We'll miss you, Vuk
March 8, 2007 11:25 AM Subscribe
The Philadelphia Phillies, the losingest professional sports franchise in american history, lost again today. Long time coach and member of the 1980 World Series winning team, John Vukovich, died today after a second bout with brain cancer. The Phillies have now lost both their heart and their soul (sorry Mets fans) to brain cancer.
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Man, that sucks. I was at the first game of the '80 Series - still an unbelievable moment for a Philly kid, no matter how estranged from sports I've since become.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:48 AM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
Man, that sucks. I was at the first game of the '80 Series - still an unbelievable moment for a Philly kid, no matter how estranged from sports I've since become.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:48 AM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
At least we're #1 in something beside fatness...
Full disclosure: We were only fattest for that one year.
posted by Mister_A at 11:48 AM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
Full disclosure: We were only fattest for that one year.
posted by Mister_A at 11:48 AM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
Very sad. Seeing them win the series was one of my most exciting 7th grade moments.
Plus, Tug McGraw was my first crush.
posted by suki at 12:17 PM on March 8, 2007
Plus, Tug McGraw was my first crush.
posted by suki at 12:17 PM on March 8, 2007
I saw them win the world series too back in 1980something: Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt etc.
Sadly it was rather wasted on me. Even as a 10 or 12 year old, I couldn't really understand the draw of organised sport. Now I live back in the UK I don't watch cricket and football instead of baseball and American football.
posted by rhymer at 12:43 PM on March 8, 2007
Sadly it was rather wasted on me. Even as a 10 or 12 year old, I couldn't really understand the draw of organised sport. Now I live back in the UK I don't watch cricket and football instead of baseball and American football.
posted by rhymer at 12:43 PM on March 8, 2007
This is why I never had any sympathy for Red Sox fans...Viva Vukovich!
posted by Redgrendel2001 at 12:44 PM on March 8, 2007
posted by Redgrendel2001 at 12:44 PM on March 8, 2007
(sorry Mets fans)
No need to apologize, this Mets fan has always had a soft spot for the Phils, one of the last of the old school teams. I remember that World Series when that band of bemulleted, beergutted slobs like John Kruk, Wild Thing Williams, Dutch Dalton, Lenny Dykstra, Jim Eisenreich and Kim Batiste go up against that soulless corporate yuppie franchise called the Blue Jays. I was rooting for them so bad that year. i stillc urse joe Carter's name.
posted by jonmc at 1:11 PM on March 8, 2007
No need to apologize, this Mets fan has always had a soft spot for the Phils, one of the last of the old school teams. I remember that World Series when that band of bemulleted, beergutted slobs like John Kruk, Wild Thing Williams, Dutch Dalton, Lenny Dykstra, Jim Eisenreich and Kim Batiste go up against that soulless corporate yuppie franchise called the Blue Jays. I was rooting for them so bad that year. i stillc urse joe Carter's name.
posted by jonmc at 1:11 PM on March 8, 2007
I actually went to game 6 of the Phils' NLCS in '93 (when they clinched). It was a blast, and that team was the best thing to happen to baseball in a long time. The teams all seem so bland now; those guys had character and looked like they really enjoyed playing.
Anyway, here's to Vukovich.
posted by Mister_A at 1:15 PM on March 8, 2007
Anyway, here's to Vukovich.
posted by Mister_A at 1:15 PM on March 8, 2007
Boy, the Phillies really stunk for a long time.
They've got nothing on my Detroit Lions!
(The curse of Bobby Lane, 50 years worth, end after this season.)
posted by melkozek at 1:37 PM on March 8, 2007
They've got nothing on my Detroit Lions!
(The curse of Bobby Lane, 50 years worth, end after this season.)
posted by melkozek at 1:37 PM on March 8, 2007
It seems like, ever since they blew the World Series in '93 (I remember having a t-shirt that reprinted the Inquirer the day they won the NLCS), the Phillies have sort of been persona non grata 'round here. They had a real following before that, but between losing it all, the strike, and the team going to the gutter, it's been all-Eagles all the time.
posted by graymouser at 1:49 PM on March 8, 2007
posted by graymouser at 1:49 PM on March 8, 2007
Let's see...(as per wikipedia)
Phillies: 8764-9956 .468; 1 World Series Championship
Tigers: 8324-8106 .507 ; 4 World Series Champtionships (most recently in 1984, 4 years after the Phillies).
I don't know. I think the unfortunate Phillies phan has a bit more to complaint about.
posted by saladpants at 1:52 PM on March 8, 2007
Phillies: 8764-9956 .468; 1 World Series Championship
Tigers: 8324-8106 .507 ; 4 World Series Champtionships (most recently in 1984, 4 years after the Phillies).
I don't know. I think the unfortunate Phillies phan has a bit more to complaint about.
posted by saladpants at 1:52 PM on March 8, 2007
Aw man.
I was at the 6th (and winning) game of the 1980 World Series. I was 10 years old, crazy into baseball, and it was the highlight of my childhood. That was such a great era not just for the Phillies, but for all of Philadelphia sports in general.
Unfortunately, that era also highlights just how shitty pro sports have become.
posted by ssmug at 2:38 PM on March 8, 2007
I was at the 6th (and winning) game of the 1980 World Series. I was 10 years old, crazy into baseball, and it was the highlight of my childhood. That was such a great era not just for the Phillies, but for all of Philadelphia sports in general.
Unfortunately, that era also highlights just how shitty pro sports have become.
posted by ssmug at 2:38 PM on March 8, 2007
.
posted by Bryan Behrenshausen at 3:17 PM on March 8, 2007
posted by Bryan Behrenshausen at 3:17 PM on March 8, 2007
No need to apologize, this Mets fan has always had a soft spot for the Phils, one of the last of the old school teams. I remember that World Series when that band of bemulleted, beergutted slobs like John Kruk, Wild Thing Williams, Dutch Dalton, Lenny Dykstra, Jim Eisenreich and Kim Batiste go up against that soulless corporate yuppie franchise called the Blue Jays. I was rooting for them so bad that year. i stillc urse joe Carter's name.
Sorry to rain on your parade, chump, but that was for all of us Canuckleheads, not just the yuppie Toronto scum that we normally hate.
posted by evilcolonel at 3:36 PM on March 8, 2007
Sorry to rain on your parade, chump, but that was for all of us Canuckleheads, not just the yuppie Toronto scum that we normally hate.
posted by evilcolonel at 3:36 PM on March 8, 2007
Thanks for the Schilling link yerfatma.
ยจ
TODAY - I'll make that donation to the cancer research fund that's been sitting on my desk.
posted by three blind mice at 9:41 PM on March 8, 2007
ยจ
TODAY - I'll make that donation to the cancer research fund that's been sitting on my desk.
posted by three blind mice at 9:41 PM on March 8, 2007
Tug McGraw was my first crush.
I grew up near Harrisburg, PA, and the Phillies were huge in 1980. I remember I had bragging rights with some of my friends at school, because my Grandma's next door neighbor had a grandson who went to school with Tim McGraw's son. I think that son turned out to be the country singer, Tim McGraw.
posted by jonp72 at 10:18 PM on March 8, 2007
I grew up near Harrisburg, PA, and the Phillies were huge in 1980. I remember I had bragging rights with some of my friends at school, because my Grandma's next door neighbor had a grandson who went to school with Tim McGraw's son. I think that son turned out to be the country singer, Tim McGraw.
posted by jonp72 at 10:18 PM on March 8, 2007
No Philadelphia team has won a championship since I was born. True story.
Also, another Harrisburg native here.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:04 PM on March 9, 2007
Also, another Harrisburg native here.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:04 PM on March 9, 2007
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posted by rzklkng at 11:42 AM on March 8, 2007