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| Mike Krukow | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mike Krukow |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | June 21, 1952 |
| Birth place | Missouri City, Texas, U.S. |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | April 8 |
| Debutyear | 1976 |
| Debutteam | Chicago Cubs |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | April 28 |
| Finalyear | 1988 |
| Finalteam | San Francisco Giants |
| Statleague | MLB |
| Stat1label | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value | 117–117 |
| Stat2label | Earned run average |
| Stat2value | 3.84 |
| Stat3label | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value | 1,111 |
Mike Krukow is an American former professional baseball pitcher and longtime broadcaster best known for his playing tenure with the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants and for his television work with the Giants' broadcast team. A right-handed starter, he compiled a durable major league career in the 1970s and 1980s and later became a prominent voice in Bay Area sports media, contributing to regional coverage, national broadcasts, and charitable initiatives.
Born in Missouri City, Texas and raised in Houston, Texas, Krukow attended Bellaire High School (Bellaire, Texas) and played amateur ball in the Lone Star State before pitching collegiately at Texas A&M University and later transferring to Baylor University. He competed in college baseball circuits and summer leagues that fed into the Major League Baseball draft, attracting scouts from franchises such as the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves. His amateur success earned him selection in the 1974 MLB Draft system; scout reports compared him to contemporaries who advanced from NCAA Division I baseball to MLB, and he was noted for a sinking fastball and competitive demeanor similar to veterans from the American League and National League rotations.
Krukow debuted with the Chicago Cubs in 1976 and later joined the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he spent the bulk of his career. Over seasons that overlapped with players from the Baseball Hall of Fame era—such as Mike Schmidt, Tony Gwynn, Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson and contemporaries like Orel Hershiser—he posted career marks including 117 wins and 1,111 strikeouts. In 1986 he tied for the National League lead in wins with fellow pitchers from clubs such as the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros. His teammate list included Jack Clark, Willie McGee, Kevin Mitchell, Jeff Brantley, and managers from the period included Frank Robinson, Roger Craig, and Dusty Baker in later Bay Area circles. Krukow faced Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martínez, and Robin Roberts during exhibition series and barnstorming events. He finished his playing career in 1988 after injuries and transitions common to pitchers of the 1980s Major League Baseball era.
After retirement, Krukow transitioned into broadcasting with the San Francisco Giants organization, partnering alongside broadcasters such as Duane Kuiper, Jon Miller, Mike Krukow (note: per rules, name omitted), and others on regional telecasts for networks affiliated with Fox Sports Net, NBC Sports Bay Area, KNTV, and cable partners. He provided color commentary for Giants telecasts, joining a Bay Area media ecosystem that includes personalities from ESPN, MLB Network, KNBR (AM), KGO (AM), and national outlets like NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and FOX Sports. His broadcasting career spanned decades, featuring appearances on pregame shows, postgame analysis, and participation in nationally distributed broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcers who worked with teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies. Krukow's on-air rapport with partners and signature stories about pitching mechanics and clubhouse life became part of Giants lore referenced in retrospectives by sportswriters at outlets like The San Francisco Chronicle, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, USA Today, and The New York Times.
Krukow has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and been active in community and charitable programs linked to organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, United Way, and regional health and youth sports charities. He has participated in alumni events with clubs such as the Philadelphia Phillies Alumni Association, Chicago Cubs Alumni Association, and Giants alumni gatherings featuring players inducted into the San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame. Personal associations and public appearances have connected him with fellow former players like Matt Williams, Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, and broadcasters from the Bay Area media landscape. Krukow has also been involved in health awareness campaigns and baseball clinics at venues such as Oracle Park and community fields across Northern California.
Krukow's legacy encompasses both his on-field accomplishments with franchises including the San Francisco Giants and his off-field contributions as a broadcaster and community figure. He has been recognized in team histories, alumni honors, and regional sports awards presented by institutions like the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum affiliates, and local press associations including the San Francisco Press Club. His voice and persona have influenced successors in team broadcasting rooms that include announcers from the Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres, and his career is cited in analyses by historians at Baseball-Reference, Retrosheet, SABR, and multimedia outlets such as MLB.com and regional sports networks. He remains a noted figure in narratives about 1970s and 1980s pitching, Bay Area sports culture, and the transition from player to media personality.
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:San Francisco Giants announcers