The unlikely slugger who hit only one home run in his entire career

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Duane Kuiper holds the Major League Baseball record for the most career at-bats with just a single home run. Despite this singular feat, he became a beloved voice of the San Francisco Giants, known for his signature calls and a broadcasting career spanning nearly four decades behind the microphone.

Born in 1950 in Racine, Wisconsin, Duane Kuiper grew up on a family farm before embarking on a professional baseball career. Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1972, he spent his playing days as a second baseman known more for his defensive reliability than his power at the plate. His only career home run came on August 29, 1977, against Steve Stone of the Chicago White Sox. While Stone later suggested he was unprepared for the game due to a scheduling misunderstanding, Kuiper famously countered that Stone was clearly ready enough to strike out the game's opening batter.

Kuiper transitioned into broadcasting while still an active player, hosting a radio show in the early 1980s. After his retirement from the field, he joined the San Francisco Giants' broadcast team in 1986. He briefly departed for the Colorado Rockies in 1993 but returned to the Bay Area the following year. Alongside his long-time partner Mike Krukow, Kuiper became a fixture for Giants fans, providing the play-by-play for historic moments including the team's 2010 World Series title and multiple perfect games.

Beyond his technical precision, Kuiper is celebrated for his unique linguistic style. He uses a deep baritone for dramatic moments and has coined phrases that have become synonymous with the team, such as describing tense, narrow victories as torture. His influence extends to his family, with his brother Glen also serving as a long-time broadcaster in the Bay Area. Despite facing significant health challenges, including cancer diagnoses in 2021 and 2026, Kuiper has maintained his commitment to the booth, continuing to document the history of the sport he has inhabited for over fifty years.

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