Mike Krukow
Encyclopedia
Michael Edward "Mike" Krukow (born January 21, 1952) is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He is currently a television color commentator for the San Francisco Giants
.
in San Gabriel, California
where he played as a catcher. He was drafted as a catcher by the California Angels in the 32nd round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
but did not sign.
Krukow played college ball for the Cal Poly Mustangs
. Though his collegiate eligibility was cut short, he still holds the school record for career earned run average at 1.94 and is tied for most shutouts in a season with 5.
Krukow was drafted by the Chicago Cubs
in the 8th round of the 1973 draft
. Krukow played Major League baseball for the Chicago Cubs (1976–1981), the Philadelphia Phillies
(1982) and the San Francisco Giants
(1983–1989). He batted and threw right-handed.
Krukow had a solid career in the major leagues. In , after six years with the Cubs, he was dealt to Philadelphia for pitchers Dickie Noles
and Dan Larson
and outfielder
Keith Moreland
.
The right-handed starter was second only to Steve Carlton
in wins, posting a 13-11 record and an impressive 3.12 ERA, but despite this success, the Phillies sent Krukow, Mark Davis and Charlie Penigar to the San Francisco Giants in December in a trade for Joe Morgan
and reliever Al Holland
. The trade helped Philadelphia win the National League pennant in , but it also gave San Francisco two arms that would become a big part of the Giants' success in the late 1980s.
Krukow's best season was in , posting a record of 20-9 with a 3.05 ERA
pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Krukow finished third in that year's NL Cy Young Award
voting behind Mike Scott
and Fernando Valenzuela
. Krukow was selected to the National League All-Star
team that season. He was awarded the Willie Mac Award
in both 1985 and 1986 honoring his spirit and leadership. In , Krukow helped lead the Giants to their first division championship in 16 years.
On June 30, , Krukow underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff
in his pitching shoulder after spending parts of three seasons on the disabled list
for what was believed to be bursitis
. He retired in March . In his 14-season career, Krukow posted a 124-117 record with 1,478 strikeout
s and a respectable 3.90 ERA
in 2190.1 innings pitched
.
. Mike Krukow began broadcasting as an occasional color analyst for KNBR
radio in and became a full-time broadcaster in . He is a five-time Emmy award winner. "Kruk," who was named as the starting right-handed pitcher to the 1980s Giants All- Decade Team in a vote by Bay Area media in 1999, is noted for his deep knowledge of the game and tremendous sense of humor.
Part of the San Francisco Giants broadcasting team, Krukow is half of the duo dubbed "Kruk and Kuip," along with partner Duane Kuiper
, a former Giants' infielder
. Krukow and Kuiper tape a game day commentary ("Kruk and Kuip on baseball") for KNBR
radio as part of the Giants' pre-game radio coverage. Notably, though Kruk was a pitcher and Kuiper was a position player, Kruk has five career home run
s, four more than Kuip (who managed only one in his career despite having over 3,000 at-bats).
"Kruk" is known for his unique baseball vocabulary, especially his signature phrase when an opposing team's rookie hitter strikes out:
Although the term "meat" technically refers to a team's rookie hitter, Krukow will often use the term to reference a batter who strikes out on a nasty pitch or looks bad or silly in the process.
The phrase "grab some pine" comes from the implication that after a hitter strikes out he will go take a seat on the bench in the dugout, which is traditionally made of pine. The term "meat" refers to a rookie player in the sense that he is "fresh meat".
He is also known for opening post-game wrap-ups of extremely close or stressful games with the phrase:
In addition, he is also known for having scouting reports on umpires about their strike zones.
Krukow's baseball vocabulary has been referred to as "The Kruktionary".
In addition, Krukow is often teased by his broadcasting colleagues throughout the major leagues for having "majestic hair".
Other quotes from Mike Krukow:
"Frost-brewed Coors Light, the world's most reeeefreshing - beer",
"Ugly Finder!",
"Gamer babe from Half Moon Bay."
indictment for perjury (in late 2007) and inclusion in George J. Mitchell
's report regarding steroid
s in Major League Baseball
(released on December 13, 2007), Krukow staunchly defended Bonds against allegations of Bonds' steroid
use as described in Game of Shadows
(a 2006
book about performance-enhancing drug use among high level athletes). Krukow even went so far as to publicly describe pitcher Curt Schilling
as a "horse's ass" in response to Schilling's own public reference to Bonds' alleged steroid usage.
, Krukow noticed that Twins' announcer Bert Blyleven
, himself a former Major League Baseball
pitcher, used the telestrator
to circle fans at their request for recognition. Krukow developed a spin off
of this "Circle Me, Bert" feature by using his telestrator
to "eliminate" spectators, whiting them out — either those who also request the treatment by waving "Eliminate Me, Kruk" signs onscreen, or because the fan or fans are behaving in ways he dislikes, such as talking on a cell phone during a game, muffing a foul ball, or wearing Los Angeles Dodgers
gear at the Giants' home, AT&T Park
.
video games MVP Baseball
2003, 2004 and 2005
. They include Krukow's familiar "grab some pine, meat" quote.
, with his wife, Jennifer, and their five children, Jarek, Baker, Tessa, Chase and Weston. In his spare time he enjoys reading, bicycling, golfing and drinking Coronas on the beach. He is good friends with Duane Kuiper
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is currently a television color commentator for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Early life
Krukow attended San Gabriel High SchoolSan Gabriel High School
San Gabriel High School is a secondary school in the Alhambra Unified School District. The school is located at 801 S Ramona St, San Gabriel, CA 91776....
in San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. The city grew outward from the mission and in 1852 became the original township of Los Angeles County. San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913...
where he played as a catcher. He was drafted as a catcher by the California Angels in the 32nd round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
but did not sign.
Krukow played college ball for the Cal Poly Mustangs
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
. Though his collegiate eligibility was cut short, he still holds the school record for career earned run average at 1.94 and is tied for most shutouts in a season with 5.
Major league career
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 8th round of the 1973 draft
1973 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :Four dominating players of the late 70s and 80s were selected in the June regular phase...
. Krukow played Major League baseball for the Chicago Cubs (1976–1981), the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1982) and the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1983–1989). He batted and threw right-handed.
Krukow had a solid career in the major leagues. In , after six years with the Cubs, he was dealt to Philadelphia for pitchers Dickie Noles
Dickie Noles
Dickie Ray Noles was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles ....
and Dan Larson
Dan Larson
Daniel James Larson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Larson pitched in all or part of seven seasons from and .Larson was drafted in the first round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but never played in the majors for them. Instead, he was sent to the...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Keith Moreland
Keith Moreland
Bobby Keith "Zonk" Moreland is a former outfielder, catcher and infield in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. In , the final year of his career, he played for the Detroit Tigers, then the Baltimore Orioles...
.
The right-handed starter was second only to Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
in wins, posting a 13-11 record and an impressive 3.12 ERA, but despite this success, the Phillies sent Krukow, Mark Davis and Charlie Penigar to the San Francisco Giants in December in a trade for Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
and reliever Al Holland
Al Holland
Alfred Willis Holland is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who mostly pitched in the Major Leagues from to ....
. The trade helped Philadelphia win the National League pennant in , but it also gave San Francisco two arms that would become a big part of the Giants' success in the late 1980s.
Krukow's best season was in , posting a record of 20-9 with a 3.05 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Krukow finished third in that year's NL Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting behind Mike Scott
Mike Scott (baseball)
Michael Warren "Mike" Scott is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He won the National League Cy Young Award in...
and Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
. Krukow was selected to the National League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team that season. He was awarded the Willie Mac Award
Willie Mac Award
The Willie Mac Award is named in honor of Willie McCovey. It has been presented annually since 1980. It is awarded to the player on the San Francisco Giants who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership consistently shown by McCovey throughout his long career, voted upon by the players and...
in both 1985 and 1986 honoring his spirit and leadership. In , Krukow helped lead the Giants to their first division championship in 16 years.
On June 30, , Krukow underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff
Rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff tears are tears of one or more of the four tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. A rotator cuff injury can include any type of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons....
in his pitching shoulder after spending parts of three seasons on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for what was believed to be bursitis
Bursitis
Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless...
. He retired in March . In his 14-season career, Krukow posted a 124-117 record with 1,478 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a respectable 3.90 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 2190.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Broadcaster
After his playing career, Krukow became a radio and television sportscasterSportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. Mike Krukow began broadcasting as an occasional color analyst for KNBR
KNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
radio in and became a full-time broadcaster in . He is a five-time Emmy award winner. "Kruk," who was named as the starting right-handed pitcher to the 1980s Giants All- Decade Team in a vote by Bay Area media in 1999, is noted for his deep knowledge of the game and tremendous sense of humor.
Part of the San Francisco Giants broadcasting team, Krukow is half of the duo dubbed "Kruk and Kuip," along with partner Duane Kuiper
Duane Kuiper
Duane Eugene Kuiper is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, and is currently a five-time Emmy award-winning radio and television sportscaster for the San Francisco Giants...
, a former Giants' infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. Krukow and Kuiper tape a game day commentary ("Kruk and Kuip on baseball") for KNBR
KNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
radio as part of the Giants' pre-game radio coverage. Notably, though Kruk was a pitcher and Kuiper was a position player, Kruk has five career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, four more than Kuip (who managed only one in his career despite having over 3,000 at-bats).
"Kruk" is known for his unique baseball vocabulary, especially his signature phrase when an opposing team's rookie hitter strikes out:
Although the term "meat" technically refers to a team's rookie hitter, Krukow will often use the term to reference a batter who strikes out on a nasty pitch or looks bad or silly in the process.
The phrase "grab some pine" comes from the implication that after a hitter strikes out he will go take a seat on the bench in the dugout, which is traditionally made of pine. The term "meat" refers to a rookie player in the sense that he is "fresh meat".
He is also known for opening post-game wrap-ups of extremely close or stressful games with the phrase:
In addition, he is also known for having scouting reports on umpires about their strike zones.
Krukow's baseball vocabulary has been referred to as "The Kruktionary".
In addition, Krukow is often teased by his broadcasting colleagues throughout the major leagues for having "majestic hair".
Other quotes from Mike Krukow:
"Frost-brewed Coors Light, the world's most reeeefreshing - beer",
"Ugly Finder!",
"Gamer babe from Half Moon Bay."
The Barry Bonds steroid controversy
Prior to Barry BondsBarry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
indictment for perjury (in late 2007) and inclusion in George J. Mitchell
George J. Mitchell
George John Mitchell, Jr., is the former U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama administration. A Democrat, Mitchell was a United States Senator who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995...
's report regarding steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(released on December 13, 2007), Krukow staunchly defended Bonds against allegations of Bonds' steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
use as described in Game of Shadows
Game of Shadows
Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports is a bestselling non-fiction book published on March 23, 2006 and written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle...
(a 2006
2006 in literature
The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
book about performance-enhancing drug use among high level athletes). Krukow even went so far as to publicly describe pitcher Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
as a "horse's ass" in response to Schilling's own public reference to Bonds' alleged steroid usage.
"Eliminate me"
On the June 14, , game against the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, Krukow noticed that Twins' announcer Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011...
, himself a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher, used the telestrator
Telestrator
A telestrator is a device that allows its operator to draw a freehand sketch over a moving or still video image. The telestrator is most famously recognized in sports and weather broadcasts to diagram and analyze sports plays or incoming weather patterns. The talent typically draws on a...
to circle fans at their request for recognition. Krukow developed a spin off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of this "Circle Me, Bert" feature by using his telestrator
Telestrator
A telestrator is a device that allows its operator to draw a freehand sketch over a moving or still video image. The telestrator is most famously recognized in sports and weather broadcasts to diagram and analyze sports plays or incoming weather patterns. The talent typically draws on a...
to "eliminate" spectators, whiting them out — either those who also request the treatment by waving "Eliminate Me, Kruk" signs onscreen, or because the fan or fans are behaving in ways he dislikes, such as talking on a cell phone during a game, muffing a foul ball, or wearing Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
gear at the Giants' home, AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
.
"I wanna get that, I wanna get that, I wanna get that!"
In the 2010 season, the Giants introduced new merchandise, one of such things were the Giants' scarves. Whenever the advertisements are made for the scarves, Krukow closes by saying "I wanna get that!" three times fast. He has also used the phrase when fans on screen are eating various ballpark meals.Video games
Krukow and Kuiper can be heard as the commentators in Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
video games MVP Baseball
MVP Baseball series
MVP Baseball was a baseball game series published by EA Sports, running from 2003 to 2007 with five games produced. In 2003, MVP became the official successor to EA's long-running Triple Play Baseball series, and it simulated Major League Baseball from 2003 to 2005...
2003, 2004 and 2005
MVP Baseball 2005
MVP Baseball 2005 is a baseball video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It features former Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez on its game cover. The game features full Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Players Association licenses. It...
. They include Krukow's familiar "grab some pine, meat" quote.
Personal
Krukow resides in San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
, with his wife, Jennifer, and their five children, Jarek, Baker, Tessa, Chase and Weston. In his spare time he enjoys reading, bicycling, golfing and drinking Coronas on the beach. He is good friends with Duane Kuiper
Duane Kuiper
Duane Eugene Kuiper is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, and is currently a five-time Emmy award-winning radio and television sportscaster for the San Francisco Giants...
.