Blue would win both the Cy Young and MVP award by going 24-8 with 301 Strikeouts and leading the AL in ERA (1.82), Shutouts (8), FIP (2.20), WHIP (0.952), H/9 (6.0) and SO/9 (8.7). He would be inconsistent in the years that followed, only winning six games in 1972. Blue would have 20 Win seasons in 1973 and 1975 and would go to three All-Star Games as an Athletic. He didn't replicate his Cy Young win in 1971 but would have three top ten finishes for Oakland, a seventh-place finish in 1973 and two sixth-place tallies in 1975 and 1976.
Blue would help Oakland win the World Series in 1972, 1973 & 1974, though in the post-season for the A's, he was not spectacular. The Lefthander would go 1-5 with a 4.31 ERA, but without him, they may not have made those playoffs at all.
As part of the mid-70s fire sale, Charlie O. Finley sold Blue’s contract to the New York Yankees in 1976, but it was blocked by the league due to the belief that the trade was unfair. Finley would eventually deal Blue within the Bay Area to the San Francisco Giants after 1977.
He would finish his run in Oakland with a record of 124-86 and 1,315 Strikeouts. He would go to three more All-Star Games with the Giants.The Athletics would induct Blue into their Hall of Fame in 2019.
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