A Dark Cloud passes through a Sunny Spring (Training)
There will be one less very important hand to shake around the Phillies dugout and clubhouse in the upcoming season. A staple with the Philadelphia Phillies is gone, John Vukovich passed away Thursday after battling with an inoperable brain tumor. It seemed like Vuk was around forever, having been involved in professional baseball for four decades, but he was only 59 years old.
The entire world of baseball will mourn the loss of one of the most knowledgable baseball men in the game. Vuk may not have been the best baseball player to have taken the field, but there is no doubt that he was truly one of the best baseball people. He knew how the game was supposed to be played, he respected baseball and all those involved.
John spent two stints with the Phils as a player (’70-’71 and ‘76 through ‘81), he was a member of the Reds World Series team in 1975 and the Phillies only World Series team in 1980. John won the inaugural Dallas Green Special Achievement Award in ‘04 for having coached 17 years with the team, making him the longest tenure coach in Phillies history, and he was also the Phils spring training coordinator through 2004.
What Vuk did for the Phillies organization could fill volumes, despite having spent time in the Cubs and Reds organizations during his career, he was a Phillie through and through. Vukovich was integral in the development of the current version of the Phillies, which should be a very serious contender in the National League and has it’s best chance in many years of sticking around through a good portion of the playoffs.
Phillies players will wear a black “Vuk” patch this season in honor of John. Thoughts and prayers from all over the world of baseball, from the players, the coaches, the scouts and the fans go out the Vukovich family during this very difficult time.
Phillies, Vuk, Vukovich, Phillies coach
March 10th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Good article!! John will be missed by all.