| Vida Blue | |
|---|---|
 Blue with the Athletics | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 28, 1949 Mansfield, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| Died: May 6, 2023 (aged 73) Tracy, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 20, 1969, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1986, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 209–161 |
| Earned run average | 3.27 |
| Strikeouts | 2,175 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. (/vaɪdɑː/;[1] July 28, 1949 – May 6, 2023) was an American professional baseball player.[2] He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1986, most notably as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 to 1974.[2] He won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971.[3]
A six-time All-Star, Blue was the first of only five pitchers in major league history to start the All-Star Game for both the American League (1971) and the National League (1978); Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer are the others. During his 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics (1969–1977), San Francisco Giants (1978–1981; 1985–86), and Kansas City Royals (1982–83).[2]
- ^ Green, Alex (May 8, 2023). "Vida Blue, 73, Who Became Hottest Player in Baseball as a Rookie With the A's". The New York Times. p. B7. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Vida Blue". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "1971 Awards Voting". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.