Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven smiles as he addresses the media during a news conference after being elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Erik Kellar)
From Boomer & Carton
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) – Bert Blyleven joined WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton on Thursday to celebrate his long-awaited selection into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
The right-hander with the wicked curveball was picked on 79.7 percent of this year’s ballots by eligible voters in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
“This year I was able to get over that magic number, 75 percent, and I’m very, very honored to be part of a very elite group,” said the Hall of Famer.
Embattled ex-player Pete Rose received three write-in votes. Blyleven gave his thoughts on Rose.
“I think Pete Rose, while he played, he had Hall of Fame numbers, but he did something that sports people aren’t supposed to do, he bet on baseball,” said Blyleven.
Blyleven also took the opportunity to talk about baseball’s dark past — the Steroids Era.
“These athletes that did it made themselves better than the other athletes on the field, and it was an illegal drug,” Blyleven explained. “I believe that they hindered, maybe, the outcome of a ballgame, because they cheated.”
LISTEN: Bert Blyleven with Boomer & Carton
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