We regret to inform you that Vida Blue, a baseball icon and world champion, is no longer with us. At the age of 73, he died. The athlete’s passing was reported on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Just a few weeks after his old team announced that they would be leaving Oakland before the end of the decade, the three-time World Series champion Oakland Athletics passed away. For more information about Vida Blue’s demise, keep reading.
Oakland A’s pitcher Vida Blue passes away at 73
Pitcher Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s passes away at 73 Vida Blue, a six-time All-Star, departed for heaven on Saturday, May 6, 2023. On Sunday morning, the sad news of his passing was announced. The player’s true cause of death has not yet been identified as of this writing. However, according to some of his friends, he struggled with an unspecified type of cancer.
“Vida Blue rest in peace, my mentor, hero, and friend,” tweeted Oakland Athletics legend Dave ‘Smoke’ Stewart on Sunday on Twitter. I recall seeing a 19-year-old baseball phenom completely dominate the game, which also changed my life. What you have meant to me and so many others cannot be expressed in words. My thoughts are with the Blue family.
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
Additionally, the Oakland Athletics franchise released a statement on Vida Blue’s demise with the simple description, “A statement from the Oakland A’s.”
Few athletes have had more accolades bestowed upon them than Vida Blue, according to the statement. He was a Hall of Famer for the Oakland A’s, a three-time champion, an MVP, a six-time All-Star, and a Cy Young Award winner. Vida will always be a buddy and an icon in the franchise. We offer his family and friends our sincere condolences during this difficult time.
A statement from the family of Vida Blue. pic.twitter.com/uZEWRyzIAV
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) May 7, 2023
Giants President Larry Baer stated in a statement that “Vida Blue has been a Bay Area baseball symbol for almost 50 years. With the impact he’s had on our community, his influence on the Bay Area goes beyond his 17 years on the pitch.
Here’s all you need to know about Vida Blue (including his baseball career, personal life, and more)
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was Vida Blue’s full name. He was a professional baseball player and the son of Vida Blue, Sr. and Sallie. He was born on July 28, 1949, in Mansfield, DeSoto Parish, northwest Louisiana. He was the sixth child and the oldest.
Blue attended Mansfield’s DeSoto High School. He excelled at sports like baseball and football from an early age. He quarterbacked the football squad at the time and pitched for the baseball club. When he pitched a no-hitter in his senior year with 21 strikeouts, he made the decision to pursue a career in baseball.
After receiving numerous excellent offers from prestigious colleges and universities, Vida decided to follow his major league goal straight out of high school. The loss of his father influenced his choice.
When did Vida Blue make his MLB debut?
The Oakland Athletics selected left-handed pitcher Blue in the second round of the 1967 amateur draught. Two years later, in 1969, he made his Major League Baseball debut with the group. He started 39 games for the A’s in 1971, which marked a turning point in his career. He ultimately turned out to be their best player. He had a 24-8 record, the best 1.82 ERA in the AL, and eight shutouts in 1971.
Blue won the 1971 AL Cy Young and MVP titles shortly after. Between 1972 and 1974, the Oakland Athletics won three straight World Series titles.
Off the court, Vida struggled with challenges like drug and alcohol addiction. He was pulled over by the police while driving under the influence on several occasions. He was detained by the police in the early 1980s as he and his teammates attempted to purchase cocaine.
Was Vida Blue married?
1989 saw the marriage of the storied Oakland Athletics star and Peggy Shannon. On the pitcher’s mound at Candlestick Park in September 1989, the couple said their vows. He was 40 years old and she was 31 years old at the time.
Willie McCovey, a former teammate of Blue’s, served as his best man on the special occasion, and Orlando Cepeda led Shannon to the mound. However, the couple’s marriage did not last and they divorced in 1996.
Vida and Peggy, his ex-wife, welcomed two children during their marriage, according to an Opoyi article. Early in the 1990s, they had twin girls.
What was the net worth of Vida Blue?
Vida Blue had a net worth of $1.5 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was unquestionably among the top baseball players of his day.
Tributes pour in for Vida Blue
The six-time All-Star and renowned Bay Area pitcher Vida Blue passed away, and the SF Giants expressed their sorrow by stating on Twitter: “The #SFGiants are heartbroken to learn of her passing. The Blue family, his friends, and everyone else whose lives he touched get our sincere condolences.
The #SFGiants are saddened to learn of the passing of six-time All-Star and longtime Bay Area pitcher Vida Blue. Our deepest condolences go to the Blue family, his friends and all those whose lives he touched. pic.twitter.com/gI7k1N68Mv
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 7, 2023
On the social networking site Twitter, the Kansas City Royals also gave Vida a moving homage. “We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of Vida Blue,” the team continued. Our sincere condolences go out to Vida’s family and friends.
We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of Vida Blue. We send our deepest condolences to Vida’s family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/hzi8V3SSnF
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 7, 2023
One person wrote on social media, “For a kid growing up in the 1970s, Vida Blue was definitely one of my baseball heroes.” I was a young child when I first heard about Vida, and I have to admit that the name drew my eye immediately. To a throwing legend, RIP.
RIP Mr. Blue, you provided a generation of baseball fans a lot of joy and excitement, a fan wrote in a tweet. I send my sympathies to your family. however, I am confident that your destination will be *much* better. A fantastic new pitcher has just joined Heaven’s Sandlot! #VidaBlue, RIP.
We extend our sincere condolences to Vida Blue’s family and friends during this trying time. May he rest in peace, his soul. Keep checking back with us for the most recent Hollywood news.
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