part of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates. Another part of that team, Dave Parker, dropped off the ballot with only 15% of the voters giving some love to the Cobra. Nahhh, he doesn't deserve to be in the hall. 1977 MVP of the NL, 7 time All Star, back to back batting titles in 1977 and 1978. No, he shouldn't be there. Led the NL in doubles and RBI in 1985 at age 34, was a key part of two world series champs. No, he isn't a hall of fame player. Perhaps it was because the Cobra was surly and loved his cocaine. Once, Willie Stargell was told by a reporter that "Cobra says that you are his favorite player." Stargell responded "Well, that's big considering his favorite player used to be himself." His manager said he was a hall of fame player. Just sayin'.

Roberto Alomar also got in, with good reason. Alomar was magic at second, the fastest turn on the double play since Bill Mazeroski. He could hit just a little, also. I was expecting Tim Raines to get more votes, but he is struggling with the same B.S. that Andre Dawson did....he played in Montreal. Montreal? They speak French there. Indeed! Now their team is in Washington, and no one cares that Raines was the best leadoff hitter in the NL in the 1980s, and one of the best players in baseball for over a decade. So what? He played in Montreal. Congrats, Bert and Roberto! Hopefully we will see Raines get there next year.