Cy Young and All Star pitcher Vida Blue is seen here dealing in this circa 1971 photo at the Oakland Coliseum. Vida passed away at age 73 on Sun May 7, 2023 (AP photo file)
On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:
By Amaury Pi-González
In Spanish the word Vida means Life. And Vida Blue was that type of guy, he loved life and people, he loved life and never took himself very seriously, he knew what he did as a baseball player and that was that. He was a pitcher that won three World Series in three consecutive years, a Cy Young winner and many other awards playing for the real dynasty of the 1970s and one of the greatest dynasties of baseball, definitely “the” true dynasty for baseball in the Bay Area.” The last time I spoke with Vida at length was last year during the A’s 1972 players reunion.
Vida was a people’s person, last time we spoke in some length was in June 2022 as the A’s held their 1972 World Series reunion at the swanky and historical Claremont Hotel in Berkeley. A’s players of that year (and other years), since even Rickey Henderson made an appearance, we were on hand with their families as they mingled with A’s employees.
Vida looked very good as he was ready to talk to anybody that approached him, he knew a lot of people and he seems always to remember when I spoke with him about people of years past, like my first partner doing A’s broadcast in the 70’s Julio González or his good friend (now retired and living in Florida) Adalberto “Ucho” López. Ucho knew Vida and all those guys including his Cuban compatriot, shortstop Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, whom as a very young player stayed in Ucho’s house in the Bay Area, during the 1970s.
Vida’s memory was very good and clear all the time, he seemed to be happy when talking not only about his great baseball career, but the many friends he had made because of baseball throughout the years.
I will personally miss Vida. May he Rest in Peace.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio talent on the Oakland A’s Spanish network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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