Oakland Athletics: The Top 50 Oakland A’s of All-Time

#2: Vida Blue

Vida Blue might be the name on this list most deserving of Hall of Fame status, despite not receiving the votes needed to get in. Blue spent the first eight years of his 17-year career in an Oakland Athletics uniform, using a fastball that blew hitters away at 100 miles per hour. As a left-hander, Blue’s ability to pitch hard and throw strikes was especially valuable.

In his 1970 season, he made six starts for the Athletics. On September 11, he pitched a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals, walking four and hitting a batter in his first complete game. Ten days later, on September 21, he pitched a no-hitter in which he allowed just one walk.

That was just the early part of Blue’s career. In 1971, he made the All-Star squad and led the league in ERA, FIP, WHIP and strikeouts per nine innings, as well as posting a league-high eight shutouts. He went 24-8 for the A’s, with a 1.82 ERA in 312 innings, and won not just the Cy Young Award, but the MVP Award as well.

By the time he participated in a combined no-hitter on September 28, 1975, Blue was established as one of the best pitchers in the league. In 1978, he was dealt to the San Francisco Giants, where he spent the majority of the remainder of his career. From 1982 to 1983, Blue spent time with the Kansas City Royals, but he retired as a Giant in 1986. In his career, he was a three-time World Champion and six-time All-Star, and he’s certainly one of the greatest pitchers in the game.

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