by
Greek Giant
We love you, Kruk 🧡 pic.twitter.com/Uox6SW17Zk
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 6, 2026
Yesterday Former Giants Pitcher and Legendary Broadcaster Mike “Kruk” Krukow announced his retirement from the broadcast booth, effective at the end of this season.
Here are excerpts from his statement:
“I just want to let everyone know that I will be retiring at the end of the season,” Krukow, 74, said in a statement that was released by the team. “I want to take this time to thank you for your incredible support.
“Jennifer and I have been so blessed to be able to stay in the game for as long as we have and it’s really made it impossible to feel sorry for myself that my career is coming to an end.
We are bracing for the emotional hits we know we are going to feel in the next few weeks. Jennifer and I are wondering if it is even possible to let everyone know how deeply we love and respect our Giants family.
Our time together has been a gift.
When Green Day asked, ‘I hope you’ve had the time of your lives,’ we certainly have.
Thank you.”
The Giants plan to celebrate Krukow’s legacy during their regular-season finale against the Dodgers on Sept. 27 at Willie Mays Field. I am sure there will be many tears.
“While we knew this day would eventually come, Mike Krukow stepping away from the broadcast booth is a deeply emotional moment for our Giants family. On behalf of our extended Giants family, I want to express our profound gratitude for everything Kruk has given — not only to this franchise, but to each of us personally. For decades, he has shared far more than his voice. He has been our spiritual leader.
“With his beloved and inseparable partner Duane Kuiper, he has taught generations of fans about baseball, brought us inside it from the perspective of a Major League pitcher and called every game with incredible insight, unmistakable humor and genuine heart. Most importantly, he has had a rare gift for making every Giants fan feel like they belong. Whether someone is sitting in the ballpark, watching from home, or listening on the radio halfway around the world, Kruk makes every Giants fan feel like they are part of something bigger — a family.”
In 2014, Krukow revealed that he was suffering from inclusion-body myositis, a degenerative muscle disease that causes progressive weakness in muscles of the hand, forearm, thigh and lower leg. The condition requires Krukow to use a motorized wheelchair, creating travel challenges and eventually forcing him to cut back on his broadcasting schedule. A 13-time local Emmy Award winner, Krukow was named California’s 2015 and 2017 Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. He was also a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award for baseball broadcasting excellence in 2017 and 2024. I imagine he will win that award this year or next.
Krukow has a very easy, casual California style to his analyses of baseball games but if you pay close attention he has wonderful, insightful commentary, especially when it comes to the technical aspects of pitching and defense. one of Krukow’s strengths was his ability to be likeable, fun, funny and intelligent. He never once sounded like a flat, Giants-biased announcer and that may be the biggest reason he was so beloved. With Duane Kuiper as his partner and his best friend, the two had a chemistry practically unmatched in their line of work. Every baseball game will have its slower moments, maybe even a lull but with Krukow they were never dull or empty.
Krukow gave a great deal to Giants fans everywhere and his is a voice and a presence that is irreplaceable and will forever be in our memories and in our hearts.
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