(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen & Marco Stoovelaar)
  Liftetime Achievement Award for Bert Blyleven
Nederlands
 NEW YORK, New York (USA) -
Netherlands-born former Major League-pitcher Bert Blyleven has been presented the Liftetime Achievement Award on Tuesday-evening (November 14).
That was done during the 18th annual Legends for Youth Dinner of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
Also honored was former outfielder Andre Dawson.
...Bert Blyleven as Pitching Coach of the Netherlands...
...during the 2017 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
The Legends for Youth Dinner is a fundraiser which benefits youth baseball clinics conducted by the MLBPAA across the nation, but also in other countries.
Amongst the attendees was former great Brooks Robinson, the longtime President of the MLBPAA.
The now 80-year old Hall of Famer was a great third baseman for Baltimore Orioles for whom he played in 1955-1977 and made several spectacular plays.
Other Hall of Famers attending were pitcher Goose Gossage and first baseman Tony Pérez.
Former Minnesota Twins-pitching great Jim Kaat presented the Award to Blyleven, his former teammate.
Blyleven played 22 years in the Major League and is generally recognized as one of the best pitchers of his generation.
The righthander won 287 games, recorded 3,701 strikeouts (5th place all-time) in 4,970 innings, walked only 1,322 hitters and won the World Series with Pitsburgh Pirates in 1979 and Minnesota Twins in 1987.
Blyleven was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bert Blyleven, who was born in Zeist (Netherlands), has been closely involved with the Netherlands National Baseball Team since 2009.
He was the Pitching Coach of the Netherlands Kingdom Team during the World Baseball Classic in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
In the last two editions, the Orange-squad reached the Semi-Final.
Manager of the Dutch Team during these two Classics was Hensley Meulens, who has been the Hitting Coach of the San Francisco Giants since 2010 and recently became the team's Bench Coach.
Blyleven also was with the team as a special instructor during training camps in Florida in 2011 and 2012.
In 2014, Blyleven was the Manager of the World Team during the annual Futures All Star Game.
Blyleven made his Major League-debut in 1970 at age 19 with Minnesota Twins.
He was traded by the Twins to Texas Rangers in June 1976.
In his long career, Blyleven played for Texas in 1976-1977, Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-1980), Cleveland Indians (1981-1985), again Minnesota Twins (1985-1988) and California Angels (1989-1990; 1992).
He didn't play in 1991 due to an injury.
Blyleven is one of only three pitchers in history who won a game before their 20th birthday, but also after their 40th.
The others are Herb Pennock and Mike Morgan.
In 1977, he threw a No-Hitter while pitching for Texas Rangers.
Since 1996, Blyleven is a television-commentator and analyst for the Minnesota Twins.
...Bert Blyleven as pitcher of...
...Texas Rangers in 1977...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Former outfielder Al Oliver presented the Liftetime Achievement Award to his former teammate Andre Dawson.
They played together with the Montreal Expos.
Dawson played in 21 Major League-seasons in which he registered 2,774 basehits.
He was the National League Most Valuable Player in 1987 when he played for Chicago Cubs.
Since 2000, Dawson had been a Special Assistant at the Miami Marlins.
Since 1999, the MLBPAA recognizes former Major League-players for their on-field accomplishments and their off-field contributions to communities across the nation during the annual Youth dinner.
At the Dinner, legendary players are honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Since 1999, these were presented to (in alphabetical order) Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Gary Carter, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente, Carl Erskine, Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Jim 'Catfish' Hunter, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Juan Marichal, Mickey Mantle, Phil Niekro, Buck O'Neil, Tony Perez, Gaylord Perry, Bobby Richardson, Robin Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, Lee Smith, Ozzie Smith, Rusty Staub, Bobby Valentine and Dave Winfield.
Outfielder Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees won the Heart & Hustle Award.
This Award is presented annually by the MLBPAA to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game.
The MLBPAA was formed in 1982 in order to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images and protect the dignity of the game through former players.
Currently, the MLBPAA has more than 7,600 members, which includes former Major League-players, umpires, managers, coaches and front office personnel.
In 1990, a MLBPAA-team played two exhibition games in the Netherlands against the Netherlands National Team.
Included in that team was legendary Hall of Fame-pitcher Bob Feller and other wellknown former greats as Bert Campaneris, Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tug McGraw and Al Oliver.
(November 14)
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