{{Short description|American baseball player (1925–1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Johnny Bucha | position = Catcher | image = JohnnyBuchabowman.jpg | bats = Right | throws = Right | birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|1|22}} | birth_place = Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|4|28|1925|1|22}} | death_place = Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 2 | debutyear = 1948 | debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals |finalleague = MLB | finaldate = September 25 | finalyear = 1953 | finalteam = Detroit Tigers |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .205 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 1 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 15 | teams = * St. Louis Cardinals (1948, 1950) * Detroit Tigers (1953) }}

'''John George Bucha''' (January 22, 1925 – April 28, 1996) was an American professional baseball player whose 18-year career included 84 games in Major League Baseball (MLB) over three seasons. A catcher and native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Bucha appeared in only two games for the {{mlby|1948}} St. Louis Cardinals, but was a full-year member of the {{mlby|1950}} Redbirds (getting into 22 games) and the {{mlby|1953}} Detroit Tigers (appearing in 60 contests). He threw and batted right-handed, stood {{convert|5|ft|11|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|190|lb}}.

Bucha's playing career lasted from 1943 through 1960. He joined the Cardinals' organization as an 18-year-old, playing for his hometown Allentown Wings of the Class B Interstate League. His minor league career would see him play in over 1,400 games, including over 1,000 games in Triple-A. At the MLB level, Bucha collected 40 hits, including ten doubles and one home run, in 195 career at bats. His home run came on September 9, 1953, against pitcher Harry Byrd at Connie Mack Stadium, as Bucha's Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Athletics, 8–2.<ref>Retrosheet [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B09091PHA1953.htm box score: 1953-09-09 (1)]</ref>

Bucha began 1954 with the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, but on June 9 he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers, along with Chuck Kress and Ernie Nevel, in exchange for Wayne Belardi. Bucha remained at the Triple-A level for the rest of his baseball career.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=111651|espn=19679|br=b/buchajo01|fangraphs=1001615|brm=bucha-001joh|retro=B/Pbuchj104}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bucha, Johnny}} Category:1925 births Category:1996 deaths Category:Allentown Cardinals players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Allentown Wings players Category:Baseball players from Allentown, Pennsylvania Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Category:Columbus Red Birds players Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Houston Buffaloes players Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Miami Marlins (International League) players Category:Montreal Royals players Category:Omaha Cardinals players Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:St. Louis Cardinals players Category:St. Paul Saints (AA) players Category:San Diego Padres (minor league) players

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