Twins To Retire Blyleven's Number
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Number 28 is getting 86'd in honor of one of the Minnesota Twins' most respected players.
Bert Blyleven will be honored in a ceremony before Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals.
It's only the seventh time the Twins have ever retired a number. The previous six were numbers 3, 29, 6, 14, 34 and 42, which respectively belonged to Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Jackie Robinson.
The ceremony will also include placement of special logos on the field along the foul lines and behind the pitchers' mount, as well as ceremonial first pitch by George Mitterwald, who was Blyleven's first catcher in the Major League.
This is all in anticipation of Blyleven's impending induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The induction weekend is scheduled for July 22 through 25. Roberto Alomar and Pat Gillick are also being inducted this year.
