Heartfelt and humorous announcement: kruk and kruip announced their plans to continue calling games as long as they are able, potentially until they “die,…
Kruk and Kuip Say They’re Not Going Anywhere: “We’ll Call Games Until We Die”
In an emotional and hilariously candid press conference held on the field at Oracle Park this week, beloved San Francisco Giants broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper—affectionately known as “Kruk and Kuip”—announced that they have no plans to retire any time soon. Their message to fans and the baseball world was simple and sincere: they plan to call games “until we die.”
What started as a routine media availability quickly turned into a love letter to baseball, to their partnership, and to the generations of fans who’ve made them part of their daily lives for more than three decades. With the sun shining and the scent of hot dogs in the air, Kuiper took the mic first, grinning as he looked out over the field.
“You know,” Kuiper said, “when you love what you do, you don’t put an expiration date on it. We’re having as much fun now as we did 30 years ago—maybe more, because now we don’t have to sprint to first base.”
Mike Krukow, ever the sidekick with perfect timing, chimed in: “Or try to hit a curveball. Trust me, calling games from the booth is a much better gig.”
A Partnership Forged in Friendship and Baseball
The announcement wasn’t a surprise to those who know them. Kruk and Kuip’s bond is legendary. Friends since their playing days, they transitioned into broadcasting with a chemistry that’s impossible to fake. Their voices have become synonymous with Giants baseball. To many fans, Kruk and Kuip are as much a part of the experience as the players on the field.
“We’re just two old ballplayers who never wanted to leave the game,” Krukow said. “We were lucky enough to find a second career that we love just as much, and we get to do it together.”
Their dynamic has always been rooted in authenticity. Kuiper brings a dry wit and steady play-by-play rhythm; Krukow supplies the color, insight, and comedic timing that fans adore. They finish each other’s sentences, rib each other mercilessly, and share a genuine affection that translates seamlessly through the airwaves.
Not Slowing Down—Yet
The duo acknowledged the realities of aging, but neither seemed particularly interested in letting that slow them down. Kuiper, now 74, battled through a cancer diagnosis in recent years, while Krukow, 72, manages the effects of a degenerative muscle disease that limits his travel. But both remain committed to being in the booth as often as possible.
“We’ve made adjustments,” Krukow said. “Sometimes I call in from the studio, sometimes from home. But I’ll be on the call. There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Kuiper echoed the sentiment: “I had a tough year, sure. But sitting in the booth with Kruk, talking baseball—it’s the best therapy in the world.”
Fans across the Bay Area and beyond have noticed the adjustments and, more importantly, the dedication. Every game they call is filled with anecdotes, laughter, insight, and, above all, a sense of joy that only lifelong baseball men can bring.
The Fans Feel the Love
Shortly after the announcement, tributes began pouring in on social media. Hashtags like #KrukAndKuipForever and #VoicesOfSummer began trending in the Bay Area. Giants fans shared memories of growing up listening to the duo, of turning on the radio during long drives or summer barbecues just to hear their familiar voices.
“Some days I don’t even care about the score,” one fan tweeted. “I just want to hear Kruk tell a story about a broken bat or Kuip complain about garlic fries getting cold.”
The pair addressed their relationship with fans during the press conference.
“We’re just part of the fabric,” Kuiper said. “The way baseball weaves itself into your life—we’re lucky to be threads in that.”
Krukow added, “We don’t take a single game for granted. Every ‘Grab some pine, meat!’ we get to say, every foul ball into the booth—it’s all a blessing.”
Legacy in the Making
There’s little doubt that whenever Kruk and Kuip do decide to hang up the headsets, they’ll be remembered as one of the most iconic broadcast duos in sports history. But they’re not interested in talking about legacy just yet.
“We’re not done,” Kuiper said. “You’ll know we’re done when the booth is quiet. And let’s be honest, that’s not happening anytime soon.”
Krukow laughed. “We’ve still got stories to tell. Still got bad jokes to tell. And still got games to call. We’ll stop when they stop making baseballs.”
The press conference ended the way so many of their broadcasts do—with laughter. A reporter asked how they’d want to go out, if they really did plan to stay on the mic until the end.
Krukow thought for a moment, then said, “Maybe on a walk-off home run call. Kuip says, ‘It. Is. Outta here!’ and I just drop dead from happiness.”
Kuiper chuckled. “Only if it’s against the Dodgers.”
So for now, Kruk and Kuip aren’t going anywhere. And in a world that often changes too quickly, that’s very good news.
