John Vukovich

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#263473
bgcolor2=#A50024
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=John Vukovich


ImageWidth=
position=Infielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1947|7|31
deathdate=death date and age|2007|3|8|1947|7|31
debutdate=September 11
debutyear=1970
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate=August 23
finalyear=1981
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.161
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=90
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=44
teams= As Player

* Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1971)
* Milwaukee Brewers (1973-1974)
* Cincinnati Reds (1975)
* Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1981)As Manager

* Chicago Cubs (1986)
* Philadelphia Phillies (1988)
highlights=
*Member of Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Champion team
*Member of Philadelphia Phillies 1976-77 NL Eastern Division Champion and 1980 World Series Champion teams

John Christopher Vukovich (July 31 1947 – March 8 2007) was an American third baseman and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his years of service with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played in parts of ten seasons from 1970 to 1981 for the Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was mainly used as a utility infielder capable of playing all four positions.

Vukovich was born in Sacramento, California, and was a backup for the 1975 Reds World Series-winning team, although he was traded back to the Phillies before the playoffs began, and also for the 1980 Phillies World Series-winning team. He actually began the 1975 season as the Reds' starting third baseman, but was benched in favor of Pete Rose so that the Reds could get outfielder George Foster's bat into the lineup every day. He batted above .200 only twice in his ten-year career, appearing in 277 games while batting .161 with 6 home runs and 44 runs batted in, and had a .956 fielding percentage. During his second period of playing with the Phillies, he became beloved of the fans even though he seldom appeared in games; he was seen as a blue-collar player and the ordinary fan respected his effort. After his playing career ended, he joined the Chicago Cubs as a coach, and in by|1986 he was manager for a day after Jim Frey was fired (he split that day's doubleheader). In by|1987, he rejoined the Phillies, and after Lee Elia was fired with nine games to go, he took over as skipper, going 5-4 the rest of the season.

Vukovich stayed with the Phillies as a coach from 1988 to 2004, and was considered for the managing job when Terry Francona was fired in by|2000. The job eventually went to Vukovich's childhood friend, Larry Bowa. Vukovich was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 and subsequently had surgery.

He returned to coach and was later named special assistant to the General Manager. In late 2006, he again exhibited symptoms; he died at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia at age 59. The 2007 Phillies honored him by wearing a uniform patch with his nickname, "Vuk", and his number 18. The Phillies also publicly dedicated their 2007 regular baseball season to Vukovich.

Vukovich was inducted onto the Phillies Wall of Fame on August 10, 2007. Former Phillies stars including Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton participated in a pregame ceremony led by legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=v/vukovjo01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/V/Vukovich_John.stm BaseballLibrary - profile and career highlights]
* [http://38pitches.com/2007/03/09/rest-in-peace-vuk/#more-39 Curt Schilling's Tribute to John Vukovich]