Circle Me, Bert! Minnesota Twins standout pitcher Bert Blyleven has been voted the “Greatest Dutch Sportsman” in a media ballot conducted by New York City’s historic Grand Central Oyster Bar. The favorite son of the Netherlands outpolled his two nearest competitors by a 2-1 margin in a survey of national sports media.

The promotion was in conjunction with the annual Holland Herring Festival at the iconic Manhattan seafood eatery and a Heineken Salute to Dutch Sportsmen, which was launched last week. Dutch herring from the Netherlands is air-expressed to New York for a two week period at the Oyster Bar.  You could say that Blyleven caught the big fish.

Jim Kaat, another outstanding hurler for the Twins, and the Mixed Martial Arts legend Bas Rutten finished in a deadlock for second place, but accumulated just half the number of votes of the leader. During a major league career that spanned three decades, the right-handed Blyleven amassed 287 victories and 3,701 strikeouts during a 23-year major league career that included two stints in Minnesota, and stops in Texas, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Anaheim.  Known for his outstanding curveball, Blyleven was American League Rookie of the Year in 1970, and hurled a no-hitter for the Angels in 1977. Blyleven is now the color analyst on Twins television broadcasts.

Johnny “Double No-Hit” Vander Meer, track and field greats Fanny Blankers-Koen and Cornelius Warmerdam, soccer legend Johan Cruyff and basketball sharpshooter Kiki Vandeweghe finished in a five-way tie for fourth.

Pitcher Curt Schilling, former Indiana Pacer center Rik Smits, U.S. Open tennis champion Tom Okker, the Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt, Olympic gold medalist Anton Geesink, and three time Stanley Cup champion Joe Nieuwendyk also received votes. In two somewhat odd ballots, former Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet, because he was a “Flying Dutchman” as a collegiate player at Hofstra University, and the Yonkers Raceway harness driver Brett Holland, because of his last name, both received single votes.