Addendum: Resolution Photomatching has conclusively backed up our claim that this is the same jersey from the 1971 Sporting News cover.

Of his contemporaries only Strikeout King Nolan Ryan put greater fear into opposing batters with pure blazing velocity. But Vida Blue’s 1971 numbers rank among the most impressive ever registered in the post-war era: twenty-four victories against eight defeats twenty-four complete games including eight shutouts over 300 strikeouts and an American League-low 1.82 earned run average. He was the starting pitcher in the 1971 All-Star Game for the Junior Circuit. Blue claimed A.L. Cy Young and MVP honors for his efforts becoming just the fifth pitcher to earn both trophies in a single season (six others have since joined him).

From that unforgettably dominant season we present Vida Blue’s game worn Oakland A’s home vest. On the front left tail of the vest is the “McAULIFFE” manufacturer’s tag. Adjacent below are two white strip tags one with the size “42 in blue and another with the year “71” in red. On the left chest reads “A’s”. On the right chest and on back is the player number “35”. All are done in the same green on white tackle twill. Across the back is the player name “BLUE” in green tackle twill which has been restored. Blue has signed the front of the jersey in black marker with the added inscription “MVP + Cy Young 1971” rating 7-8/10. The jersey shows excellent wear and is all original save for the meticulously restored name on back.

Accompanying the jersey is a copy of the June 5 1971 Sporting News picturing Vida Blue on the cover. The image provides a conclusive photomatch to the offered jersey according to us and the experts at Resolution Photomatching. (It may be the same home vest Blue is wearing on his 5/31/1971 Sports Illustrated cover shot as well.) Furthermore we found one other 1971 Vida Blue home jersey vest sold previously at auction that can be conclusively non-matched to the SN cover. Players would only receive two sets of home and road jerseys in that era.

Includes LOA from Resolution Photomatching with side-by-side professional photo-match to the SN cover. Autograph and inscriptions pre-certified by PSA/DNA.