John Vukovich Dies

This just in from the Philadelphia Daily News:

John Vukovich, who came to embody the Philadelphia ethics of straight talking and hard work during his career as a Phillies player and coach, passed away early this morning from complications arising from treatment for a brain tumor.

He was 59.

The eerie part of this article is that you could have replaced the words "John Vukovich" with "Tug McGraw" and most of the facts still would have applied. For the second time in three years, a former Phillie-turned-instructor succumbs at the age of 59 to brain cancer.

Rest in peace, Vuke.

Longtime Phillies coach Vukovich dies [Philadelphia Daily News]