Bio: Buker, Cy (7 Jul 1966)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Buker

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.)   07/07/1966

The next 14 years, 1940 - 54, he pitched for many fine teams, but also coached baseball, football and basketball.  His pitching prowess the Northern League; Clinton, Iowa, in the 3-I League; Texarkana, Texas, in the Big State League; Lincoln, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa, in the Western League, each of which was a stepping stone to something high and stronger.

After pitching for Little Rock, Ark., in the Southern Association, Cy moved into Triple "A" baseball, during which time he had winning records with Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Paul and Milwaukee, in the American Association, and Montreal in the International League.

During most of these years, Cy Buker was pitching, teaching and coaching, which made it difficult for him to put in a full season in pitching with baseball teams.

"Branch Rickey and I had salary difficulty in my second year with Brooklyn," said Buker, and after sitting on the bench until June 18, I was sent to Montreal, where I finished with a 12 and 7 record.  We took the pennant by 22 games and won the Little World Series.  It was quite and experience to win International League one year and get shifted to American Association to win again."

While Buker was establishing himself as a very successful pitcher, he was also busying himself with coaching in high schools.  "I started coaching," said Buker, "At Sevastopal High School, Sturgeon Bay, where Bob and Joe Urban (now in the auto business in Neillsville) helped to carry us to an undefeated untied championship.

"I shifted to Shullsburg the next years, and then moved to Eau Claire in 1942, first as assistant coach of football, basketball and baseball, and in 1943 as head football coach, where I served until 1946.  I stayed there until I decided I had to give up either baseball or coaching, as I was leaving too early and getting back too late."