by Bob Harris
Columnist

Hey is it cold enough for you? Sorry just had to say that once.

Here’s some warmer news for you though. The Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan will be in town on January 20th with members of the Twins team, a highlight video from last year. Some great ball park type food (hotdogs, chips, pop) a Q and A session with the Twins and afterword’s an autograph session.

3rd baseman Trevor Ploufe will be part of this year’s Caravan. He was drafted by the Twins in 2004 and was called up to the big show in 2010. I’ve always wondered way it takes some players, especially those drafted in the first round, which Trevor was, to take so long to get called up to the majors. Although he’s played mostly at third base, he played pretty much every position for the Twins except pitcher or catcher over his tenure in the Big Show.

Andy Swarzak, a right-handed pitcher who will be gunning for a spot in the starting rotation has been up and down in the minors, mostly due to injuries but some say this could be a big year for the youngster from Florida.

Legendary catcher Terry Steinbach from New Ulm, Minnesota was drafted by Oakland and played for them behind the plate for the better part of 11 seasons before finishing out his playing career in Minnesota.

Each year the Caravan is hosted by one of the Twins broadcast crew and this year Fargo gets a bonus. Twins broadcaster and Hall-of-Famer Bert Blyleven will be back in Fargo. Blyleven had one of the wicked curveballs in the game. I remember sitting behind the plate near the press box at the Metrodome watching him pitch and to this day I am in awe of how much of a bend that pitch had before it came back to cross the plate. Many times batters were fooled and were caught leaning while the umpire called a strike. Bert ranked high in numerous baseball stats: 287 career wins, 3,701 strike outs, 60 career shutout games and 242 complete games (something baseball will never see again in this era) but, he’s 7th on the all-time home run allowed list. Go figure.

Bert was known for his practical jokes on and off the field. Many a “hotfoot” was delivered to players on his teams. The old shaving cream on your hat trick or pie in the face. You were never safe in the dugout when Bert Blyleven was on your team. He’s cut off a few ties over the years with his broadcast partner Dick Bremer. Once, the Caravan was in town and at the studios of KFGO was Ron Coomer and if I remember correctly, Denny Hocking. I was interviewing them on the air and they started chuckling. I look to my left and ouside the studio they’re getting “mooned” by the then, future Hall-of-Famer.

But Bert has a very serious side to him, especially when it comes to his father and Parkinson’s disease that took his life. I had once asked Burt about it taking so long for him to get into the Hall of Fame. We all knew he had the stats for crying out loud. He was very passionate that he wanted his father to be there to see him inducted when he got enough votes to put him in the hall. His dad didn’t make it. Parkinson’s disease took his life in 2004, Bert was inducted in 2011. His mom was there, 85 years old at the time and she flew in from California.

His “circle me Bert” phenomenon grew in huge popularity in the 90’s and he took full advantage of it. He set up the “circlemebert” website with all kinds of items for sale. From t-shirts to baseballs to photos, with proceeds to help fight the disease that took his father’s life.

One more quick fun note on Bert. When John Gordon was doing the “Baseball this Week” show with me on KFGO, I placed a call to set up the show and John said “Hang in there Bobby, I got somebody who wants to talk to you.” He handed me the phone and I hear “hello?” I returned with “hi, who’s this?” The other voice said “well, who the hell is this?” Meanwhile I can hear John Gordon laughing in the background. I said “Bob Harris, KFGO. He came back with “this is Bert Blyleven, nice talking with you”. Gord-O and I have a tee time so let’s hurry this up.” I quickly got a number from John at where he would be for air time. You didn’t keep John or Bert Blyleven from their golf!

By the way, the Twins will also be featuring a highlight video from last year. You could set up a pool at work for how long it might last. Some are guessing it might be a shorty. (It’s a joke Twins fans.)

You can get tickets at KFGO 8 to 5, Monday through Friday or through the KFGO website. But I can’t help but recall one year a father and son drove up from Wahpeton to Fargo expecting to get tickets at the door but we were sold out. I’ll never forget the disappointing look on that youngsters face. Get your tickets early folks. The Twins Winter Caravan is January 20th at the Hub.

P.S. Let me congratulate the Bison on their championship victory in Frisco. A big thank you to coach Craig Bohl and the best of luck in Wyoming. Also, a big welcome to the in-coming head coach Chris Klieman. Go Bison!

bob.harris@mwcradio.com