Vida Blue, the legendary left-handed pitcher who was a key member of the Oakland A’s dynasty of the early 1970s, died Saturday night at the age of 73.
A 17-year major leaguer, Blue was regarded as one of the hardest throwers in the game and was a member of the A’s team that won three straight World Series championships from 1972-74. Blue, who was born and grew up in Louisiana, was selected by the Athletics, then based in Kansas City, in the second round of the 1967 draft and debuted as a 19-year-old in 1969. In September 1970, he tossed a nine-strikeout no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, 10 days after one-hitting the Kansas City Royals.
Limited to 25 games in 1972 because of a contract dispute with A’s owner Charlie Finley, Blue worked mostly out of the bullpen during the postseason. He took the loss in Game 6 of the World Series against Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, but Oakland went on to win Game 7 and capture the franchise’s first championship since the Philadelphia A’s beat the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.
With their relationship on the rocks, Finley tried to sell Blue’s contract to the Yankees and then attempted to trade him to the Reds in moves that were vetoed by commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Finally, in 1978, Finley traded to Blue across the bay to the San Francisco Giants in a seven-player move. He spent 1978-81 in San Francisco and 1982-83 in Kansas City. During that time he battled alcohol and drug addiction, drawing a year-long suspension in 1984.
“Dammmmn. And I blew it,” he told The Post. “That Hall of Fame thing, that’s something that I can honestly, openly say I wish I was a Hall of Famer. AndDave Stewart, himself a former A’s ace during a dynastic era,Sunday, “[R]est 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.
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🙏🏿🙏🏿
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