San Francisco Giants Broadcaster Mike Krukow Retires After 36 Years

Mike Krukow ended his 36-year San Francisco Giants broadcasting career Sunday, calling his final game alongside longtime partner Duane Kuiper as the Giants lost 5-1 to the Dodgers in 10 innings. Krukow, 74, is retiring because a degenerative muscle disease has made continuing unsafe, though he said he did not want to leave the booth. Their “Kruk and Kuip” partnership became a beloved part of Giants baseball and accompanied the team through three World Series championships. Fans, colleagues and the Bay Area celebrated Krukow for his clear explanations and humor, and the Giants held a postgame ceremony and renamed the television booth the “Kruk and Kuip broadcast booth.”
Duane Kuiper called Krukow an exceptional analyst and teacher, saying he helped fans understand the game and that his humor made the two of them laugh together.
Krukow described telling Kuiper he was retiring as especially difficult: “I said I think I’m done and he says ‘No, you’re not’.” Their friendship began when they were Giants teammates.
A Bay Area brewery released a Krukow-inspired “Grab Some Pine, Meat!” IPA, with proceeds going to a Reno-area children’s cancer charity he supports.
Krukow said the Giants-Dodgers rivalry takes shape through everyday encounters: “All it takes is about an hour in batting practice, standing out in the outfield, or walking around listening to what gets said to you.”
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