Bert Blyleven Shut Out Of Baseball Hall Of Fame, But…

…he’s a hall of famer in my book.

If you’re looking for insightful commentary on the HOF voting process, you have NOT come to the right place. Instead check out Bobby’s blog below.

But if you want to see why Blyleven is a first ballot inductee in my sophomoric world, click below:

Ahh yes, that famous (undoctored!) photo of Blyleven that I count among the all-time greats.

Each year around Hall of Fame voting time I get nostalgic and google Blyleven, hoping that the picture will still make me laugh….and I don’t think I have to tell you that it does the trick every time.

Here’s to hoping that Blyleven never gets in the Hall, and instead comes up for election year after year….thus reminding me to search for this picture and laugh, laugh, laugh!!

And, incase you’re wondering whether or not his T-shirt’s credo is true (do T-shirts ever lie?), here’s an interview Bert did a few years back on the topic:
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Q: Speaking of pride, what about this T-shirt you've been photographed wearing that says, "I [heart] to fart"?
A: I LOVE to fart. That's why I wore it. I love to fart. I do. When the time is right, I do it. I'm not going to hide it.
Q: You're so blunt about your love for flatulence.
A: Yeah. Well, someone gave me the shirt because of my history of farting, so I wear it. I LOVE to fart. I think I still have it.
Q: What gets you really gassy?
A: Anything. The air we're breathing right now.
Q: Should I be ready for something?
A: I have no trouble. It's not one thing that I eat, it's just passed down from my father. My father was a very good farter. I have a sister who's very good at it, too. Probably better than I am.
Q: Women aren't "supposed" to do that.
A: Oh, I think times have changed — at least in the Blyleven family.

So there you have it. A first ballot no-brainer.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle