John Vukovich, 59; Phillies coach, player on 2 World Series teams

John Vukovich, 59, the longest-serving coach in Philadelphia Phillies history and a member of their only World Series championship team -- in 1980 -- died Thursday in a Philadelphia-area hospital, the team said in a statement. He had been suffering from complications caused by an inoperable brain tumor.

Vukovich, who spent the last 19 years with the Phillies, was an interim manager for the team in 1988 and for the Chicago Cubs in 1986.

During the 2001 season, he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that was surgically removed and treated with radiation therapy.

He returned to the field that season as the Phillies’ third base coach. After the 2004 season, he accepted a position in the front office as a special assistant to General Manager Ed Wade. Vukovich also was Philadelphia’s spring training coordinator until 2004, and an assistant last season under new General Manager Pat Gillick.

A native of Sacramento, Vukovich was selected by the Phillies in the first round of the 1966 draft. He was a utility infielder who batted .161 in 10 big league seasons. He played 49 games in 1980, when the Phillies won the World Series. He had two stints with Philadelphia (1970-71 and 1976-81), and played for Milwaukee and Cincinnati. He also won a World Series ring with the Reds in 1975.

He retired in 1981 and went straight into coaching with the Cubs. He rejoined the Phillies organization in 1988.