Pete Vuckovich

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Peter Dennis Vuckovich (voo-koh-vich) (born October 27, 1952 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who came across as an intimidating presence on the mound with his 6'4" 220 lb (100 kg) frame and Fu Manchu moustache. Of Serbian background, Vuckovich was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1974. He batted and threw right handed.

Contents

[edit] Baseball career

Vuckovich developed a reputation for bizarre, hyper-competitive behavior during his eleven season career. He would fidget, twitch, pace, and convulse while on the mound. He was known to cross his eyes and stick his tongue out at batters. He would spit in his glove, scream at umpires while in the stretch, and sometimes step to the back of the mound and dry heave. His colorful personality made him a fan favorite.

After minimal duty with Chicago from 1975-76, Vuckovich was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft. Even though the young Blue Jays lost 107 games in 1977, and although mostly used in relief, Vuckovich managed a 7-7 record with eight saves. He recorded the first shutout in Toronto franchise history, a 2-0 victory over Jim Palmer and the Orioles. He also recorded the first save in Toronto franchise history on April 7, 1977 versus the Chicago White Sox.

Involved in a multi-player trade to the St. Louis Cardinals, Vuckovich's career went to the next level. Since 1978 he started more often, winning 39 games for the Cardinals during three years. He finished third in the National League in ERA with a 2.55 mark in 1978, and ranked fourth in shutouts (3) in 1980. A part of a seven-player trade in December 1980, Vuckovich came to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons.

With the Brewers, Vuckovich continued his stellar pitching. He led the American League in wins (14) during the strike-shortened 1981 season. When Milwaukee won the AL pennant in 1982, Vuckovich won the Cy Young Award with an 18-6 record and a 3.34 ERA.

He lost Game Two of the ALCS to the Angels 4-2, but led Milwaukee in the game in their clinching victory, leaving in the seventh inning down 3-2. In the 1982 World Series, the Cardinals beat him 6-2 in Game Three, and he got a no-decision in the final loss.

But things would never be the same again. Vuckovich had been battling shoulder pain for two seasons, and in spring training 1983, it was discovered that he'd torn his rotator cuff. Vuckovich skipped surgery in favor of an exercise rehabilitation. He attempted an unsuccessful comeback for three games and went 0-2 in 14 innings, and then missed all of 1984. Subsequent and prolonged comeback attempts all failed, and by the end of the 1986 season, Milwaukee released Vuckovich.

In an eleven season career, Vuckovich posted a 93-69 record with 882 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 1455.1 innings pitched. In postseason play, he was 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA.

Following his retirement, Vuckovich worked for three years as a sportscaster for the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1992, he was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitching instructor. Since then, he worked his way up through the Pirates organization to the position of Assistant General Manager. As of the 2006 season, Vuckovich was serving as a Special Assistant to the GM.

[edit] Fact

[edit] Trivia

  • Vuckovich is a member of the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame.
  • NIcknamed by some teammates, The Serbinator
  • Thirty years after the White Sox drafted Vuckovich, they also drafted his son, Peter Vuckovich, Jr., in the 48th round of the 2004 amateur draft.

[edit] Quotes

On winning the Cy Young award: Sci-fi. That's the only Cy that really means anything to me. Sci-fi is also about the only kind of film that they'd make of my career.

People don't know what to make of a left-wing conservative.

Victory day 1982!

Pennants aren't won on style.

I really hate hitters. They're goofy. They're trying to get me, to ruin my career, so I hate them.

Hang wit' em.

[edit] External link

Preceded by
Rollie Fingers		 American League Cy Young Award
1982		 Succeeded by
La Marr Hoyt
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