Bert Blyleven's Boosters

Bert Blyleven's Boosters This page is for fans of #28 of the Twins, Rangers, Angels, and Indians and #22 of the Pirates.

08/19/2026

In today's post, I will talk about four outfielders in MLB. Two aren't in Cooperstown and belong. The other two belong and are in Cooperstown.
Dale Murphy, who won MVP Awards in 1982 and 1983, unexplicitly isn't in Cooperstown. I concede the following facts: a low WAR (46.5), more strikeouts than Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, or Andre Dawson (more on them later). Fewer hits than Don Mattingly as well as fewer triples than the other three outfielders I previously named. Murphy also struck out more than any of the other men I named. Murphy has a paltry .265 batting average.
So why do I feel this way?
Murphy hit more home runs than either Evans or Rice. Murphy stole more bases than Evans and Rice combined. Need more data? How about this? Guess who won as many MVP awards as Evans, Rice, and Dawson? That's right. Dale Bryan Murphy.
Dwight Evans, isn't in Cooperstown either. He has six FEWER hits and triples than his Boston teammate. Evans does, however, have 110 doubles and three home runs more than Rice. Dewey stole 76 bases, 18 more than Rice. Of the four outfielders, Evans's 1391 walks are more than any of the others. Despite not winning an MVP award, Evans was a three-time All-Star. Evans's WAR is 67.2. Rice's is 47.7. That is nearly twenty points more than Jim Rice.
Jim Rice, who has 382 home runs and 1451 RBI's, won the MVP award in 1978.
An interesting piece of data is what happened on August 7, 1982 at Fenway Park. A line drive nearly killed a four-year-boy named Jonathan Keane. Rice went into the stands and saved Keane from dying by carrying him to Boston's medical tent so the medics could work on Keane. Surprisingly, Rice also paid for the medical bills for Keane. Rice was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2009.
The following year, Andre "The Hawk" Dawson was enshrined. Unlike the other three players, Dawson won the Rookie of the Year award during his career. In fact, Dawson had 2774 hits, 503 doubles, 98 triples, and 438 home runs. The Hawk's 314 stolen bases are more than Murphy's (161), Evans's (76), and Rice's (58) combined. Dawson won the MVP award in 1987, his first year with the Cubs. Some people argue that a team in last place doesn't deserve the award. However, if the Cubs were in the National League West, Chicago would have beaten the Astros, the Dodgers, the Braves, and the Padres. Like Evans, Dawson was an eight-time Gold Gloves winner. Like Rice, the Hawk was an eight-time All-Star.
Like Murphy, the Hawk won four Silver Sluggers.
Dawson is a guy who IMHO seems to do the most with the attributes that he has. Despite a career number of 589 walks and a .323 OBP, the Cincinnati Reds intentionally walked Dawson FIVE times during a sixteen-inning game at Wrigley Field. Despite the strategy by Lou Piniella on May 22, 1990, the Reds lost 2-1.
I hope I shed some light on the issue.

07/01/2026

I have a question for my fellow posters. Should ALL baseball players who hit 300 or more home runs AND stole 300 or more bases go to Cooperstown? I ask because Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians is close to reaching those milestones. Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez would be in if they hadn't used performance-enhancing drugs. Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, and Carlos Beltran are all in Cooperstown. That just leaves Bobby Bonds, Reggie Sanders, and Steve Finley. What is your take on the matter?

06/12/2026

Hello, our names are Bruce and Shelley Vasey. Our son is Kyle Vasey. Ky… Shelley Vasey needs your support for Prayers and Support for Kyle’s Long Recovery

With The Stories of Baseball – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
06/08/2026

With The Stories of Baseball – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

04/07/2026

Happy Belated Birthday to Bert Blyleven (April 6th)! I hope it was a great one!

With Paul Orndorff: Legacy – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
03/28/2026

With Paul Orndorff: Legacy – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

With Lando Kalriz – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
03/27/2026

With Lando Kalriz – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

12/31/2025

Be thankful that I am not a BBWAA voter. Not because I value certain traits over others or couldn't calculate WAR, but because I value certain behaviors by the players. Dave Kingman would never get into Cooperstown despite 442 home runs. Steroid users and repeated gamblers will never get my vote. You can argue these cases with me over and over, but there are three former ballplayers who aren't in Cooperstown who would get my vote. Each time and every time. Steve Blass, Pete Harnisch, and Jonathan Lucroy. Why these guys? I will tell you. I met Steve Blass, courtesy of my late uncle, Howard Goldstein, and his wife, Helene. Blass, who was born in Canaan, CT, had a record of 103-76. Steve had sixteen shutouts and two saves. His career WHIP was 1.349. Blass had five shutouts in 1971. His best year was 1972. As an All Star, he had nineteen wins and eight losses. His ERA was 2.49. Blass had 84 walks, 117 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.246. If it weren't for Steve Carlton's amazing year for Philadelphia, Blass would have won the Cy Young Award. Carlton won the award for a Phillie team that won 59 games; the Pirates won 96. However, Blass's luck took a disastrous turn the following year. He went three and nine with an ERA of 9.85. Worse, Blass only 27 strikeouts. Yet, he'd get my vote. Why? I traded a magazine with Clemente on the cover for a baseball, two baseball cards, and a BIG picture of him with Manny Sanguillen; all autographed. Pete Harnisch, like Blass, is a one-time All Star. Harnisch was born in Commack, NY. A former student from Fordham University in New York City, Harnisch won 111 games and lost 103. He also had eleven shutouts and a WHIP of 1.296. Harnisch had four shutouts in 1993. Harnisch had his best year in 1991. He won twelve games and lost nine with an ERA of 2.70. Harnisch had two shutouts, 83 walks, 172 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.163. So why would he get my vote? I read an article in Sports Illustrated that said something about one of his family members that was having problems. I wrote a cheery note wishing the family well and that he would have a great season. Some time later, I received an autographed baseball card...free of charge. Finally, I would save most of my energy for defending the reasons why Jonathan Lucroy belongs in Cooperstown. The native of Eustis, FL was a catcher and first baseman for several teams. Lucroy mostly played for the Brewers and the Rangers. Lucroy was an All Star in 2014 and 2016. In 2014, Jonathan had 176 hits, including 53 doubles. This tied the club record held by Lyle Overbay from 2004. Also, Lucroy had two triples, thirteen home runs, and 69 RBI's and a batting average of .301. So why does this man get my vote? When his wife accidently dropped a suitcase that caused a wrist injury and forced Lucroy to go one the Disabled List, his wife got death threats. Classy. I wrote a note reminding Lucroy that the idiots who wrote the death threats weren't real fans. Like Harnisch, Lucroy went me an autographed baseball card for free. What pushes me over the top with Lucroy is what happened several years later. I sent him three baseball cards later along with a SASE. I did the same thing to two other baseball players. Lucroy was the only man who signed all three cards. Remember your heroes and have a peaceful new year.

11/25/2025

Some time ago, I wrote that Dale Murphy was not a Hall of Famer. Later, I said that he was. I thought that it would be appropriate to say why he is. Part of the reason is his work ethic; part of the reason is Andre Dawson. Both were great outfielders. Both ballplayers played mostly in the National League. Andre Dawson was enshrined in 2010. Murphy could be enshrined this year if the Veteran's Committee agrees. There are approximately twenty ballplayers who have won multiple MVP awards. Four of them are still playing as of November 25, 2025. About three of them are linked to steroids. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera will be eligible soon. That just leaves Roger Maris and Dale Murphy as the only two players who are not in Cooperstown. I may review Maris's case for enshrinement sometime. Murphy won the Most Valuable Player award in 1982 and 1983. His WAR was 13.2. Murphy had 346 hits, 47 doubles, six triples, 72 home runs, and 230 runs batted in for 1982-3. He stole 53 bases and was caught stealing six times. His batting average was .291. Dawson's WAR was 14.8 and he had 372 hits. Dawson had 73 doubles, 27 triples, 55 home runs, and 196 runs batted in. Dawson stole 64 bases and was caught stealing twenty-one times. His batting average was .300. Dawson was the first runner-up to Murphy for Most Valuable Player in 1983. IMHO, Murphy was arguably the batter player for 1982-3. So why is Dawson in Cooperstown and Murphy isn't? Endurance. Dawson won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1977 with Montreal. Andre also won the Most Valuable Player Award with the Cubs a decade later. Dawson was an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, and a four-time winner of the Silver Slugger. Not bad for a guy with bad knees who was drafted in the 11th round from Florida A & M. Murphy was the fifth overall pick who was drafted in June 1974. Like Dawson, Murphy had bad knees and four Silver Slugger awards. Unlike Dawson, Murphy was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner. Murphy's career batting average was .265 and he had 398 home runs. Dawson's career batting average was .279 and he had 438 home runs. In short, Murphy was better than Dawson for two seasons, but Dawson might have had a better career than Murphy. Murphy tried to be Atlanta's answer at catcher, but he ended up being a stellar center fielder instead. Does this mean that Dawson doesn't belong in Cooperstown. No. Of the eight baseball players with 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, only Andre Dawson and Willie Mays are in Cooperstown. Moreover, there are nine baseball players who have 2000 hits, 400 doubles, 49 triples, 300 home runs, 200 stolen bases, and an MVP award. They are Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, George Brett, Dawson, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Larry Walker, and Andrew McCutchen. Of those nine baseball players, only Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen are not in Cooperstown. Bonds isn't in due to BALCO and McCutchen was still playing in the major leagues. What I am saying is this...Dawson belongs in Cooperstown. So does Murphy. Good luck #3. Happy Thanksgiving!

11/16/2025

I thought while I had some time, why not research the case of Fred Lynn. So I did. Of two major league baseball players, he was the first one to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year. Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki was the other. In 1979, Lynn placed fourth in the MVP voting despite an 8.9 WAR. California's Don Baylor won the award. Baylor's WAR was 3.7. Ken Singleton of Baltimore was second and George Brett of Kansas City was third. Lynn was a nine-time All-Star from 1975-1983. Fred also won a Gold Glove in 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1980. He only had 100 strikeouts in 1985. He had more walks than strikeouts from 1978 to 1980. His career OPS was .845 and his batting average was .283. Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends. Lynn's career WAR is 50.2 and he has only 306 home runs. Worse, out of 126 stolen base attempts, Lynn succeeded just 72 times. I like Fred Lynn, but it would take a lot to convince me to cast a ballot for him for Cooperstown if I were a voter for the BBWAA. Next up, Dale Murphy and why I changed my mind on him.

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