Blyleven was picked on 79.7 percent of the ballots by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. (TIM DEFRISCO/ALLSPORT)
Blyleven received only 17.55% of the vote for Hall of Fame admission in 1998, his first year of eligibility. (Tim de Frisco /Allsport)
The great curveballer had 287 wins, 3,701 strikeouts and 60 shutouts. (Tim de Frisco /Allsport)
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Blyleven currently ranks 5th all-time in strikeouts, 9th all-time in shutouts, and 27th all-time in Wins. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)
This was Blyleven’s 14th time on the ballot and his career stats have gotten a boost in recent years by sabermetricians who have new ways to evaluate baseball numbers. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)
Blyleven will be joined by Roberto Alomar and Pat Gillick at the induction ceremonies in Cooperstown. (Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)
Blyleven helped pitch Pittsburgh to the 1979 title and Minnesota to the 1987 crown. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Blyleven was one of baseball’s most notorious dugout pranksters during his playing days. He earned the moniker “Frying Dutchman” by frequently setting fire to his teammates’ shoelaces, a practical joke known as a “hot-foot”. (Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)
In 1996, Blyleven became a color commentator for the Twins. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
