It’s been an emotional week for the Giants, their fans and the broader baseball world. The longtime broadcasting duo of Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, known affectionately as “Kruk and Kuip,” will be behind the mic together for the final time this week after Krukow announced that he would retire at the end of this season.
Then on Sunday, Kuiper announced that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and had begun treatment with his doctors at Stanford Medicine. The 76-year-old former Major League second baseman had to step away from the booth as he continued treatment, but he said he would be back for Krukow’s final broadcast this weekend.
Against that backdrop, fate conspired to bring about an apropos moment at Oracle Park on Monday night as the Giants hosted the Twins. It was a moment that was both humorous and touching, just the type befitting the 36-year partnership between the two best friends.
As the Giants' telecast was returning for the bottom of the fifth, Krukow was set to bring the viewing audience back and turn things over to Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Jon Miller. But before he could, Giants center fielder Drew Gilbert sent the first pitch he saw from Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews over the high wall in right field for a home run.
Caught off guard, Krukow did what came naturally.
“And there’s a bolt, right field!” Krukow exclaimed. “And iiiiiit’s outta here!”
“It … is … outta here!” is Kuiper’s signature home run call. And in his absence on this night -- with Krukow, the Giants and their fans thinking of him as he undergoes cancer treatment -- Krukow delivered an impromptu tribute to his friend and broadcast partner.
After Gilbert rounded the bases and crossed home plate, Miller chimed in.
“Great call!” he said.
“It was horrible!” Krukow replied before Miller continued.
“Where’d you get that ‘It’s outta here!’ from?” he asked, tongue-in-cheek.
Krukow’s immediate impulse to go with “It’s outta here!” speaks to how much he loves and admires Kuiper, and Krukow acknowledged that in his answer to Miller’s question.
“That’s the only thing I could think of!” he said. “I just stole it from my partner.”