It enrages me to see only certain players singled out for the Hall of Fame because they were born with a God-given specialty. When I take my kids to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I want them to experience the full array of talents that make the game what it is today, not just the larger-than-life freaks of nature. I want them to know that you don't have to be the biggest or the strongest to reach your goals, and that hard work and perseverance are also rewarded.

Bert Blyleven

Categorized in : Kids Baseball Perseverance

The problem with being Comeback Player of the Year is it means you have to go somewhere before you can come back.

player mean years

Getting into the Hall of Fame won't change me. I'm still going to pass gas and pick my nose like I always do.

gas noses fame

One curve I'll always remember was when I was pitching for Pittsburgh. Terry Kennedy was a young player with St. Louis. I threw him an 0-2 curve and it snapped. Terry's reaction was to swing straight down, like he was chopping the plate with an axe. It was the last out of the inning. After I ran off the mound, I looked over at the St. Louis dugout. There were players rolling around on the floor, laughing. Poor Terry. I'll have to admit that was a hell of a curveball.

swings curves player

I love baseball. I love watching baseball. As a broadcaster, I get to watch the best 700 players put on the uniform year after year. That, to me, is exciting.

player baseball years

I want to stay around longer than the pitchers who were at the top when I came into the big leagues. I don't want to be gone and have all the old guys - Seaver, Carlton, Ryan and Sutton - still pitching. I got rid of Palmer, now I want to outlast the rest of them.

guy league gone

The best thing about the New Year is your 4.90 ERA disappears and... by Bert Blyleven

The best thing about the New Year is your 4.90 ERA disappears and starts back at zero.

new-year zero years

The 16 years have gone so fast. I came to Minnesota as a 19-year-old kid. Marv Grissom was the pitching coach, an old-timer who taught me quite a bit. Marv didn't like the way I stepped toward the plate. I had a tendency to throw across my body. So, he took me off to the side at Met Stadium and put a chair on the mound. If I threw across my body, I would step on the chair. Marv was trying to hurt me. I fooled him. I started stepping the right way.

hurt kids years

I really like Kansas City Royals stadium - Kauffman Stadium. by Bert Blyleven

I really like Kansas City Royals stadium - Kauffman Stadium.

kansas-city royal cities

I'm from Southern California, so I feel much more comfortable with a golf club in my hand than I do a weapon.

california golf hands

I know I've got a lock on the Dutch Hall of Fame. by Bert Blyleven

I know I've got a lock on the Dutch Hall of Fame.

dutch locks fame

I knew that I wasn't a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee. by Bert Blyleven

I knew that I wasn't a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee.

knew

My dad introduced me to baseball. Then one of my friends asked if I could play on a team; my dad said I could, and I just fell in love with the game.

game me dad love

I'm probably one of the few people that liked 'Water World' with... by Bert Blyleven

I'm probably one of the few people that liked 'Water World' with Kevin Costner.

few-people water people world

Your goal as a hitter is to get on. And if the third baseman is playing back and letting you lay down a bunt, I don't have a problem with that, even if it's late in a no-hitter.

down you late problem

When you're not at the top of your game and you feel like the other team is laughing and embarrassing you by doing certain things, it's time to retaliate.

game you team time