John Kruk Biography

Fast Facts

• Roomed with a free-spending friend from West Virginia while playing for the San Diego Padres in 1987, only to find out the roommate was wanted by the FBI for armed robbery and eventually jailed
• Transferred his uniform No
• 28 to new Phillies teammate Mitch Williams in exchange for two cases of beer
• An errant pick-off throw by Williams injured Kruk in 1993, leading to the discovery of Kruk's testicular cancer
• Named to three straight National League All-Star teams, leaving his mark by striking out on three meek swings against feared left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson at the 1993 game in Baltimore
• Authored the autobiographical I Ain't an Athlete, Lady
• Retired abruptly in 1995 after hitting a single against the Orioles that secured his career batting average at
• 300
• Kruk reportedly left for his West Virginia home before the game ended
• Ranked 22nd on the 1999 Sports Illustrated list of top 50 all-time athletes from West Virginia
• Settled into a studio analyst's role on ESPN's Baseball Tonight after brief stints as a minor-league coach, Phillies broadcaster and cast member on FSN's Best Damn Sports Show, Period