Mike Krukow officially signed off from the San Francisco Giants broadcast booth Sunday after an incredible 37 years, leaving fans and his broadcast partner, Duane Kuiper, absolutely choked up. It was the season finale at Oracle Park, and even though the Giants fell 5-1 to the Dodgers, all eyes were on Kruk as he wrapped up an iconic career.
An Epic Send-Off From the City
Man, they went all out for Krukow, and it was wild. Giants players were rocking “Atta Babe Kruk!” T-shirts during batting practice. Fans filled Oracle Park with Krukow signs, and the scoreboard kept flashing photos of Kruk from his days as a Giants pitcher all the way through his broadcast years. Even three of his five kids, Tess, Weston, and Chase, sang the national anthem in perfect harmony before the game. During the postgame ceremony, Krukow had the crowd going, leading them in famous calls like “Adios pelota,” “Touchdown San Francisco,” and even his signature Tarzan yell. He walked everyone through so many highlights of team history, sprinkling in his classic phrases and broadcast moments. He even called out Barry Bonds first when thanking players, then paid a special tribute to his wife Jennifer and his broadcast soulmate, Duane Kuiper. “Thank you, Smooth, I love you,” he told Kuiper, and you just know everyone felt that. The fans? They stood and yelled “Kruuuukkkk!” like crazy. You could feel the love from the whole city.
The Laughter and Tears of a 36-Year Bond
Before the game even started, Krukow and Kuiper’s grandkids unveiled the new “Kruk and Kuip Broadcast Booth” sign, officially dedicating that section behind home plate. But you know Kuiper wasn’t going to let Kruk have *all* the spotlight without a little prank. Kruk himself got VP of media relations Matt Chisholm and coach Ron Wotus to help him tape a hilarious stick figure of “Kruk and Kuip” above the 365-sign in right field, right next to a giant “Atta Babe Kruk” sign. This wasn’t just any stick figure, though, this one had a distinctly round belly! Kruk saw it on NBC Sports Bay Area and yelled, “Oh my lord, that’s too good… I came here feeling a little melancholy today and that made me laugh hard, so thank you, partner. A stick figure with a boiler!” Kuiper just summed it up perfectly: “That kind of sums up our relationship.” Shortstop Christian Koss even doffed his helmet to the booth in his first at-bat, showing how much Kruk meant to everyone. As the game ended, Kuiper’s voice cracked when he told Kruk, “I can honestly tell you, my friend, it’s been a blast.” Kruk responded, talking about the honor of moving from player to broadcaster and getting to call those World Series championships in 2010, ’12, and ’14. He ended it simply: “I love you, partner.”
The duo then went over to KNBR for “the Wrap” with Dave Flemming and Jon Miller, who paid their respects. Kuiper, ever the comedian, then joked that he planned to roast Krukow during the field ceremony and was totally going to take a sharpie to the new plaque below the broadcast level, making it just the “Kuip broadcast booth.” What a legend, man.
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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