On the blog this fine day, my pick for the 1970s American League left-handed pitcher of the decade, Vida Blue:
Before
taking his talents across the Bay to the San Francisco Giants in 1978,
Vida Blue anchored the Oakland A’s pitching staff, helping the team to
three straight World Championships between 1972 and 1974.
Along the way he posted three 20-win seasons, including his magnificent 1971 campaign that saw him go 24-8 with a 1.83 E.R.A. and 301 strikeouts, with eight shutouts and 24 complete games at the age of 21, taking home league Cy Young and M.V.P. Awards.
A season earlier, he pitched a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, facing the minimum 27 batters with nine strikeouts.
Along the way he posted three 20-win seasons, including his magnificent 1971 campaign that saw him go 24-8 with a 1.83 E.R.A. and 301 strikeouts, with eight shutouts and 24 complete games at the age of 21, taking home league Cy Young and M.V.P. Awards.
A season earlier, he pitched a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, facing the minimum 27 batters with nine strikeouts.
Blue would go on to six All-Star games, starting and winning one in each
league, and eventually retire with 209 wins and a 3.27 ERA with 37
shutouts, posting three 20-win seasons over his 17-year career.
A true icon of 1970’s baseball.
A true icon of 1970’s baseball.
