Can you guess the youngest MVP Winner in history? Babe Ruth? Mike Trout? Ken Griffey Jr? Nope nope and no. I had in my writing layout to tell you in this sentence, but lets play a game in today's blog. Let me know in what paragraph you guessed this player in.
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Not only was this player the youngest MVP winner of all time, but he is also a 3 time World Series winner. He was recruited out of high school to play quarterback for Notre Dame, but signed to play baseball in order to help his family that was incredibly poor. During this players high school baseball career he threw a no hitter in which he recorded 21 strikeouts in a 7 inning game.
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During his 4th start of his career in his rookie season, this player threw a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins becoming the 4th youngest player to ever throw a no-hitter. In his next season besides winning the MVP award, he also won a Cy Young award becoming the youngest player to win the Cy Young until Fernando Valenzuela beat him in 1981. This player despite being a pitcher, was also a switch hitter.
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During this player's 17 year career he made 6 all-star teams and became the first pitcher in MLB history to start the all-star game for both the National League and American League. After his playing career was over, this player only lasted 1 year on the Hall of Fame ballot due to his bad reputation with the media. During the 1985 Pittsburgh Drug Trials, this player testified as he was known to be a heavy drug user,.
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Ok If you do not get it in this one, I have no clue why you are still reading this. This player was drafted by the Athletics, traded to the San Francisco Giants, traded to the Kansas City Royals, and signed back to San Francisco to end his career. His name rhythms with kinda blew.
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Here ya go
Yes Vida Blue is the youngest player ever to win an MVP award at the age of 21 in 1971. He started the all-star game that year and in 1978 for the Giants. Known for his large personality, after wining the 1971 MVP award he demanded his salary to go from $14,000 a year to $92,500 a year and refused to play until owner Charlie Finley payed him. Vida held out until about halfway through the 1972 season when the 2 agreed to a $63,000 yearly salary.
That would not be the last time the 2 clashed heads. Finley tried to trade Vida to the Yankees in 1976 but was denied by commissioner Bowie Kuhn due to "the best interest of baseball". Before Vida was traded to the Giants, a trade to the Reds was set to go through in the winter of 1978, but once again commissioner Kuhn denied it due to the "Best interest of baseball". Vida is on record at the end of the 1976 season telling the media this
"I hope the next breath Charlie Finley takes is his last. I hope he falls flat on his face and dies of polio."
If anyone says this about any owner now, I think they might be put in prison. A's owner Charlie Finley was known for being insanely cheap and never promoting his team properly even when they won 3 straight World Series. What the hell is with Oakland Athletic's owners and being insanely cheap.
Anyway that is all I got for today, a little game to mix it up on a Monday. Share with a friend if you want to belittle them with their lack of 1970's baseball knowledge. Make sure you comment what paragraph you guessed Vida Blue!
That is today's Tea, with T
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