Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. was a name synonymous with baseball greatness. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1986. He was an important part of the Oakland Athletics’ era, which won three straight World Series titles from 1972 to 1974. He also won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971, which was a testament to his exceptional skills on the field.
Vida died on Saturday, 6 May 2023. He was a key part of the team during that time. In 1971, he was the youngest AL/NL MVP ever. He was 73. The A’s said in a statement that Vida Blue has had one of the most decorated careers in baseball. “He won three championships, was the Most Valuable Player, was an All-Star six times, won the Cy Young Award, and is in the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame. Vida will always be a legend and a friend in the series. We send his family and friends our deepest sorrow during this hard time.”
While his achievements in the field are well documented, little is known about his personal life, including his wife and net worth. In this article, we take a closer look at these aspects of Vida Blue’s life.
Who Was Vida Blue’s Wife?
Vida Blue‘s personal life was relatively private, but we do know that he was married to Peggy Shannon. The two got married on September 24, 1989, on the pitcher’s mound at Candlestick Park, which was a unique and memorable way to tie the knot. Shannon was 31 years old at the time of their wedding, while Blue was 40.
The couple had two children, twin girls born in the early 1990s. However, their marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1996. Despite the separation, Blue and Shannon remained on amicable terms, and Shannon continued to support Blue’s legacy even after his passing.
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What Was Vida Blue’s Net Worth?
Vida Blue was a retired American professional baseball player who had a net worth of $1.5 million. During his career, Vida earned a total of $1.4 million in salary, with his biggest paycheck coming in 1986 when he earned $450,000 from the Giants. That’s the same as earning around $1 million in today’s dollars.
While Vida Blue’s net worth may not seem significant compared to some of today’s athletes, it’s important to remember that his career took place several decades ago when salaries were not as high as they are today. Despite this, Blue managed to accumulate a respectable fortune, thanks to his impressive performance on the field.
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Know About Vida’s Major League Baseball Career
Vida Blue’s success on the field was undeniable, and his MLB career was nothing short of legendary. He first played in Major League Baseball in 1969 for the Oakland As and stayed with the team until 1977. From 1978 to 1981, he played for the San Francisco Giants. From 1982 to 1983, he played for the Kansas City Royals. He was a three-time World Series champion from 1972 to 1974 and was a six-time MLB All-Star.
Blue’s achievements on the field were numerous, but some of the most notable ones include pitching a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins on September 21, 1970, and pitching a combined no-hitter on September 28, 1975. He won the AL MVP and AL Cy Young Award in 1971 when he was also the AL ERA leader. He was the first African American pitcher to win the MVP, and he was also the youngest player to win both awards in the same season.
Blue continued to be the best baseball player in the early 1970s, and his great play helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series from 1972 to 1974. In each of those years and in 1975, he was named to the All-Star team.
Blue was moved to the San Francisco Giants in 1978, and he continued to have a great career there. In 1978 and 1981, he was named an All-Star for the second time.