1990 Topps Minis #7: Bert Blyleven

With the return of Monday, we're looking at the next card in the 1990 Topps Mini League Leaders set.  We've completed the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox in the set, so we're on to the California Angels, starting with card #7, Bert Blyleven.

Bert Blyleven.

I'm generally a fan of Blyleven, as the Hall-of-Famer helped the Pirates to their 1979 championship, and I also enjoyed watching the 1987 Twins beat the Cardinals for their first World Series title (in Minnesota, at least).  In that 1979 World Series, Blyleven went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in ten innings in two games.  In the 1987 World Series, he went 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts.  Blyleven is also fifth on the career strikeout list, behind only Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton.

Bert Blyleven card back.

To make it into the 1990 Topps Mini League Leaders set, Blyleven finished fourth in the AL in ERA in 1989 with 2.73, and first in shutouts with 5.  He also tied for sixth in wins with 17, as he posted a 17-5 record in his first year with the Angels.

We have several more Angels to go, so next up (on Wednesday) is card #8, Chuck Finley.  Thanks for reading!