Legendary A's Pitcher, 3X World Series Champ, Passes Away

Former Cy Young Winner and left-handed ace of the three-time World Series Champion Oakland A's of the early 1970s, Vida Blue has passed away.

1971 AL Cy Young Award winner, 1971 AL MVP, six-time All-Star and a three-time World Series champion.

MLB Network mourns the passing of Vida Blue. pic.twitter.com/TOVrIk12jy
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 7, 2023

Blue was a six-time All-Star and his 1971 season was so special, he won not only the AL Cy Young Award but the MVP as well—and did it at the age of 21, the youngest player ever to capture MVP. That year, he went 24-8 with 24 complete games (yes, you read that correctly), with a 1.82 ERA and 301 strikeouts (yes, that number is correct also).

Overall, the flamethrowing southpaw won 209 games in 17 years, and finished with a 3.27 ERA in over 3,300 innings. He had 143 complete games and 37 shutouts. Shockingly, he was never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Blue was 73.

"There are few players with a more decorated career than Vida Blue," the A's said in a statement. "He was a three-time champion, an MVP, a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner, and an 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."

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🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Dave “Smoke” Stewart (@Dsmoke34) May 7, 2023