Mustang Baseball Legend and Giants Broadcaster Mike Krukow Announces Retirement
8/6/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Mike Krukow, a pitcher at Cal Poly from 1971-73 before embarking on a 14-year Major League career on the mound and 36 seasons in the San Francisco Giants press box alongside his best friend and broadcasting partner Duane Kuiper, announced his retirement Thursday, effective at the end of the 2026 season.
“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. (My wife) 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," Krukow added. "Jennifer and I are wondering if it is even possible to let everyone know how deeply we love and respect our Giants family."
The Giants plan to celebrate Krukow’s legacy during their regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 27 at Oracle Park.
Wrote San Francisco beat writer Maria Guardado on MLB.com, "One half of the broadcasting duo known fondly as 'Kruk and Kuip,' Krukow has been synonymous with Giants baseball for decades, delighting fans with his incisive color commentary, his humor and his colorful catchphrases like 'in the squaaat' and 'grab some pine, meat!' ”
Krukow's broadcasting career included many legendary franchise moments such as Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th home run, Matt Cain’s perfect game and the Giants’ World Series runs in 2010, ’12 and ’14.
"Mike is a Cal Poly icon. He has stayed in touch and supported the Cal Poly baseball program for all these years," said Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee. "Giants fans will greatly miss his insight and knowledge of the game. He is truly one of a kind! Wishing he and Jennifer the best in retirement."
A 13-time Bay Area 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.
“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,” Giants CEO and president Larry Baer said in a statement. “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," Baer added. "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 1970 graduate of San Gabriel High School, Krukow still holds the Cal Poly record for lowest career earned-run average at 1.94 and is tied for No. 1 with five career shutouts. His 21 career complete games is No. 4 and Krukow earned 10 complete games in 1973, tied for No. 3 on the list.
He is second with his 1.35 ERA in 1973 and No. 5 in career wins (25), career strikeouts (266) and strikeouts in a single season (123 in 1973), No. 4 in both career walks (149) and single-season walks (62 in 1972) and tied for No. 9 with his 10 wins in 1973. Krukow's coaches at Cal Poly were Augie Garrido in 1971 and 1972 and Berdy Harr in 1973.
Overall, Krukow was 25-6 in his three seasons as a Mustang with a 1.94 ERA and 266 strikeouts over 265 2/3 innings. He earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors in 1973, was an inaugural inductee in the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987 and was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in 2015.
Krukow was drafted in the eighth round by the Chicago Cubs in 1973 after his junior year at Cal Poly and pitched for the Cubs (1976-81), Philadelphia Phillies (1982) and San Francisco Giants (1983-89). He went 20-9 with the Giants in 1986, reaching his milestone 20th victory on the final day of the season in an 11-2 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Krukow played in the 1986 All-Star Game and finished third in Cy Young Award voting that year.
Krukow's career statistics include a 124-117 win-loss record, 3.90 ERA and 1,478 strikeouts over 2,190 1/3 innings. He pitched over 200 innings in three seasons (1980, 1982 and 1986) and, with Kuiper, was the voice of the EA Sports MVP Baseball video game series from 2003-05.
"We often talk about what it means to be a Forever Giant. No one embodies that more completely than Kruk," said Baer. "His impact extends far beyond the broadcast booth. He's been one of the great ambassadors for this franchise, and his passion, spirit, character and love for the Giants have shaped this organization for generations."
Support Cal Poly Baseball through Project Omaha and help fund scholarships and holistic student-athlete support, ensuring the program has the resources to compete at the highest level amid the evolving landscape of college athletics, including the NCAA’s increase to 34 full scholarships. Donations directly support student-athletes, helping attract and retain elite talent while upholding academic excellence. As part of the initiative, a matching fund specific to Project Omaha has been established by the University, providing permanent investment into the program’s operational budget and further strengthening Cal Poly Baseball’s competitive foundation.
Make your impact today by supporting Project Omaha, powered by Players Edge.
