Cy Buker Explained

Cy Buker
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:5 February 1918
Birth Place:Greenwood, Wisconsin
Death Place:Greenwood, Wisconsin
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 17
Debutyear:1945
Debutteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 23
Finalyear:1945
Finalteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:7–2
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.30
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:48
Teams:

Cyril Owen Buker (February 5, 1918  - October 11, 2011) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. The 26-year-old rookie right-hander stood 5feet 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 in relief on May 17, 1945, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ebbets Field. His first major league win came in his first start, on June 21, 1945, as the Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9–2 at Shibe Park.[1] Andy Karl was the losing pitcher.[1]

His season and career totals for 42 games include a 7–2 record, four games started, 22 games finished, five saves, and an ERA of 3.30 in 87 innings pitched. Besides pitching well, Buker could swing the bat. He was 3-for-16 (.188) with a walk and two runs batted in.

Following his Brooklyn days, Buker eventually returned to his hometown of Greenwood, Wisconsin 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.[2]

Buker died on October 11, 2011, in Greenwood, Wisconsin.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brooklyn Dodgers 9, Philadelphia Phillies 2 . retrosheet.org . August 15, 2018 . June 21, 1945.
  2. 'Milwaukee Sentinel,' "Greenwood Coach Not Charge", November 8, 1988, pg. 9
  3. http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/39981/ Cy Buker Obituary