Vida Blue born Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was an American professional baseball player.
He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball between 1969 and 1986, most notably as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974.
He won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971.
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Who was Vida Blue?
Vida Blue was born July ON 28, 1949 in Mansfield in DeSoto Parish in northwestern Louisiana. He was the oldest of six children born to Vida Blue, Sr, a laborer in a Mansfield iron foundry and his wife Sallie.
Blue attended DeSoto High School in Mansfield. He pitched for the baseball team and quarterbacked the football team.
In his senior year of football, he threw for 3,400 yards and completed 35 touchdown passes while rushing for 1,600 yards.
In his senior year of baseball, Blue threw a no-hitter with 21 strikeouts in just seven innings pitched.
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Major League Baseball Career
After spending three years honing his skills in the minor leagues, Blue made his MLB debut on July 20, 1970, with the Oakland Athletics.
In his first full season in 1971, Blue captivated the baseball world with his incredible pitching performances, which included a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins on September 21.
That season, he won 24 games, posted a remarkable 1.82 earned run average (ERA), and struck out 301 batters, earning him the American League Cy Young Award and the American League Most Valuable Player award.
Blue was the youngest player to win both awards in the same season and became the first African American pitcher to win the MVP.
Vida Blue continued to be a dominant force on the mound in the early 1970s, helping the Oakland Athletics win three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974.
His success did not go unnoticed, as he was named to the All-Star team in each of those years, and again in 1975.
In 1978, Blue was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he would spend the next six seasons. With the Giants, Blue continued to rack up impressive statistics and accolades, including two more All-Star selections in 1978 and 1981.
His performance in the 1981 All-Star game, where he struck out five batters in just three innings, earned him the All-Star Game MVP award.
Blue’s final stop in his MLB career came in 1982 when he was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He played for the Royals for two seasons before returning to the Giants in 1985.
Vida Blue retired from professional baseball in 1986, finishing his career with 209 wins, a 3.27 ERA, and 2,175 strikeouts.
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Vida Blue death:
Vida Blue cause of death
Former American League MVP, Cy Young Award winner and three-time World Series champion Vida Blue died on Saturday, May 6, 2023 in Tracy, California .
The Oakland Athletics announced Sunday morning. The Athletics confirmed Blue’s death but did not disclose a cause.
Vida Blue Parents:
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was born in Mansfield, Louisiana to Vida Sr. and Sallie Blue.
Vida Blue Age
Blue was born on July 28, 1949 and is currently 73 years old.
Vida Blue Wife
Vida Blue was married to Peggy Shannon. The two got married on September 24, 1989, on the mound and Candlestick Park, but they got divorced in 1996 She was 31 years old when she married Vida. Currently, Shannon is 64 years old.
Vida Blue Children
Vida Blue had twins with his ex-wife. The children were born in the early 1990s. However, not much is known about their personal life.
Vida Blue Net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Vida Blue had an estimated net worth of $1.5 million as of 2023.
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