John Kruk, A Television Star? It Could Only Happen in the Fantasy League

by Kelly Huffman and Chris Hansen

We all watch former major league players make the successful transition into television careers after their playing days end. This list includes players from Hall of Famers Joe Morgan on ESPN, Don Sutton on WTBS and Tommy Lasorda and Johnny Bench on the award-winning T. V. show "The Baseball Bunch" to Ozzie Smith hosting "This Week in Baseball" and Ray Knight adding insight on "Baseball Tonight". However, one man can be added to this list I would never have suspected.

Kruk Career Highlights • Played with Padres (1986-1989), Phillies (1989-1994), and finished with White Sox (1995) • Was a career .300 lifetime with 592 RBIs and 100 homers • Part of the 1993 NLCS Championship Phillies • Was an All-Star for the N.L. 3 years

Up late one night, I was flipping channels and trying to fall asleep when I saw John Kruk on television. Yes, the same John Kruk best known for his long hair and rather cavalier attitude on and off the field.

The same John Kruk who played first base for the 1993 National League Championship Phillies with Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, and Mitch Williams -- in their prime, a team known for its collection of long-haired rebels. Kruk said of his team, "We're normal. It's everyone else who's messed up."

And the same John Kruk who, after facing Randy Johnson in a rather comical fashion in the 1993 All-Star Game said candidly, "I don't know if you've ever done something when you were younger, like breaking into someone's barn or something. The guy gets his gun and you run. You zig-zag, though; you don't go straight. That's the way it was tonight. I wasn't going to let him hit me while I was stationary. It would be embarrassing to die on national TV. You can't hit good when you're dead."

Because of this attitude and great sense of humor, Kruk had always been one of my favorite players, so I put down the remote. It turns out Kruk co-hosts "Fantasy Baseball Weekly" with Brady Tinker and Jim Knox, "the only television show dedicated to fantasy baseball." The show airs on Fox Sports Net, or fans can watch it via the Internet on Real Video from AudioNet's site. Kruk gives his fellow announcers personal impressions on players and ballparks, providing an interesting perspective on the fantasy game. He also gives instructions and demonstrations about how to play, and of course livens things up with some great one-liners.

However, "The Krukker" has not limited his talents to the small screen. Kruk also snared a minor role in the 1996 Robert DiNero-Wesley Snipes film "The Fan", a featured role in Sawyer Brown's "Round Here" music video and on the side, has co-authored 'I Ain't an Athlete, Lady...' : My Well-Rounded Life and Times and issues The Kruk List on his show. He also continues to comment on baseball and show his sense of humor through the internet.

One of the last times I remember seeing Kruk was on David Letterman and he was bad-mouthing baseball saying he would not miss it or remain active in the sport.

Much of this attitude might have been attributed to his mind focusing on his battle with testicular cancer, which constituted one of the reasons he got out of baseball in the first place. Lucky for John, his disease was discovered in an early stage when it was more easily treatable, and he now shows no ill effects.

Did you know ... Al Hrabosky, formerly known as "The Mad Hungarian", now lives in St. Louis with his wife and two daughters. In 1986 after retiring from baseball, he moved from Atlanta to do the color commentary for the Cardinals. He has a two-hour radio show, Monday through Friday, called "The Mad Hungarian Show" on KFNS Radio, participates as an active member of the Major League Baseball Alumni and is a guest at several charity golf tournaments, including Jose Oquendo's tournament in Puerto Rico and St. Luenis Children's Home in St. Croix. Hrabosky also devotes much of his time to various charities, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation...The St. Louis Cardinals renovated and relocated the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum opened on April 8, 1997 into the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Interestingly enough, the museum provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience and learn more about the proud and history of the St. Louis Cardinals and the only sport where you don't wear your own shoes, bowling. The Museum is located on the northwest side of Busch Stadium at 7th and Walnut Streets.

Kruk must have been on to something, knowing if he could beat his illness, he would not miss the game. Life after baseball certainly seems to be agreeing with him and he definitely has discovered one of the hottest markets out there in the fantasy game. Fantasy baseball continues to transform thousands of fans into managers of some of the hottest teams in baseball. Everyone tries to find the lastest "Roto-News" (there is roto-everything now-a-days) to wheel and deal to win their prospective leagues. Some promise prizes, others play just for the thrill, but everyone who plays searches for some advice. Fastball itself had a package called Chalk Talk, which gave fantasy game tips and clues to give players the extra edge over fellow roto owners.

Kruk, seems to have a knowledge of the game and about players' capabilities in certain roles and situations and can offer fantasy advice from the "inside". For instance, after seeing Red Sox pitcher Bret Saberhagen's fastball in spring training, Kruk predicted he would have at least a 10-win season. Sabes is currently 11-6 for the A.L. wild card leaders. Kruk did spend nine years in the big leagues, so he should know what to look for and still have an eye for a good fastball.

And more than that, I have to say, I enjoyed his show--he still has his wonderfully funny and rather direct sense of humor and he makes the show fun to watch.

Who would have thought all this would have happened to one of baseball's "bad boys?" A guy who almost never shaved in his playing days and whose favorite pastime is kicking back with a brew-ski? Above it all and behind the gruff, Kruk is an entertainer who really relates to his audience. Kruk is a guy who gives his audience himself, nothing more, nothing less. You can't ask for more than that.