John Vukovich
Born: 7/31/1947 in Sacramento, CA, USA
Died: 3/8/2007 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1970-09-11 | Final Game: 1981-08-23
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 187 lbs
Full name: John Christopher Vukovich
Biography
John Vukovich was a professional baseball player born in 1947 who played in the Major Leagues from 1970 until his retirement in 1981. Known primarily for his versatility as a position player, Vukovich appeared in 277 games throughout his career. He played during a transitional period in baseball, marked by the end of the deadball era and the onset of the more offensive-minded game that characterized the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In his time in the majors, Vukovich accumulated a total of 90 hits, 6 home runs, and 44 RBIs, concluding his career with a batting average of .161. While his offensive numbers may not reflect the power typical of the era, his contributions to his teams extended beyond statistics. Vukovich was known for his tenacity and work ethic, which earned him respect within the clubhouse. He also showcased his speed on the basepaths, recording 4 stolen bases during his tenure. Though he may not have been a star player, Vukovich's career serves as a testament to the roles that supporting players fulfill in the fabric of a baseball team.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 277 | 559 | 37 | 90 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 44 | 4 | 29 | 109 | 0.161 | 0.203 | 0.222 | 0.425 | -3468.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | PHI | NL | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | PHI | NL | 74 | 217 | 11 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 0.166 | -1557.9 |
| 1973 | ATL | AL | 55 | 128 | 10 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 40 | 0.125 | -1030.8 |
| 1974 | ATL | AL | 38 | 80 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0.188 | -404.3 |
| 1975 | CIN | NL | 31 | 38 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0.211 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | PHI | NL | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | PHI | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | PHI | NL | 10 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | PHI | NL | 49 | 62 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.161 | -475.4 |
| 1981 | PHI | NL | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 20 | 3 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2B | 24 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 1 | 4 |
| 3B | 212 | 132 | 122 | 308 | 22 | 16 |
| SS | 20 | 13 | 23 | 42 | 5 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | PHI | 3B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | PHI | SS | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | PHI | 3B | 74 | 62 | 58 | 137 | 9 | 8 |
| 1973 | ML4 | 1B | 13 | 3 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1973 | ML4 | 3B | 40 | 34 | 28 | 63 | 5 | 3 |
| 1973 | ML4 | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1974 | ML4 | 1B | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | ML4 | 2B | 11 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 4 |
| 1974 | ML4 | 3B | 12 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | ML4 | SS | 12 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 3 | 6 |
| 1975 | CIN | 3B | 31 | 14 | 12 | 37 | 4 | 4 |
| 1976 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | PHI | 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PHI | 2B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PHI | 3B | 7 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PHI | 2B | 9 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PHI | 3B | 34 | 12 | 14 | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | PHI | SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PHI | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PHI | 3B | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 20 |
| Second Base | 24 |
| Third Base | 212 |
| Shortstop | 19 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| American River College | Sacramento | CA | 1966 |