Photos: San Francisco Bay Area Baseball legend Vida Blue through the years

Armed with a flashy title, an electrical character and an iconic supply he used to unleash a blazing fastball, Vida Blue was as distinctive as a baseball participant could possibly be.

Blue, who died at age 73 late Saturday night, was a beloved member of each the A’s and Giants throughout a 17-year profession that included successful three consecutive World Collection titles throughout Oakland’s dynasty within the early Nineteen Seventies.

Blue’s demise was confirmed by the A’s on Sunday morning. No explanation for demise was introduced, though buddies stated he had been battling an undisclosed kind of most cancers.

“There are few gamers with a extra embellished profession than Vida Blue,” the A’s stated in an announcement. “He was a three-time champion, an MVP, a six-time All-Star, a Cy Younger Award winner, and an Oakland A’s Corridor of Famer. Vida will all the time be a franchise legend and a good friend. We ship our deepest condolences to his household and buddies throughout this arduous time.”

Jon Becker contributed to this report.

Oakland Athletics’ Vida Blue winds up for the pitch at a recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Twins on July 16, 1977. (Kenneth Inexperienced/Oakland Tribune) 

A’s three 20 recreation winners, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Vida Blue and Ken Holtzman. (Picture by Ron Riesterer/Oakland Tribune) 

Vida Blue, left, and Dave Duncan, proper, at an Oakland Athletics’ spring coaching session someday in March 1973. The 2 confirmed up for observe regardless of ongoing contract disputes. (Russ Reed/Oakland Tribune) 

Vida Blue, the left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, patiently indicators autographs together with his proper for followers who greeted him on the Oakland Airport to cheer on his 12-game successful streak. (Robert Stinnett/Oakland Tribune) 

San Francisco Giants pitcher Vida Blue is photographed on April 5, 1978 at Candlestick Park. (Russ Reed/Oakland Tribune) 

Vida Blue exhibits off some the sports activities articles to be auctioned off from 4 native skilled groups at Oscar’s in Oakland, California on April 17, 1974. Funds have been raised to pay assist the household of newsboy Robert Hanson, who was the sufferer of a violent beating and suffered extreme mind injury, pay medical bills. (Invoice Crouch/Oakland Tribune) 

Vida Blue receives a cupcake from a fan for his twenty second birthday – a month too quickly – on June 28, 1971 at an Oakland Athletics’ recreation. (Russ Reed/Oakland Tribune) 

Oakland A’s Vida Blue is seen, 1976. (AP Picture) 

Twenty recreation winners Dave Stewart, Mike Norris, Vida Blue and Jim “Mudcat” Grant wave to followers throughout a pregame ceremony on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. (Jay Solmonson/Tri- Valley Herald) 

Former Oakland Athletics and Corridor of Famer Rollie Fingers, proper, chats with former Cy Younger Award winner and American League MVP Vida Blue at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, April 20, 2012. The Oakland Athletics celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the membership’s 1972 World Collection title by having a two evening celebration. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Employees) 

Former major-league baseball pitcher Vida Blue sits with the Tamalpais Excessive Faculty baseball staff earlier than a bunch picture in Mill Valley, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. (IJ picture/Alan Dep) 

Gene Tenace and Vida Blue put together to pose with followers behind a wall of World Collection trophies throughout the Oakland Athletics FanFest Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 on the Oracle Enviornment in Oakland, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Employees) 

Three-time World Collection champion Vida Blue addresses the Skyline athletes at Skyline Excessive Faculty in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Native celebrities collect at Skyline Excessive Faculty to assist create a optimistic college tradition round music, sports activities, and the humanities. (Laura A. Oda/Bay Space Information Group) 

Former Oakland Athletics Ricky Henderson, far proper, together with, from left, John “Blue Moon” Odom, Vida Blue and Dave Stewart, are honored on Jackie Robinson Day at the beginning of the Athletics recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals on the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, April 15, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Space Information Group) 

Former Oakland Athletic and San Francisco Large pitcher Vida Blue, left, arrives at Ozumo on Broadway in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, July 13, 2010. Patrons paid $50 to hang around with Blue and a number of other different sports activities figures throughout a Vida Blue tribute evening. To the correct are Jo Cotarelo, and Marty Friedman, left to proper, of Antioch. (Jane Tyska/Employees) 

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 31: Former Oakland Athletics pitcher and member of the 1972 World Collection Championship staff, Vida Blue, walks by the stadium earlier than a MLB recreation between the A’s and the Boston Pink Sox on the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Blue and teammates from the 1972 World Collection Championship have been honored throughout a particular ceremony marking their fiftieth anniversary. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group) 

Former Oakland Athletics participant Vida Blue, heart, waits for his journey after a pregame ceremony honoring the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 World Collection staff on the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 

Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp (5) shares a second with former Oakland Athletics participant Vida Blue, after a pregame ceremony honoring the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 World Collection staff on the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 

Former Oakland Athletics participant Vida Blue, heart, is assisted off the sector by his former teammate Joe Rudi, proper, as John “Blue Moon” Odom, left, walks behind them throughout a pregame ceremony honoring the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 World Collection staff on the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 

A second of silence is held for Vida Blue earlier than the primary inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Might 7, 2023. Vida Blue was a 3 time world champion and an AL Cy Younger Award winner. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) 

Watch one of many final interviews with Vida Blue.