BERT BLYLEVEN – MWWL HALL OF FAME BALLOT BIO
Bert Blyleven’s Mid-West Winter League (MWWL) career statistics firmly establish him as a Hall of Fame pitcher, worthy of induction into the MWWL Hall of Fame. His exceptional longevity and consistent dominance on the mound resulted in remarkable career totals that place him among the league’s all-time greats.
Blyleven’s MWWL career spanned multiple teams and decades, demonstrating his enduring skill. He played for the Chicago (CHI), Hollywood (HLW), Lansing (LAU), Bethesda (BET), Sugarland (SLS), Fort Worth (FWP), and Baton Rouge (BDB) teams, accumulating a stellar record.
He pitched for 23 seasons, starting in an astounding 628 games and logging 4,329.5 innings pitched. His career record of 241 wins against 217 losses is indicative of his team’s reliability throughout his tenure.
Blyleven was a true workhorse, leading the league in several key categories during his playing years. His 3,154 career strikeouts are a monumental total, a testament to his mastery of the strikeout pitch. Furthermore, he maintained an outstanding career Earned Run Average (ERA) of 3.09 and an excellent Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched (WHIP) of 1.15, showcasing his efficiency and ability to limit base runners.
His excellence was recognized early on with the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award while playing for the Chicago team. He was also selected as an All-Star Game Reserve in 1974 with the Lansing team, affirming his status as one of the league’s premier pitchers.
In the postseason, Blyleven continued to perform admirably, particularly in the Division Series, where he posted a 3-5 win-loss record and a competitive 3.90 ERA over 53.1 innings pitched. His ability to deliver in high-pressure games, including two Division Series starts with a 0.00 ERA in 1977 and 1978, further highlights his Hall of Fame credentials. Blyleven’s total body of work—combining longevity, high-volume dominance in wins and strikeouts, and sustained low ERA/WHIP—makes him an undeniable selection for the Mid-West Winter League Hall of Fame.