Vida Blue's career was one for the books...although he probably won't make the Hall of Fame his career had both dizzying highs and deep depressive lows. For example:
The Highs:
Vida was the last pitcher to win both the Cy Young and MVP in the same year [1971]. That season he as 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA. He is the youngest American League pitcher to win the MVP.
The Lows:
Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn vetoed trades for Vida not once but twice. The Commissioner said that trading Blue to the Reds or the Yankees would be bad for the league because those teams were too good and didn't give up enough in return. Just imagine Bud Selig doing that today!
In 1985 [when Vida was a Royal sadly] he along with three other teammates pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase cocaine.
This card from the 1983 Fleer set is 1/2 of a two card piece that combines Bud Black and Vida Blue into a "Black and Blue" mega card. Like holograms, nobody does this kind of thing today and I sort of miss it.
The Highs:
Vida was the last pitcher to win both the Cy Young and MVP in the same year [1971]. That season he as 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA. He is the youngest American League pitcher to win the MVP.
The Lows:
Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn vetoed trades for Vida not once but twice. The Commissioner said that trading Blue to the Reds or the Yankees would be bad for the league because those teams were too good and didn't give up enough in return. Just imagine Bud Selig doing that today!
In 1985 [when Vida was a Royal sadly] he along with three other teammates pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase cocaine.
This card from the 1983 Fleer set is 1/2 of a two card piece that combines Bud Black and Vida Blue into a "Black and Blue" mega card. Like holograms, nobody does this kind of thing today and I sort of miss it.
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