John Vukovich played parts of 10 Major League seasons, 7 of which in a Phillies uniform after being drafted 10th overall in 1966.
Although he hit just .161 with 90 career hits, Vukovich caught the final out of Rick Wise’s no-hitter against the Reds in 1971. He also was part of the 1980 World Series Championship team, hitting .161 off the bench.
Vukovich later made his name in Philadelphia as one of the top and beloved coaches in franchise history.
After Vukovich retired as a player following the 1981 season, he became a coach with the Chicago Cubs and managed for a day in 1986. Vukovich returned to the Phillies as a coach the following season and went 5-4 as a manager at the end of the season after Lee Elia was fired. He played an invaluable role developing young players who later became the core of future championship clubs.
Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001, Vukovich underwent successful surgery and return to coaching later that season. Vuckovich stayed with the Phillies organization as a coach through 2004 and was named special assistant to the General Manager following the 2004 season.
Sadly, his symptoms returned in 2006 and passed away in March of 2007 at the age of 59, and players wore “Vuk” patches throughout the season.
Vukovich goes down in Phillies history as one of only three players to appear and coach in the World Series, and was posthumously inducted onto the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2007 .