Top 50 Oakland Athletics, as voted on by fans, players 1-5

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 03: Former Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (L) and Dave Stewart (R) stands together after Henderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of the opening night game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Athletics renamed the field 'Rickey Henderson Field'. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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Vida Blue

Vida Blue was another key member of the A’s early 1970’s championship teams.

Drafted out of high school by the Kansas City A’s in the 1967 MLB Amateur Draft, Blue debuted in the big leagues in 1969 in Oakland playing in just 12 games, starting four of them and getting a save in one.

He spent most of the 1970 season in Triple-A but when called up he started each of the six games he played in, posting a 2.09 ERA and throwing two complete game shutouts.

In 1971 he dominated the league winning BOTH the American League Cy Young Award and MVP Award (he would not be the last Athletic to do so). He led the league in almost every statistical category except wins, but he helped lead the Athletics to their first ALCS in Oakland.

Unfortunately that postseason Blue literally blew his only start, allowing 5 runs on seven hits, against the Baltimore Orioles. The A’s went on to lose the ALCS that season but it was, as noted, not their last trip to the ALCS during that decade.

Blue pitched in 17 postseason games with the A’s suffering only two losses. They came in the first and the last postseason games of his career.

Although Blue would go on to play eight more seasons with the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals and make three more All-Star appearances (he made three with the A’s) he never made it back to the postseason.

Still, Blue was an integral part of the A’s three World Championship teams.

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