Legendary San Francisco Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow just got presented with the 2026 Bill Rigney “Good Guy” Award on Tuesday night, but honestly, it’s a bittersweet moment for baseball fans everywhere. This 2026 season is Krukow’s last in the broadcast booth after an absolutely incredible 37 years, with his final games set for this weekend. Yeah, you read that right. Thirty-seven years of “Krukisms” and sharp analysis, all coming to an end.
A “Good Guy” Who Redefined The Game
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s local chapter hands out the Bill Rigney “Good Guy” Award yearly, usually to a player or coach who’s super accommodating with the media. But let’s be real, Krukow’s candidacy goes way beyond the usual scope and what he did just in 2026. This is a guy who, despite being limited in mobility by inclusion body myositis, has always been around and ready to chat. That’s a true gift for any baseball fanatic lucky enough to listen or any reporter trying to get the real story. When Kruk announced his retirement in late August, he didn’t just quietly fade out; he opened his home and his massive collection of baseball memories to the media. Talk about a class act! He even had a story about Bill Rigney himself when he accepted the award, recalling Rigney telling him as a Chicago Cubs pitcher to “outwork everybody” to reach his potential. Krukow took that to heart, and it’s clear he brought that mentality to the booth every single night.
The Heartbreak of Saying Goodbye and a Glimmer of Hope?
News of Krukow’s retirement hit the fan base hard. Think about it, the late Dodgers broadcast legend Vin Scully told Krukow himself back after the Giants’ 2010 title, “Now you’ve done it, they’re never going to forget you – until the day you die, you’re going to be the one that told them the story of their beloved team.” How perfect is that? The goodbye is tough for local scribes too, who have relied on Kruk for decades for perspective and a guaranteed chuckle. It’s a gut punch.
The emotional stakes were even higher when Kruk and his longtime broadcast partner and best friend, Duane Kuiper, reunited in the booth for Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. Kuiper, who recently missed games for throat cancer treatment (and Spanish language broadcaster Tito Fuentes is also out for the penultimate series with health concerns, too), playfully negotiated with Krukow right there on air. Kuiper asked if Kruk liked September. “I love September. It’s a baseball player’s favorite month,” Krukow shot back. Kuiper then tried to get him to “just come back for Septembers.” Kruk replied, “We’ll negotiate that.” Kuiper upped the ante, “How about Octobers!” Krukow’s quick answer? “Even better.” Then the ultimate tease from Kuiper: “Stay tuned, we’re negotiating!” That’s the hope we’re all clinging to as his final games approach this weekend. It’s hard to imagine the booth without him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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