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20 stats you may not know about the late Vida Blue

ByJerry Tapp|
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 17, 1974: Picher Vida Blue #14 of the Oakland Athletics pitches to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1974 World Series at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 17, 1974 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 17, 1974: Picher Vida Blue #14 of the Oakland Athletics pitches to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1974 World Series at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 17, 1974 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

Vida Blue, a three-time World Champion with the Oakland A’s and the MVP and Cy Young Award winner in the American League in 1971, passed away on May 6 at the age of 73.

Blue was a six-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1970. He compiled a 209-161 record from 1969-1986 playing for Oakland, the San Francisco Giants (two stints) and the Kansas City Royals.

Here are 20 stats you may not know about Vida Blue

  1. Born in Mansfield, Louisiana, Blue is one of 179 MLB pitchers born in Louisiana. His 209 career wins ranks third among those 179 pitchers behind Ted Lyons (260) and Andy Pettitte (256). Chuck Finley is the only other Louisiana-born pitcher to win 200 games in an MLB career with 200.
  2. Blue had 2,175 career strikeouts to go along with his 209 career wins. He is one of 50 pitchers all-time to have 200 career wins and 2,000 career strikeouts. His career ERA was 3.27; Blue is one of 25 pitchers to have 200 career wins, 2,000 career strikeouts and a career ERA of 3.27 or below.
  3. In his 17-year career, Vida pinch-hit three times and was a pinch runner on three occasions.
  4. Vida won 20 games in three seasons (24-1971, 20-1973 and 22-1975). He is one of 96 pitchers to win 20+ games in three or more seasons. Warren Spahn and Christy Mathewson each won 20+ games in 13 seasons to top the list. Blue also won 10 or more games in 11 seasons. Don Sutton (21) and Greg Maddux and Nolan Ryan (20 seasons each) top this list.
  5. Blue started 10 postseason games in his career yet won only once. He was 1-5 in the playoffs and was 0-3 in the World Series.
  6. He won 10 or more games and had an ERA under 3.00 in four seasons — 1971, 1976, 1978 and 1980.
  7. Vida Blue ranks eighth on the Oakland A’s all-time wins list with 124 victories. He is also one of eight Oakland pitchers with 1,000 or more career strikeouts with the franchise.
  8. From 1970-79, Blue won 155 games, tying him with Nolan Ryan for most wins in the 70s. Jim Palmer sits atop this stat with 186 wins followed by Gaylord Perry with 184.
  9. Blue ended his career with 143 complete games and 37 shutouts. He is one of 47 pitchers to reach both those stats in a career.
  10. He is one of six pitchers to win two or more All-Star Games. Lefty Gomez won three; Blue, Don Drysdale, Bob Friend, Juan Marichal and Bruce Sutter have won two ASGs.
  11. Blue is one of 120 pitchers in MLB history to pitch 200 or more innings in nine or more seasons.
  12. Of batters with 10 or more at-bats against Vida Blue, Eddie Murray had the highest batting average at .615 (8-for-13). Of batters with 50 or more at-bats, Toby Harrah had the highest batting average versus Blue at .424 (25-for-59). George Scott and Dale Murphy each hit five home runs against Vida Blue, most by an opposing player.
  13. Blue was one of 15 pitchers to start three or more All-Star Games.
  14. He finished in the Top 7 for Cy Young Award voting five times (1971, 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1978).
  15. Blue pitched nine total innings in the All-Star Game in his career, allowing eight earned runs for an 8.00 ERA. He is tied with Catfish Hunter for most All-Star Game home runs allowed with four.
  16. He was 122-72 (.629) in home games and 87-89 (.494) on the road. Hitters had a .223 batting average in Vida’s home games and .254 in Vida’s road games.
  17. Blue pitched in relief in 29 games in his career and had a pair of saves.
  18. In situations where the opponents had runners on base and two outs, opposing hitters batted only .212 versus Vida Blue.
  19. He had a 10-1 record (.909) versus the Chicago Cubs, the highest winning percentage against any opponent. He had 17 wins against the California Angeles, most wins in his career versus any opponent.
  20. In day games, Blue was 93-44 (.679). In night games, he was 116-117 (.498).
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