O/T New Hall of Famers to be announced today

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Posted By: Chris Counts

Bob,

I agree with you about both Blylevin and Oliva. I watched each of them play extensively when I was a kid. Oliva was a true superstar who was derailed by injuries and played in one of the most offensively-challenged eras. can you imagine the stats he would have put up in the 1920s? He might have put up numbers like Chuck Klein or George Sisler. Of the players not enshrined in Cooperstown, I consider him and Minnie Minoso to be the greatest ommissions. As for Blylevin, I love watching him break off the devasting curve. He lived near where I grew up in Orange County, and one day he made an signing appearance at a store across the street from the local mall. The same day, Steve Garvey was making a signing appearance in the mall. There was a huge line of kids waiting for Garvey, so I walked across the street to meet Blylevin. Much to my surprise, I was the only kid in the place! Bert was friendly, takative and down-to-earth. What strikes me now is that even though he had arguably the best curve in the game, he never received too much respect, even when he was playing. But he was certainly as good as a dozen HOF pitchers (Haines, Rixey, Marquard, Sutton, Pennock, etc.) ...