Astros’ Dusty Baker on Vida Blue’s death: ‘It’s a tough day’
Vida Blue #VidaBlue
SEATTLE — Astros manager Dusty Baker was among those in the baseball world mourning the death of legendary pitcher Vida Blue.
Blue, the lefthander who was a key cog in Oakland winning three straight World Series from 1972-74 and the winner of the American League MVP and Cy Young Awards in 1971, died at age 73, his family and the A’s announced Sunday.
Baker and Blue were longtime friends, with the two facing off in the old National League West when Baker played for the Dodgers and Blue was with the Giants from 1978-81.
“I’ve been talking with Vida on and off the last couple months,” said a somber Baker, who was born 49 days before Blue in the summer of 1949. “He didn’t call back the other day, so I figured something was wrong.
“All my buddies in the Bay Area told me that ‘Blue Boy’ was sick, real sick. We knew he was sick … it’s a tough day. I had calls last night, texts from all my homeboys that knew Vida.”