A's honoring 'Vuc' with retirement sendoff

TORONTO -- In honor of what will signal the end of an era for the organization, the A’s are giving longtime equipment manager Steve Vucinich a proper sendoff.

Prior to the A’s Sept. 26 game against the Astros -- their final home game of the regular season -- the club will host a pregame celebration for Vucinich, who is set to retire at the end of the year. The departure of Vucinich, affectionately known as "Vuc," will close the chapter on a 54-year journey that began when he joined the team in 1968 as a ballboy when the team first moved from Kansas City to Oakland.

“Vuc is an institution here,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “I don’t know how [our] ballpark doesn’t come crumbling down if he ends up leaving. It just feels like the Oakland A’s and Steve Vucinich are synonymous.”

The deserved recognition continues to pile on for Vucinich. Last month, he learned that he would be inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame as a member of its 2022 class, with a ceremony set to take place next season.

“It’s been a whirlwind few weeks,” Vucinich told MLB.com. “I’m going out on my own terms. I could have worked a lot longer, but I feel good about it and I feel really appreciated.”

Stepping up to fill the shoes of Vucinich will be a three-man effort. Matt Weiss, a longtime umpire and clubhouse attendant, will be elevated to director of clubhouse and equipment operations. Brian Davis, who is going through his 31st season with the club after starting out as a batboy in 1991, will also be promoted to manager of clubhouse and equipment operations, with Mike “Cliffy” Clavin serving as assistant manager.

Weiss has plenty of experience in the role. Not only has he learned from Vucinich all these years, but he also spent time as the equipment manager of Team USA in the first two World Baseball Classics, in 2006 and 2009.

“Between those three guys, that’s about 90 years of experience,” Vucinich said. “They’ll do a very good job. When I first spoke to the organization and let them know this was gonna be my last year, I said all three of those guys could do the job right now. I recommend all three.”

Not seeing Vucinich wandering around the A’s clubhouse will certainly be an odd sight for Melvin, who recalled first meeting him back in 1985 as a visiting player with the Tigers. However, Melvin is not entirely sold that they won’t still be seeing “Vuc” hanging around the Oakland Coliseum from time to time.

“When they talk about retirement, I still have my doubts that we won’t be seeing him all the time,” Melvin said. “But it’ll be nice to recognize him. It’s good that we picked a day to do it out in front of the fans. Everybody knows what he’s meant to the franchise.”

Vucinich said he’ll definitely be around, as he plans to keep his current home in California. Aside from popping into the clubhouse, he also has some A’s alumni projects in the works.

“I told them I’ll be around,” Vucinich said. “I’m gonna keep my place in California for a couple of years. I need to get out of that Arizona heat.

“I’m not gonna be that guy who is a nuisance and around all the time. But I’m gonna pop my head in.”