Cy Buker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cy Buker

pitcher

Born: February 5, 1919 (1919-02-05) (age 89)
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 1945 for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Final game
September 23, 1945 for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Career statistics
Record	7-2
ERA	3.30
Strikeouts	48
Teams
Brooklyn Dodgers (1945)
Career highlights and awards

Cyril Owen Buker (born February 5, 1919 in Greenwood, Wisconsin) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. The 26-year-old rookie right-hander stood 5'11" and weighed 190 lbs.

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. Izzy Leon was the losing pitcher.

Season and career totals for 42 games include a 7-2 record, 4 games started, 0 complete games, 22 games finished, 5 saves, and an ERA of 3.30 in 87.1 innings pitched. Besides pitching well Buker could swing the bat, as he went 3-for-16 (.188) with a walk and 2 runs batted in.

Following his Brooklyn days, Buker eventually returned to his hometown where he compiled a successful coaching career, eventually being named to the Wisconsin Football 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.