John Vukovich Born July 31 1947 in Sacramento CA, Died March 8 2007 A utility infielder John Vukovich played 10 seasons in MLB despite batting just .161 lifetime. A likeable man he was a first round Phillies draft choice in 1966. Noted for his outstanding fielding and team playing, John Vukovich played third base and batted .166 in 217 at bats spanning 74 games in 1971. Vuc earned 2 World Series rings, the first one as a utility Infielder, batting .211 in 31 games for the 1975 Reds and then played 49 games with the 1980 WS Champion Phillies. John Vukovich retired in 1981 and then coached forh the Cubs, and was their interim manager in 1986. Well respected and honored by management and players John Vukovich was the longest serving coach in Philadelphia Phillies history, 19 seasons.

He was Phil’s interim manager in 1988. John Vukovich career stats: .161 BA in 559 at bats, 90 hits, 21 extra base hits, including 6 homers. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen recalled, I learned to coach from John Vucovich. Guillen said, ‘I don’t ask too many questions from too many guys, and this man taught me how to coach third base. He helped me do a good job while I was with the Marlins.’ ‘When I was a player with the Marlins and watched him coach third base, I said if one day I coached third, I would be like him. I had the opportunity to talk to him every time we played Philadelphia. He might be the best third base coach I ever saw. He was a great baseball man.’ Slugger Jim Thome, an ex-Phillies first baseman said, ‘Vuc was like family. Not only was he a great baseball man, he was also a very good person.’ Presented by Baseball Historian