As a 21-year-old in 1971, Vida Blue won both the AL Cy Young and MVP awards. He went on to be a mainstay of three World Series-winning teams in Oakland.
Blue went on to win 124 games and make three All-Star appearances with the A's, helping lead them to World Series titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974.
In 1978, Blue was traded across the Bay to the San Francisco Giants, where he earned three more All-Star berths in four seasons. In his first season with the Giants, he became the first pitcher in baseball history to start the All-Star Game for both leagues, after getting the nod with the A's in 1971. Since then, four other pitchers -- Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay and Max Scherzer -- have accomplished the feat.
Blue spent two years in Kansas City before he was released and ordered to serve three months in federal prison for cocaine possession. After sitting out two seasons, Blue returned to the majors for two final years with the Giants, before retiring after the 1986 season.His death was mourned by many in the baseball community, including protege Dave Stewart, an All-Star and four-time 20-game winner with the A's.
"Vida Blue rest in peace, my mentor, hero, and friend," Stewart wrote on Twitter."There are no words for what you have meant to me and so many others." 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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