John Vukovich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Vukovich |
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Vukovich in 1973
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: July 31, 1947 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
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| Died: March 8, 2007 (aged 59) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 11, 1970, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 23, 1981, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .161 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 44 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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John Christopher Vukovich (July 31, 1947 – March 8, 2007) was a professional baseball player, manager, and coach. People often called him "Vuk" or "Johnny Vuk". He was best known for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Vukovich played in Major League Baseball for parts of ten seasons, from 1970 to 1981. He played for the Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was an infielder, meaning he played positions like third base or shortstop. John Vukovich is also known for having the lowest career batting average (.161) for any non-pitcher with at least 500 times at bat.
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About John Vukovich
John Vukovich was born in Sacramento, California. His family was of Serbian descent. He grew up in a town called Sutter Creek, California. John's father was a baseball coach at the local Amador High School, where John also went to school.
Baseball Career Highlights
John Vukovich had an interesting career in baseball, both as a player and later as a coach.
Playing Days
Vukovich started his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1972, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Later, he played for the Cincinnati Reds.
He was a backup player for the 1975 Reds team that won the World Series. However, he was traded back to the Phillies before the playoffs started that year. He also played for the 1980 Phillies team, which also won the World Series.
John Vukovich was known for his strong defense. He didn't hit for a high average, but he was a valuable player. He hit 6 home runs and had 44 runs batted in during his career. His career batting average was .161. This is the lowest for any non-pitcher in Major League Baseball with over 550 times at bat.
During his second time playing for the Phillies, fans really liked him. Even though he didn't play in many games, fans respected his hard work and effort.
Coaching and Managing
After he stopped playing, Vukovich became a coach for the Chicago Cubs. In 1986, he even managed the Cubs for one day! He took over after the manager was fired.
In 1987, he returned to the Phillies as a coach. He became the manager for the last nine games of that season. He helped the team win 5 out of those 9 games.
Vukovich stayed with the Phillies as a coach for a long time, from 1988 to 2004. He was a very respected coach. In 2000, he was considered for the main manager job, but his childhood friend, Larry Bowa, got the position.
In 2001, John Vukovich was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had surgery and returned to coaching later that season. He continued to be a coach until 2004. After that, he became a special assistant to the team's general manager.
John Vukovich is one of only three Phillies to go to the World Series as both a player and a coach for the team. This shows how dedicated he was to the Phillies!
Later Life and Legacy
In late 2006, Vukovich's health problems returned. He passed away in Philadelphia at the age of 59. The Phillies honored him in 2007 by wearing a special patch on their uniforms. The patch had his nickname, "Vuk," on it. At the time of his death, John Vukovich lived in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.
