During a visit to the White House, 21 year-old Vida Blue, who is presently 22-4, is told by President Nixon that he is the most underpaid player in the game. The Commander-in-Chief tells the eventual Cy Young Award winner and AL MVP he would like to negotiate the A’s southpaw’s next contract, much to the chagrin of Oakland owner Charlie Finley.
Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s wins his 20th game of the season
On July 9, 1971, At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, 21 year old Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s strikes out 17 California Angels in 11 innings. Rollie Fingers follows with seven scoreless innings of relief. The A’s will eventually win the game, 1-0, in 20 innings, which is the longest shutout in American League History. Angels’…
On June 28, 1971, this clip was Originally aired of Vida Blue of the Oakland A’s was in the midst of setting the baseball world on its ear when this story aired. Interviews with Blue’s mother is included as are clips of him pitching against the Kansas City Royals. Royals manager Bob Lemon…
On June 16, 1971, The Oakland Athletics hit five solo home runs in a 5 – 1 victory over the Washington Senators. Powerful first baseman Mike Epstein bangs out home runs in his first two at-bats, giving him homers in four straight at-bats over two games. Joe Rudi also adds a pair and Dave Duncan…
The A’s Vida Blue no-hits the Twins, 6 – 0, becoming the youngest pitcher to perform the feat since Paul Dean, 36 years ago to the day. The only baserunner against Blue is Harmon Killebrew, who walks in the 4th inning. Bert Campaneris, who helps Blue with a leaping catch on George Mitterwald in the 5th, adds a triple and home run. An Oakland crowd of only 4,284 watches Blue’s 2nd major league start.
On July 20, 1969, 19-year-old left-hander Vida Blue makes his major league debut for the Oakland A’s. Blue gives up a pair of home runs and loses a 7-3 decision to the California Angels. Blue will go on to win 209 games during a 17-year career.
1953 – The Pittsburgh Pirates send flashy 2B Danny O’Connell to the Milwaukee Braves for 3B Sid Gordon, OF Sam Jethroe, P Max Surkont, and four minor league pitchers. Pittsburgh also get $100,000 from the Braves. This is the only six-for-one trade in major league history and will be surpassed only by the seven-for-one deal that will send Vida Blue from the Oakland A’s to the SF Giants in 1978.
Vida Blue Position: Pitcher Bats: Both • Throws: Left 6-0, 189lb (183cm, 85kg) Born: July 28, 1949 in Mansfield, LA Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 2nd round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from De Soto HS (Mansfield, LA). High School: De Soto HS (Mansfield, LA) School: Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA) Debut: July 20, 1969 (12,874th in major league history) vs. CAL 5.1…