Mike Krukow

Michael Edward Krukow (born January 21, 1952), nicknamed "Kruk", is an American sportscaster and former professional baseball player. As a starting pitcher, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants. He has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants since 1990, and is one half of the popular "Kruk and Kuip" duo, alongside his friend and former teammate Duane Kuiper. He was an All-Star in 1986.

Krukow was born in Long Beach, California, and attended San Gabriel High School in San Gabriel, California, where he played as a catcher. Krukow was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants' archrival, and attended many games at Dodger Stadium with his father. 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 became a pitcher and played college baseball for the Cal Poly Mustangs in San Luis Obispo, California. 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 five.

The Chicago Cubs selected Krukow in the eighth round of the 1973 MLB draft. He first appeared for the Cubs in 1976, and joined the starting rotation in 1977; he would remain with the team for four more seasons. In 1979 he batted .314 (16 for 51), the ninth highest season batting average for a pitcher in the designated hitter era.^{[citation needed]}

He was traded from the Cubs to the Phillies for Keith Moreland, Dickie Noles and Dan Larson on December 8, 1981.

For the Phillies, the right-handed starter was second only to Steve Carlton in wins, posting a 13–11 record and an impressive 3.12 ERA.

He was dealt along with Mark Davis and minor-league outfielder C.L. Penigar from the Phillies to the Giants for Joe Morgan and Al Holland on December 14, 1982. The trade helped Philadelphia win the National League pennant in 1983, but it also gave San Francisco two pitching arms that would become a big part of the Giants' success in the late 1980s.

Although known as a starter, Krukow earned his only career save on August 31, 1984, pitching to just one batter (the Phillies' Sixto Lezcano), inducing a game-ending groundout, therefore preserving a 6–5 Giant victory.