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Jerry Buchek
Jerry Buchek - St. Louis Cardinals - 1965.jpg
Buchek in 1965
Infielder
Born: (1942-05-09)May 9, 1942
St. Louis, Missouri
Died: January 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 76)
Springfield, Missouri
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
June 30, 1961, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last appearance
September 29, 1968, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average .220
Home runs 22
Runs batted in 108
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Gerald Peter Buchek (pronounced boo-check) was a professional baseball player. He was born on May 9, 1942, and passed away on January 2, 2019. Jerry played as an infielder, mainly at second base and shortstop. He spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. Buchek threw and batted right-handed. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds.

Jerry's Baseball Journey

Jerry Buchek was born in St. Louis, Missouri. After finishing high school, he signed a contract with his hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals. He was just 18 years old when he started playing professional baseball. In 1960, he played in the higher levels of minor league baseball.

Early MLB Days

Buchek got his first chance to play in the major leagues in 1961. He also spent some time with the Cardinals in 1963. By 1964, he became a full-time player on the big league roster. He then played five full seasons in the majors.

Winning the World Series in 1964

In 1964, Buchek played in 35 games for the Cardinals. He was mostly a backup player. He helped out shortstop Dick Groat and second baseman Julián Javier. That year was very special for the Cardinals. They won their first National League title in 18 years. Then, they beat the New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series. Buchek played in four World Series games. He even got a hit in Game 6!

Jerry Buchek 1961
Buchek in 1961

Time with the Cardinals

Jerry stayed with the Cardinals as a backup infielder in 1965 and 1966. He played in 55 games in 1965 and 100 games in 1966. Even though he played more, he didn't become a regular starter. This was because Groat and Javier were already the main players at shortstop and second base. On May 12, 1966, Jerry scored the very first run at the new Busch Memorial Stadium.

Moving to the Mets

On April 1, 1967, Buchek was traded to the New York Mets. The Mets needed a new second baseman. In 1967, Jerry started 92 games at second base. He also played some games at third base and shortstop. This was his best season! He played in 124 games, got 97 hits, hit 14 home runs, and had 41 runs batted in.

A Memorable Home Run

Mets fans remember Jerry for a special moment on July 9, 1967. The Mets were losing to the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. There were two outs and no one on base. Jerry was sent in to pinch hit. He hit a home run to tie the game! The Mets then scored another run and won 5-4.

Final Seasons and Retirement

In 1968, Jerry's playing time with the Mets decreased. He batted only .182. After that season, he was traded twice. He went back to the Cardinals and then to the Philadelphia Phillies. Jerry spent 1969 playing for the Phillies' minor league team. He decided to retire from baseball at age 27.

For his entire MLB career, Jerry Buchek played in 421 games. He had a batting average of .220. He collected 259 hits, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 22 home runs, and 108 runs batted in.

Jerry Buchek passed away in Springfield, Missouri, at 76 years old.

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