Let’s get Bert into the Hall. Pass this on to everyone you know.

NOW PITCHING: BERT BLYLEVEN FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S HALL OF FAME

Minneapolis, MN (December 1, 2005) – Twenty-six hitters in the history of Major League Baseball have over 3,000 hits. Every single one of them who is eligible is in baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Only five pitchers in major league history have struck out over 3,700 hitters. Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton are in the Hall of Fame. Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson will join them once they retire. Only former Minnesota Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven is absent from this group. And that’s made some baseball fans mad enough to do something about it.

As ballots go out this week to the 500-some baseball writers who vote annually on who’s to be allowed in and who’s to be kept out of America’s most revered shrine to the game, the group Bert Belongs is taking Bert Blyleven’s case directly to the people who care the most: the fans.

Today the website BertBelongs.com goes live. The website presents information and comparative stats in a fun way to show that Bert Blyleven is long overdue for entry into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Visitors have the opportunity to compare Bert’s numbers alongside current Hall of Fame pitchers and future Hall of Fame prospects on the “Pitchers Duel” page. Kids can play their own version of the “Circle Me Bert” phenomenon, which Blyleven started as a TV commentator during broadcasts of Minnesota Twins games. The site allows fans to build their perfect pitcher by clicking on the attributes most important to them, and also contains a compendium of statistics and national articles arguing for Bert’s inclusion.
Minneapolis-based North Woods Advertising is launching the website (www.BertBelongs.com) and developing a mail campaign aimed at baseball writers. Both efforts are being sponsored by Cambria, a Minnesota company that produces natural quartz surfaces for kitchens and baths. As an organization, Bert Belongs hopes fans will express their opinions in online discussion groups and make their views known to their local sports reporters and sportswriters.

“We’re just trying to get the facts out there and get the discussion going,” said longtime baseball fan and North Woods Advertising’s President, Bill Hillsman. “I read a couple of articles about whether Bert should be inducted, and the more you look into it, the more obvious it is that Bert belongs in the Hall of Fame. The facts speak for themselves: he had arguably the greatest curve ball in major league history. He has more strikeouts and more shutouts than a great pitcher like Bob Gibson, and more complete games than a horse like Tom Seaver. And Bert was a money pitcher— just take a look at his postseason stats.

Marty Davis, CEO of Cambria corporation and a lifelong baseball fan, said “Bert Blyleven displayed the character, competitiveness and talent embodied among members of the Hall of Fame. There’s just no doubt that his career accomplishments and off-the-field contributions merit his induction into the Hall of Fame.”

The website was produced and designed by North Woods Advertising in collaboration with Brave New Media. Paul Schupanitz and Craig Baillie did design and art direction, and Craig McNamara and Bill Hillsman did the content development. The Minnesota Twins provided historical and statistical assistance.

For more information– and to see for yourself why Bert Blyleven belongs in baseball’s Hall of Fame– go to www.BertBelongs.com.