Vida Blue, the pitching phenom who was an integral of the Oakland A's dynasty during their three consecutive World Series titles in the early '70s, has died at age 73, according to the team.
Blue's on-field prowess during his peak years helped the Athletics to five straight American League Western Division pennants from 1971 to 1975. However, a contract dispute with A's owner Charlie Finley following that breakout season led to Blue holding out and missing much of the season, pitching mainly in relief as the team won the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
He had a return to form in the years that followed, going 20-9 in 1973, 17-15 in 1974, and 22-11 in 1975. Blue's contentious relationship with Finley continued despite the success, with the pitcher famously telling reporters that he hoped the A's owner would die. After his worst season with the A's in 1977, he would be traded to the San Francisco Giants where he had some success over the course of four seasons before being dealt to the Kansas City Royals in 1982. Blue's career would go off the rails during his stint there with a mounting drug problem that eventually led to him being convicted of cocaine possession in 1983 along with three other Major League Baseball players.
Blue would eventually return to the Giants in 1985 after sitting out the entire 1984 season recovering from his drug addiction. Despite his accomplishments, Blue has never been elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, likely due to his involvement in the early '80s drug scandal. Blue continued to live in San Francisco and has worked as a baseball commentator on the Giants for NBC Bay Area Sports.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vida Blue, the legendary Oakland A's pitcher, has diedVida Blue, the legendary Oakland A's pitcher of the 1970s, passed away Saturday night, his family and the A's have confirmed.
Read more »
Vida Blue, former Oakland A’s, SF Giants star, dies at 73Hard-throwing left-hander helped the A’s win world championships and the Giants turn around their fortunes during a 17-year career.
Read more »
Legendary Oakland A's pitcher Vida Blue dies at 73, family saysLegendary Oakland A's player Vida Blue has passed away, according to his family and the team.
Read more »
Vida Blue, former ace of the A’s and Giants in the '70s, dies at 73Vida Blue, the dynamic left-handed pitcher who starred for both the Oakland Athletics...
Read more »
Vida Blue, Iconic Athletics, Giants Pitcher, Dies at 73Vida Blue, a Bay Area baseball legend who helped the A’s win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, died Saturday at the age of 73.
Read more »
Vida Blue Dies: Youngest MVP In MLB History, Six-Time All-Star With Oakland A’s Was 73Vida Blue, a dominating left-hander who helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships from 1972-74, died on Saturday. He was 73. “There are few players with a mor…
Read more »