Vuk was officially put to rest on Tuesday. And though we shouldn't make a spectacle of the situation, it is hard to ignore the cast of characters that attended the service.The official goodbye to the Phillies' longtime coach, player and friend, John Vukovich, was held Tuesday in Voorhees, New Jersey.
It is apparent that Vuk had the ability to make friends with everyone. This is definitely prevalent when looking at the guest list.
Check out these names:
Larry Andersen, Bob Boone, Larry Bowa, Darren Daulton, Lee Elia, Jim Fregosi, Dallas Green, Dave Hollins, John Kruk, Greg Luzinski, Gary Varsho, Don Zimmer, Mike Schmidt, Terry Francona, Bobby Abreu, Curt Schilling, Scott Rolen, Tim McCarver, Lenny Dykstra, Mike Lieberthal and Randy Wolf.
As well as current players and coaches:
Players Eude Brito, Burrell, Geoff Geary, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Manuel and coaches Mick Billmeyer, Ramon Henderson, Davey Lopes and Milt Thompson.
And finally the front office: Team president David Montgomery, chairman Bill Giles, general manager Pat Gillick and assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
Imagine the fodder that might go on had these guys met under different circumstances.
The Bull trading barbecue recipes with Kruk.
Boone and McCarver reminscing about catching for Lefty. Schmidt and Rolen gabbing about Gold Gloves.
Schilling, Ruben, Kruk, Hollins, Dutch, Uncle Milt, Fregosi and Dykstra all reminscing about '93.
Larry Anderson and Kruk in the same room... enough said. And add Zimm to the mix...amazing.
Under different circumstances this would be circus. But the reality of it is that these great Phillies took the time to pay their respects for a true Philadelphia legend. I think this shows the human side of sports and more than anything, these guys are family.
Give another shout to Whitey for us Vuke. And while your at it, give Cory Lidle a nudge too... let him know we haven't forgotten about him. Even if we poke fun, we still appreciate him. He's a Phillie.
And we are family.
2 comments:
The turnout for Vuk's funeral shows just how popular a man he was. For a brief period of time, Vuk's funeral was the center of the baseball world...and rightly so.
I've lived in v-town my whole life and wish I could have attended. And not to see future and current hall of famers, but just solely to pay my respects to a Philly legend.
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