This 1976 file picture exhibits Oakland A’s Vida Blue, the hard-throwing left-hander who grew to become one in every of baseball’s greatest attracts within the early 1970’s and helped lead brash Oakland Athletics to a few straight World Series titles. Blue has died. He was 73. The A’s mentioned Blue died Saturday, May 6, 2023 however didn’t give a explanation for dying.

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Anonymous/AP

This 1976 file picture exhibits Oakland A’s Vida Blue, the hard-throwing left-hander who grew to become one in every of baseball’s greatest attracts within the early 1970’s and helped lead brash Oakland Athletics to a few straight World Series titles. Blue has died. He was 73. The A’s mentioned Blue died Saturday, May 6, 2023 however didn’t give a explanation for dying.

Anonymous/AP

Vida Blue, a left-handed pitcher who helped lead the Oakland Athletics to a few World Series championships in a row from 1972 to 1974 and made six All-Star groups, died Saturday at age 73, in keeping with his household and Major League Baseball.

The franchise didn’t announce a explanation for dying.

“It is with great sadness that the Blue family mourn the passing of our beloved father Vida Blue,” the household said in a statement shared by the Oakland Athletics. “Vida was a great father, grandfather, brother, friend, and teammate who will be forever cherished, honored, and loved.”

Blue was picked within the second spherical of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft, and made his main league debut on the age of 19 in 1969. In his first two seasons, Blue performed 18 video games, however discovered his spark in 1970 when he threw a no-hitter in opposition to the Kansas City Royals, turning into the youngest participant to take action because the Live Ball Era started in 1920, according to MLB.

The following yr, he had a 24-8 season with a 1.82 earned run common and 301 strikeouts over 312 innings. He gained the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards, turning into the fifth participant in historical past to win each honors in the identical yr.

“There are few players with a more decorated career than Vida Blue,” the Oakland Athletics mentioned. “Vida will always be a franchise legend and a friend. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this time.”

Blue was born in Mansfield, Louisiana, on July 28, 1949 to Vida Blue Sr. and Sallie Blue. He was the oldest of six.

In highschool, Blue performed each baseball and soccer, as a quarterback, however in the end selected to pursue baseball after his father’s dying.

He was with the Athletics for 9 seasons earlier than being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1978. By that point, he had made three All-Star groups, and made three extra with the Giants.

He was traded to the Kansas City Royals in March 1982 and launched from the group that August. In December of that yr, he was sentenced to a few months in jail for possession of cocaine. He was suspended by the league and missed the 1984 season.

After returning to the game, he was reinstated by the Giants from 1985 to 1986, after which shortly performed with the A’s once more after turning into a free agent, however retired in 1987.

Ultimately, Blue completed his 17-year profession with a 209-161 document, a 3.27 ERA, 2,175 strikeouts, 143 video games and 37 shutouts over about 3,300 innings, in keeping with MLB.