Phils' Vukovich is gravely ill from tumor

CLEARWATER, Fla. - John Vukovich, one of the most popular coaches in Phillies history, is gravely ill after suffering from the effects of a brain tumor.

Vukovich, 59, better known as "Vuke" to everybody in the baseball world, had surgery in 2001 to remove a brain tumor, but he has battled another tumor for the last several months. The family requested privacy during his illness.

He set a Phillies record by coaching 17 consecutive years (1988-2004) before he moved into the front office after the 2004 season to work under general managers Ed Wade and Pat Gillick. A fixture in spring training for years, Vukovich has not been in Clearwater this spring.

Selected by the Phillies as a third baseman in the January 1966 draft out of American River Junior College in Sacramento, Calif., he played parts of seven seasons with the Phillies (1970-71, 76-77, 79-81). He also played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1973-74) and Cincinnati Reds (1975).

He was a member of two World Series championship teams: the '75 Reds and '80 Phillies.

Following his playing career, Vukovich coached with the Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1987. As a coach with the Phillies, he coached first base and third base and served as a bench coach. He ran spring training and worked with the team's infielders. He worked under six managers, and served as the Phillies' interim manager for the final nine games of the 1988 season.