Beloved announcer Bert Blyleven to broadcast his final Twins game Wednesday night

Moving into assistant role with organization

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Beloved Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven will announce his final game from the broadcast booth Wednesday night as he transitions into a special assistant role in the organization, the club announced Wednesday.

Wednesday night’s game on FOX Sports North versus the Chicago White Sox will be Blyleven’s last, capping off 25 seasons as an announcer on television and radio.

In a statement to Twitter Wednesday, Blyleven said, “For 25 years I have had the privilege to be part of the Twins broadcast team. Tonight sad to say will be my last Twins broadcast. But I will continue to serve my role as a Special Assistant for future years.”

“While his on-field contributions for the club are well-documented, we are truly grateful for Bert’s 25 years of introducing new Twins fans to the game through his stories, insight and analysis on our television broadcasts,” said Twins President and CEO Dave St. Peter. “He is a great ambassador for baseball, and we look forward to his continued role with the Minnesota Twins. Bert, you are hereby circled!”

Blyleven began as a full-time Twins analyst in 1996 for the Midwest Sports Channel. He has worked with current Twins play-by-play voice Dick Bremer since then.

He has earned 10 Emmy Awards during his work with FOX Sports North since 2006, during which time he also became famous for the “Circle Me Bert” phenomenon that started in 2002, in which he would circle fans on the broadcast as a vehicle to raise funds toward developing a cure for Parkinson’s disease along with other charities.

Before his broadcast career, Blyleven was a star on the diamond, breaking into MLB at age 19.

He played 11 of his 12 pro seasons with the Twins, earning 1970 American League Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors, 1989 AL Comeback Player of the Year honors and making two All-Star teams in 1973 and 1985.

He holds the Twins record with 2,035 strikeouts and is second in franchise history with 149 wins.

Blyleven won the World Series with the Twins in 1987 and tossed a no-hitter on Sept. 22, 1977.

His number 28 was retired in 2011 and he was selected to the Twins 40th Season Anniversary All-time team in 2000.

Blyleven and his wife live in Ft. Myers, Florida and have six children and eight grandchildren.