Cyril Owen Buker (February 5, 1918 – October 11, 2011) was a
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
who played for the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays. In 1884, it became a member of the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brook ...
in 1945. The 26-year-old
rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...
right-hander stood and weighed .
Buker is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the
major leagues during World War II. He made his
major league debut
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB is one of the major professio ...
in relief on May 17, 1945, against the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
at
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball stadium in the Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. It is mainly known for having been the home of the History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers baseball tea ...
. His first major league
win came in his first start, on June 21, 1945, as the Dodgers defeated the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
9–2 at
Shibe Park
Shibe Park ( , rhymes with "vibe"), known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a ballpark located in Philadelphia. It was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League (AL) from 1909 to 1954 and the Philadelphia Phillies of the Natio ...
.
Andy Karl
Andy Karl (born August 27, 1974 as Andrew Karl Cesewski) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for performing in musical theatre specifically musicals adapted from successful movies. He has received several accolades including a Laur ...
was the losing pitcher.
His season and career totals for 42 games include a 7–2 record, four
games started
In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games pitched, games that a pitcher has starting pitcher, started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opp ...
, 22
games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished (denoted by GF) if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game.
Mariano Rivera is the ...
, five
saves, and an
ERA
An era is a span of time.
Era or ERA may also refer to:
* Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time
* Calendar era
Education
* Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school
* ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia
* E ...
of 3.30 in 87
innings pitched
In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...
. Besides pitching well, Buker could swing the bat. He was 3-for-16 (.188) with a
walk
Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined as an "inverted pendulum" gait in which the body vaults over ...
and two
runs batted in
A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...
.
Following his Brooklyn days, Buker eventually returned to his hometown of
Greenwood, Wisconsin
Greenwood is a city in Clark County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,026 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Greenwood is located at (44.767826, -90.598959).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ...
where he began a successful coaching career, eventually being named to the Wisconsin Football and Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His son, Tom, would later coach at the school, leading it to class C titles in boys' basketball and baseball in 1988.
Buker died on October 11, 2011, in Greenwood, Wisconsin.
Cy Buker Obituary
/ref>
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buker, Cy
Major League Baseball pitchers
Baseball players from Wisconsin
Brooklyn Dodgers players
1918 births
2011 deaths
People from Greenwood, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers baseball players
Clinton Giants players
Wausau Timberjacks players
Wisconsin Rapids White Sox players
St. Paul Saints (AA) players
Montreal Royals players
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players
Kansas City Blues (baseball) players
Little Rock Travelers players
Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players
Lincoln A's players
Sioux City Soos players
20th-century American sportsmen