Vida Blue was one of the greatest pitchers of the 1970s, winning American League Cy Young and MVP awards in 1971 as a member of the Oakland A’s dynasty. His dominant performances made him one of the most sought-after players to collect in the form of trading cards during that era. Let’s take a deep look at some of the most notable and valuable Vida Blue cards that were produced during his playing career in the 1960s-70s.
One of Blue’s earliest cards is from his rookie season in 1969 with the A’s. That year, Topps was the exclusive baseball card manufacturer and included Blue in their set as card number 584. That 1969 Topps Vida Blue rookie card is key for any serious collector of Blue or A’s cards. In near-mint condition, the ’69 Topps Blue has sold for over $15,000 in recent years. The design features Blue in an action photo from his debut season with simple yellow borders and black text.
Blue would break out in a huge way the following year of 1970 with the A’s. As a result, his 1970 Topps card gained much more attention and Popularity among collectors. The design is similar to the ’69 issue but now features Blue’s name in a larger font after his breakout season. High grade 1970 Topps Blue cards in a PSA/BGS 10 gem mint condition have reached over $30,000 at auction.
Arguably the most iconic and valuable Vida Blue card ever produced came from his sensational 1971 MVP campaign. That year, Topps once again had the MLB license and created Blue’s star close-up photo card. Considered one of the best baseball card designs of all-time, the ’71 Topps Blue is bright and eye-catching. In a PSA 10 mint condition, examples have sold for well over $100,000 due to Blue’s status as an American League icon from that era. Even well-centered near-mint 8’s trade hands for thousands.
After 1971, Blue remained one of baseball’s biggest stars throughout the 1970s. Injuries and conflicts with A’s owner Charlie O. Finley derailed his career to some extent. As such, his mid-1970s Topps cards gained less attention compared to the early 1970s issues. But for hardcore Blue collectors, cards like his 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 Topps singles are still valuable in top grades. Prices range from a few hundred to low thousands for mint copies.
Blue’s famous 1974 trade to the New York Yankees also created cards of interest. That year, Topps included Blue in the Yankees’ team set after the late season deal. Highlights for collectors are Blue’s issued Yankees coach’s card showing him batting instead of pitching.
In the latter part of his career, Blue bounced around with the Rangers, Angels, and Athletics again. His late-1970s cards from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss are still popular but gained less notoriety compared to his early legendary Oakland years. They typically sell for $50-250 each in top condition depending on the player photo and design quality.
One of the final notable Vida Blue cards comes from 1979 Topps. After retiring following the 1978 season, Blue received a “Turn Back The Clock” retro design card honoring his 1971 campaign. It features his great mustachioed photo and eye-catching colors/font that make it a standout in the set. Very high grade examples have reached over $5000 due to its rarity and tribute to Blue’s historic season eight years prior.
In the modern era, Blue has gained induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and continued cult status among hardcore A’s fans. As the collecting population ages, so too does nostalgia for his dominant early 1970s seasons. As a result, all of Blue’s vintage rookie cards and especially his iconic 1971 Topps issue have retained strong collector demand and escalated greatly in value over the decades. For historians of the sport and traders of vintage cardboard, Vida Blue cards reign among the most notable representations of Oakland A’s glory days on the field and in the hobby.
In conclusion, Vida Blue was a true superstar of 1970s baseball and one of the most prominent pitchers ever featured on trading cards during the sport’s classic paper era. Cards showing Blue as a dominant Cy Young rookie or 1971 MVP consistently rank among the most valuable issues in the Hobby due to his excellence on the mound and place in nostalgic A’s franchise history. After close to 50 years, Blue’s early 1970s rookie and star cards retain tremendous interest that shows no signs of fading with time.