Oakland Athletics Hall of Famer Vida Blue passes away at age of 73
Vida Blue was a Cy Young, MVP and three-time World Series winner.
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Vida Blue (Credits: LA Times)
On Saturday, the Oakland Athletics and MLB lost one of its finest players as Vida Blue left for his heavenly abode at the age of 73. The former Cy Young award winner was a crucial part of the A’s side, which won three successive world series from 1972-74.
The former AL MVP and six-time All-star was a formidable pitcher that stood in front of the batters. He spent nine of his seventeen seasons as a superstar for the Athletics. His other stints included pitching for the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants. In his Cy Young award-winning season in 1971, he finished with an impressive record of 24-8. He had an ERA of 1.82 with a staggering 301 strikeouts through 312 innings.
“There are few players with a more decorated career than Vida Blue. He was a three-time champion, an MVP, a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young award winner and a Oakland A’s Hall of Famer. Vida will always be a franchise legend and a friend. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this arduous time,” the A’s released an emotional statement while mourning him.
How did Vida Blue die?
As per AP News, Vida Blue is said to have died of complications caused by cancer. The 73-year-old veteran breathed his last at a hospital in San Francisco. He was last seen in public during the Oakland Athletics‘ celebrations of their 50th anniversary of the 1973 world series win. Blue required the assistance of a walking stick, indicating clear signs of old age.
Like many other players, Blue’s career was also filled with controversy. His career went off the track due to drug issues. His involvement with drugs saw him being fined heavily, and he was sentenced to one year in prison. He missed the 1984 season and was suspended by the MLB for the use of illegal foreign substances.
He was allowed to return to the major leagues in 1985 and spent two seasons with the Giants before retiring in 1986. For this involvement with drugs, Blue never made it to the MLB Hall of Fame. In 2021 he recalled how he wished he was in the Hall of Fame and how the drugs halted his journey into it.
He was also arrested in 2005 in Arizona for alleged DUI. It was his third DUI charge in the span of six years, and he was sentenced to serve one year in prison. He, however, avoided that and would rather spend time in an alcohol rehab program.
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