Comments on: 1971-Most Valuable Players

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:06:33 +0000

For those curious to see of what ramblinpete speaks:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8273/index.htm

By: ramblinpete

ramblinpete — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:58:07 +0000

One of my most cherished items in that drawer filled-with-old-magazines-that-should-have-been-thrown-out-years-ago is an ancient and disintegrating Sports Illustrated.

It still resides there, torn and tattered amidst old Hockey Newses and Baseball Digests, replete with a cover barely hanging on for dear life that pictures a bemused young man in the midst of a mighty hold out. The copy simply reads ‘[Vida Blue. Plumbing Executive.]‘

By: jrosenfelder

jrosenfelder — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:03:05 +0000

71 – the coins!

By: Eric Enders

Eric Enders — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:10:22 +0000

One of the nice things about living in Cooperstown for a while was that every once in a while something surreal would happen, like you’d walk into a bar and Vida Blue and J.R. Richard would be sitting there, drinking beers and looking for people to talk baseball with. This happened to me one night in 2001 or so. I took a seat at their table and we spent the rest of the night telling old stories (or really, them telling, me listening). Both were terrific guys and completely unpretentious.

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:19:01 +0000

catfish326:
Nice detective work. Funny that the article refers to Blue as “formerly with the . . . Baseball Hall of Fame.”

By: catfish326

catfish326 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:35:05 +0000

I had to look into the Costa Rica thing, seeing I’m here now. According to one reporter’s post, Vida still packs a crowd, even in Latin America. It appears he has been involved with a major construction company here and a baseball instruction school. Soccer is king here, but there is a push to see more baseball. Appears that Vida is very close friends with Reggie Jackson’s older brother.

I searched and it appears there has never been a player from Costa Rica.

Here is the post I found:

“lunes, julio 21, 2008
Famous Baseball Player Vida Blue. Proud owner of Paradigma Properties
On July 10th 2008 Mr. Vida Blue with the San Francisco Giants and formerly with the Oakland A..s baseball team and Baseball Hall of Fame, arrived and visit our offices, projects and to get to know Costa Rica, He will helping to promote this great sport in coordination with the Costa Rica National Federation of Baseball as well as enjoying the beauty of this amazing country with one of our luxury Developments provide by Paradigma Construccion S.A. He traveled with the elder brother of Mr. Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankee’s and another friend of Mr. Blue. To our surprise, Mr. Blue is also well known here in Costa Rica. We have had many calls from local reporters and radio stations requesting interviews with Mr. Blue. Last week I was asked to do a morning talk show with a local English speaking music radio station about Mr. Blue and his connection with Paradigma. Due to such a media demand for Mr. Blue, we had to hold a press conference at the Marriot with Mr. Blue on July 15th. We had nearly 40 reporters present during this press conference, ranging from the local television and radio stations to Latin CNN among others. We also have a morning show booked for the same day as the Press Conference on the station called Rock and Pop. Definitely, this is the lifestyle of the Rich & Famous!”

By: catfish326

catfish326 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:39:19 +0000

Vida held out for a while leading into 1972. He was negotiating a new contract with Finley. Finley was a hard-nosed stubborn negotiator. He would go so far as to get into the minds of his most talented athletes and demoralize them, such that they started to question their talents, trying to convince them they were not really an all-star and they were more of a bench chup or a AAA player. He was nuts. Finley did this to Blue in 1972. He ordered that Blue go to the bullpen! After his unreal 1971 season. Why???? In the post-season in 1972, Blue appeared in 4 relief appearances against the Tigers and 3 relief appearances against the Reds and 1 start. All about money and power with Finley. He was a good but scary business man, who made millions selling a new type of insurance product. Finley also threatened Reggie Jackson to put him in the minors. He was crazy. Also, Blue confessed that his drug problems started in 1972.

Always thought Vida had one of the coolest names ever.

Vida’s in Costa Rica? That’s were I am. Would love to talk baseball with him . . .

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:16:01 +0000

sansho1:
Thanks for the info. Now that you mention it I realize I’d heard that explanation before, but pre-1900 stuff seems to go in one ear and out the other with me.

By: sansho1

sansho1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:38:32 +0000

Josh, there was a confluence of pitching rules in the 1880s that allowed strikeout numbers to soar. In 1883 and 1884 restrictions on pitching motions were gradually abolished, and they were still throwing from 50 feet away. In 1893 the pitching rubber was moved to 60’6″, and K rates moved back down.

By: thunderfan24

thunderfan24 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:24:22 +0000

Vida always wore his first name on his shirt, with every team he was on.

by 64cardinals April 29, 2009 at 11:21 am

I stand corrected. He did initially wear Blue on his shirt when he first came up with the A’s, but switched to Vida at some point.