The left-handed pitcher Vida Blue who was a member of three World Series championship teams with the Oakland A’s and won the 1971 AL Cy Young and MVP honors as a 21-year-old, has pἀssed away at the age of 73.
The A’s announced Blue’s pἀssing on Sunday 7 May, in a statement referring to him as “a franchise legend and a friend.”
Blue made his Major League Baseball debut with the A’s in 1969 while still a teenager, but his breakthrough season came two years later. Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Sal Bando were all key members of the dominant Oakland squad at the time, and Blue stood out as the team’s finest pitcher, going 24-8 with a league-high eight shutouts and a 1.82 ERA.
Take a look at the below tweet posted about Oakland A’s:
Rest in peace, Vida 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/MXHRuRFfjH
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) May 7, 2023
With the A’s, Blue went on to win 124 games, play in three All-Star games, and help the team win the World Series in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
Blue was moved across the Bay to the San Francisco Giants in 1978, where he played for four seasons and made three more All-Star teams. After receiving the nod with the A’s in 1971, he made baseball history by starting the All-Star Game for both leagues in his first season with the Giants. Four pitchers have since accomplished the feat: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer.
Blue resided in Kansas City for two years prior to his release and subsequent sentence of three months in federal pris0n for c0caine possession. Blue returned to the majors after two seasons away, playing for the Giants for his final two seasons before retiring at the end of the 1986 campaign.
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His final stats were a 209–161 record and a 3.27 career ERA. Many people in the baseball world including his pupil Dave Stewart an All-Star and four-time 20-game winner with the A’s, m0urned his pἀssing.
Rest in peace, Vida Blue, my friend, mentor, and idol, Stewart penned on Twitter. There aren’t enough words to express how much you mean to me and so many other people.
Vida Blue rest in peace, my mentor, hero, and friend. I remember watching a 19 year old phenom dominate baseball, and at the same time alter my life. There are no words for what you have meant to me and so many others. My heart goes out to the Blue family🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Dave “Smoke” Stewart (@Dsmoke34) May 7, 2023
Absolutely heartbroken that my friend, the great Vida Blue, has passed away! Vida will be featured in our upcoming exhibit celebrating baseball’s BLACK ACES! My condolences to his family and legion of fans!🙏🏾 @Athletics @SFGiants @MLB @MLBPA @Royals @NLBMuseumKC @Dsmoke34 RT pic.twitter.com/v23Qopx9vS
— Bob Kendrick (@nlbmprez) May 7, 2023
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