Phillies Notes | Vukovich inducted into Phillies Wall
Phillies Notes Whenever she watches the Phillies on television, which is often, Bonnie Vukovich sees the "VUK" patch on the right shoulder of the players and "my heart just flutters," she said.
Phillies Notes
Whenever she watches the Phillies on television, which is often,
Bonnie Vukovich
sees the "VUK" patch on the right shoulder of the players and "my heart just flutters," she said.
Her heart was soaring last night when the Phillies honored her husband, former Phillies player and coach John Vukovich, who died in March of cancer.
The Phillies inducted Vukovich into their Wall of Fame with many members of his family present, including his widow; his son, Vince; his daughter, Nikki Stolarick; his two brothers; and his three grandchildren.
"It's such a tremendous honor," Bonnie Vukovich said before the ceremonies, which also were attended by former teammates of Vukovich, such as Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt, along with Garry Maddox and Bob Boone.
"I knew he was loved, but I never knew it was to this extent. . . ." Bonnie Vukovich said. "He had a gruff exterior, but he also had a heart of gold. He was just a gentleman, a nice person."
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins agreed that Vukovich could be brusque at times, but that the thing he missed most about him was his heart.
"People probably saw John as this big tough guy, a big bully," Rollins said. "But the thing you had to do was jab back at him. It's like a boxer; you throw a couple of punches and if you punch back he's like, 'OK, you're pretty cool.' He's a guy you wanted on your side."
Rollins chuckled when he thought about what Vukovich, a no-nonsense type, would think of the ceremony honoring him. Bonnie Vukovich echoed that sentiment during her on-field remarks.
"I can see him walking around right now and saying, 'All right, enough of this. Come on, let's go. We have a baseball game to play,' " she said.
Reading route
The team said that outfielder
Shane Victorino
, on the disabled list since July 31 with a strained right calf, will be going to the Phillies' double-A farm club at Reading on a rehabilitation assignment.
Manager Charlie Manuel said Victorino will play in Reading's three-game series at home from Tuesday through Thursday, "probably going out and DHing one day and probably a couple of games in the outfield."
Victorino, injured running out a ground ball July 30 in Chicago, said he feels the calf grab "every once in a while" but that mostly he doesn't feel any tightness.
- Joe Juliano