Pete Vuckovich
| Pete Vuckovich | |||
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: October 27, 1952 Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
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| MLB debut | |||
| August 3, 1975, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| October 2, 1986, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 93–69 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.66 | ||
| Strikeouts | 882 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Peter Dennis Vuckovich (vook-koh-vich) (born October 27, 1952 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is a retired American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who came across as an intimidating presence on the mound with his 6'4" (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) frame and Fu Manchu moustache. Vuckovich was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1974. He batted and threw right-handed.
Vuckovich graduated from Conemaugh Valley High School and went on to Clarion University to play baseball. Nearly thirty years, to the day, after the White Sox drafted Vuckovich they drafted his son, Peter Vuckovich, Jr., who also attended both Conemaugh Valley High School and Clarion University, in the 48th round of the 2004 amateur draft.
Vuckovich is a member of the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame. Vuckovich is also a member of both the Western PA Sports Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Vuckovich is of Serbian background.
Vuckovich developed a reputation for bizarre, hyper-competitive behavior during his twelve 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 MLB 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.
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