Blyleven deserves to be in Hall of Fame

If I had a vote for this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame class that will be announced Tuesday - I don’t, but if I did - I would include Bert Blyleven’s name.

You can visit his Web site at www.bertblyleven.com or check out this bio found on the Hall of Fame’s Web site. Sure, Blyleven had only one 20-win season, but he had 60 shutouts. I’ll say it again: 60 SHUTOUTS!

Read the following and tell me you if don’t agree that Blyleven should be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Eleventh year on the ballot ... Pitched 22 seasons ... Ranks fifth all-time in strikeouts, 10th in starts, ninth in shutouts, 25th in wins, and 13th in innings pitched ... Led AL in shutouts three times (1973, '85, '89), innings twice (1985, '86), complete games once (1985), and strikeouts once (1985) ... Tabbed by The Sporting News as AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year (1970) and Comeback Player of the Year (1989) ... One 20-win season (1973) and eight 200-plus strikeout seasons ... Received AL Cy Young votes in 1973 (T-seventh), '84 (third), '85 (T-third), and '89 (fourth) ... Two All-Star teams (1973, '85) ... Pitched a 6-0 no-hitter against the California Angels on Sept. 22, 1977 ... Shares AL single-game record for longest one-hit complete game -- 10 innings (June 21, 1976) ... Three League Championship Series (1970, '79, '87); owns a 3-0 record with a 2.59 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 24 1/3 LCS innings ... Two World Series (1979, '87); owns a 2-1 record with a 2.35 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 23 WS innings ... Member of two WS championship teams, in 1979 and '87.