Former A's, Giants star Vida Blue dies

Oh, he died yesterday after a year and a half long battle with cancer. Vernglenn takes a look back at the career of a player whose accomplishments off the field somehow surpassed his amazing feats on the field. Vita was the best player in Bay Area history in terms of all the guys who played for both the Giants and A's. Vita Blue made his big league debut when he was only 19 years old. Two years later, he was the American league's Cy Young and most valuable player. Vita Blue was to the 70s would won. Marchelle was to the 60s.

I tried to throw left handed because of him. Didn't always work out by the healthy a's when three straight World Series titles of the 1970s. He was at the Coliseum last month for the 50th anniversary of the 1973 team. Charlie Finley tried to create a nickname true blue and Vitus said no way. I don't want any part of that. You don't mess with Vitah Blue. It's the best name in baseball.

You don't give him a nickname. A nickname wasn't the only thing Vitah and Charlie Finley didn't agree on when they couldn't come to terms on a new contract. Finley traded Vita across the bay. He was so good when the ace traded him to the Giants. The Giants gave up seven players to Oakland. He was named and all star three times with a Giants and on track for the Hall of Fame. But his career was derailed when he was suspended for the 1984 season after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

Vitah Blue is not a bad person. Vitah Blues use use bad judgment and and use bad bad judgment on more than one occasion and that's okay. He had some issues along the way, of course, but you look at today's pitchers. They're not many better than Vitah Blue if at all. A's legend Dave Stewart tweeted the sound about blue. Vitah Blue rest in peace. My mentor, hero and friend.

I remember watching a 19 year old Fidon 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.

KPIX 5 News Morning