Pictures: Bert Blyleven

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)

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)

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)