Vida Blue Cause of Death, How Did He Die? Check Here
by Kowsalya | Updated May 08, 2023
Vida Blue Cause of Death
Vida Blue, a beloved baseball figure known for his time with the Oakland Athletics, passed away at the age of 73. The news of his death came just weeks after the announcement that the Athletics would be relocating from the city of Oakland by the end of the decade.
The exact cause of his passing has not been officially released, although close friends of Blue have revealed that he had been battling an undisclosed form of cancer. Born in Louisiana in 1949, Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. exhibited athletic talent from a young age, excelling in both football and baseball.
However, after completing a remarkable 21-strikeout no-hitter during his senior year, Blue decided to pursue a career in baseball. He went on to become one of the most iconic players in Oakland Athletics history, earning six All-Star selections, three World Series championships, and the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1971.
Blue's contributions to the team's success during the 1970s earned him a place in the Athletics Hall of Fame.
How Did Vida Blue Die?
Vida Blue, a renowned left-handed pitcher who rose to fame in the early 1970s as a key player for the Oakland Athletics, has passed away at the age of 73. The A's confirmed his death on May 7, 2023, without revealing the cause.
Blue was an outstanding player who helped lead the A's to three consecutive World Series championships. He was named the American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player in 1971 after an exceptional season where he recorded a 24-8 record, 1.82 ERA, 301 strikeouts, and 24 complete games, including eight shutouts.
Only 11 pitchers have won both honors in the same year. However, Blue's relationship with A's owner Charlie Finley turned sour after he clashed with him over his salary following his successful 1971 season.
As a result, he played only sparingly in 1972 as the A's went on to win their first World Series title. Despite this, Blue played a pivotal role in the A's winning streak in 1973 and 1974.
Unfortunately, his turbulent relationship with Finley was a sign of the team's impending decline as the owner refused to pay the team's stars in free agency and dismantled the championship core.
Oakland A's Pitcher Vida Blue Dead at 73
Vida Blue, the left-handed pitcher who gained fame as one of baseball's biggest stars in the early 1970s while leading the Oakland A's to three consecutive World Series victories, has died at the age of 73, according to a statement by the team.
While no official cause of death was announced, Blue had been seen using a walking stick to move around during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the 1973 Oakland A's championship team on April 16.
Reggie Jackson, Blue's former teammate, praised his friend's personable and caring nature during an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday but noted that Blue had seemed uncomfortable with the crowd during the event.
Who was Vida Blue?
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was a professional baseball player who played as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for 17 years, from 1969 to 1986. He was best known for being a key player in the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 to 1974.
Blue won both the American League (AL) Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971. He was also a six-time All-Star and was the first of only five pitchers in MLB history to start the All-Star Game for both the American League (1971) and the National League (1978).
Apart from the Athletics, Blue also played for the San Francisco Giants (1978–81; 1985–86) and the Kansas City Royals (1982–83) during his career.
Vida Blue Cause of Death - FAQs
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was a professional baseball player who played as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for 17 years, from 1969 to 1986.
Vida Blue, a renowned left-handed pitcher who rose to fame in the early 1970s as a key player for the Oakland Athletics, has passed away at the age of 73. The A's confirmed his death on May 7, 2023, without revealing the cause.
The exact cause of his passing has not been officially released, although close friends of Blue have revealed that he had been battling an undisclosed form of cancer.