John Kruk
Born: 2/9/1961 in Charleston, WV, USA
MLB Debut: 1986-04-07 | Final Game: 1995-07-30
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: John Martin Kruk
Biography
John Kruk, born in 1961, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 1995. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,200 games, amassing 1,170 hits, 100 home runs, and 592 RBIs. Known for his distinctive playing style and charismatic personality, Kruk developed a reputation as a formidable hitter, finishing his career with a batting average of .300. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, recording 58 stolen bases, which was notable for a player of his build and position during his era.
Kruk was selected as an All-Star three times, highlighting his impact on the game during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played a key role on the Philadelphia Phillies, where his tenacity and skill helped define a generation of players. His career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the emergence of power hitters and the evolving dynamics of the game. After retiring, Kruk remained a beloved figure in baseball, transitioning into a career as a broadcaster and continuing to share his insights and passion for the sport with fans. His legacy is remembered not just for his statistics, but for his larger-than-life presence both on and off the field.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 3897 | 582 | 1170 | 199 | 34 | 100 | 592 | 58 | 649 | 701 | 0.300 | 0.397 | 0.446 | 0.842 | 15315.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | SDP | NL | 122 | 278 | 33 | 86 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 45 | 58 | 0.309 | 976.2 |
| 1987 | SDP | NL | 138 | 447 | 72 | 140 | 14 | 2 | 20 | 91 | 18 | 73 | 93 | 0.313 | 2084.0 |
| 1988 | SDP | NL | 120 | 378 | 54 | 91 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 44 | 5 | 80 | 68 | 0.241 | 696.4 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 81 | 281 | 46 | 93 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 3 | 27 | 39 | 0.331 | 1160.2 |
| 1989 | SDP | NL | 31 | 76 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 0.184 | 1160.2 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | 142 | 443 | 52 | 129 | 25 | 8 | 7 | 67 | 10 | 69 | 70 | 0.291 | 1516.8 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | 152 | 538 | 84 | 158 | 27 | 6 | 21 | 92 | 7 | 67 | 100 | 0.294 | 2161.7 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | 144 | 507 | 86 | 164 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 70 | 3 | 92 | 88 | 0.323 | 2991.3 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | 150 | 535 | 100 | 169 | 33 | 5 | 14 | 85 | 6 | 111 | 87 | 0.316 | 3055.8 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | 75 | 255 | 35 | 77 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 42 | 51 | 0.302 | 499.2 |
| 1995 | CHW | AL | 45 | 159 | 13 | 49 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 26 | 33 | 0.308 | 214.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 47 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 0.298 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | WS | PHI | 6 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0.348 |
| 1993 | NLCS | PHI | 6 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 678 | 600 | 5309 | 376 | 31 | 412 |
| OF | 431 | 400 | 713 | 25 | 11 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | SDN | 1B | 9 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 1986 | SDN | OF | 74 | 65 | 102 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | SDN | 1B | 101 | 93 | 870 | 75 | 4 | 74 |
| 1987 | SDN | OF | 29 | 29 | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | SDN | 1B | 63 | 56 | 535 | 33 | 3 | 45 |
| 1988 | SDN | OF | 55 | 52 | 99 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | 1B | 7 | 5 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | PHI | OF | 72 | 69 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989 | SDN | OF | 27 | 24 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | PHI | 1B | 61 | 42 | 402 | 43 | 2 | 34 |
| 1990 | PHI | OF | 87 | 76 | 141 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | PHI | 1B | 102 | 89 | 735 | 49 | 2 | 54 |
| 1991 | PHI | OF | 52 | 51 | 113 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | PHI | 1B | 121 | 106 | 979 | 58 | 7 | 76 |
| 1992 | PHI | OF | 35 | 34 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | PHI | 1B | 144 | 138 | 1149 | 69 | 8 | 79 |
| 1994 | PHI | 1B | 69 | 67 | 539 | 46 | 3 | 44 |
| 1995 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 678 |
| Left Field | 302 |
| Center Field | 11 |
| Right Field | 125 |
| Designated Hitter | 42 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-04-10 |
| 1991 | Player of the Week | Week of 1991-09-21 |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-08-15 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CHA | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | $2,450,000 |
| 1993 | PHI | NL | $2,450,000 |
| 1992 | PHI | NL | $2,350,000 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | $1,175,000 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | $655,000 |
| 1989 | SDN | NL | $450,000 |
| 1988 | SDN | NL | $250,000 |
| 1987 | SDN | NL | $110,000 |
| 1986 | SDN | NL | $60,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $10,950,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 9.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1992 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1991 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1986 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 7th | 1.0 | 120 | 0 |