Twins Flashback Recap: Oliva Becomes First DH to HR, Blyleven Goes the Distance on 22nd Birthday (4/6/1973)

This historic feat has been unfortunately over looked & even despised by HoF voters

Bert Blyleven's 1973 season: fWAR: 10.8...bWAR: 9.7

Let that sink in for a minute. That would be the most valuable player in baseball in 2019. By about a half-mile.

1973 also the year Calvin Griffith release Jim Kaat. Released him. To have him win over 100 more major-league games after the release (including 57 in the next 3+ seasons). Released him.

Patrick Lethert, SABR -

...the 1973 Twins were a .500 team, finishing 81-81. After his outstanding season in 1972, Kaat had used his leverage to push penny-pinching owner Calvin Griffith to raise his salary back to its previous high of $60,000. The negotiations were drawn out and acrimonious but eventually the pitcher prevailed. In early August the Twins lost seven straight games and fell to 10 games behind the AL West-leading Royals. Griffith took the opportunity to get the last word and placed Kaat on waivers. Claimed by the White Sox, Kaat went 4-1 for Chicago to finish 15-13 and avoid his second losing season since 1961.

Adjusting for inflation, $60K in 1973 would be about $344K now.

See why I don't complain about the Pohlands?

Taking up Chief's challenge. And yes, I'm struck by how much the game has changed...in 1973 Blyleven averaged over 8 innings per start, across 40 starts. But, I'm struck even more by how much Blyleven was underappreciated, especially relative to his HoF contemporaries. I do remember that being the case real-time. But, it's worse than you think...

Blyleven's first six full seasons (1971-1976...'76 season being when he was traded to Texas)...

Lead all major league pitchers in WAR (either flavor). Seaver was the only guy very close. Guys behind him that pitched all six years and were healthy all six years include: Seaver, Gaylord Perry, Sutton, Jenkins, Carlton, Blue, Ryan, Palmer, Lolich, Phil Niekro, Hunter.

So, you don't like WAR that much (maybe especially for pitchers)? Can't blame you. So,...

of the 11 above names...names that ranged from really, REALLY good, to legendary...

Four had better ERA's than Blyleven over that stretch. One had a better FIP (Seaver) and two had better K/9. Seven had better WIP (Blyleven had the highest BABiP). Three had more innings pitched, four had more complete games, one had more shutouts (Palmer). None had better +WPA or WPA.

Back to WAR (fwiw), but looking at career...

Blyleven has the most career WAR of anyone to ever play for the Twins. Period.

(Carew not all that close, Steve Carlton the closest).

Blyleven ranks 7th all-time among pitchers in fWAR. All time.

5th all-time among pitchers whose career began after 1907: Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, and Nolan Ryan.

Not bad for a guy named to exactly TWO all-star games (were we really that stupid back then?)...a guy that was never seriously considered for a Cy Young award until he'd already accumulated about 75 career WAR (were the writers really that stupid back then?). Not to mention...a guy that's mocked and ridiculed on a fairly regular basis by several in our TD community because he's not their cup-of-tea as a color analyst.

Gregory H. Wolf, SABR -

Blyleven demanded that the Twins double his salary in 1974, leading to tensions with club owner Calvin Griffith, who was notoriously tight-fisted and the last major-league owner who derived his income solely from the team. Though he received a substantial raise to a reported $55,000, Blyleven’s relationship with the front office was in a free-fall. Playing through occasional lower back pain, Blyleven split his 34 decisions, finished a distant second once again to Ryan in strikeouts (249 to 367) and posted a stellar 2.66 ERA, but few saw him as the Twins finished last in attendance. Griffith rejected Kansas City’s offer to buy the hurler for a million dollars, but Blyleven’s days with the Twins nonetheless seemed numbered.

By 1972, the Twins were irrelevant. Think 20-teen Twins without regional TV and playing in a cheap football stadium out in the suburbs. It seemed the local and national baseball conscious had room for one Twin...barely. And that was Carew.