Krukow channels Kuiper with impromptu home run call amid partner’s cancer treatment

A night that began with heavy hearts in the San Francisco Giants broadcast booth turned into an unscripted tribute that captured a 36-year friendship in a single call. Mike Krukow, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, instinctively used his partner Duane Kuiper’s trademark home run phrase after Giants center fielder Drew Gilbert homered in the fifth inning Monday night at Oracle Park.

Kuiper revealed Sunday that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and was beginning treatment at Stanford Medicine. The 76-year-old former major league second baseman has stepped away from the booth but plans to return for Krukow’s final broadcast this weekend. The moment came as the Giants hosted the Minnesota Twins, and it was the kind of scene that could not be scripted.

Key facts
| Item | Details |
|——|———|
| Game | San Francisco Giants vs. Minnesota Twins, Sept. 21, 2026 at Oracle Park |
| Key play | Drew Gilbert hits a home run off Zebby Matthews leading off the bottom of the 5th |
| Broadcast moment | Mike Krukow uses Duane Kuiper’s signature call “It is outta here!” as an unplanned tribute |
| Context | Kuiper is undergoing throat cancer treatment; Krukow is retiring at season’s end |

An emotional week in the Giants broadcast family

The broader baseball world has been following the farewell tour of “Kruk and Kuip,” the Giants’ beloved broadcast duo. Krukow announced earlier this year that he would retire after the 2026 season. The pair, who have called games together since 1990, have been celebrated by fans, players, and media all year. But the tone shifted sharply Sunday when Kuiper disclosed his cancer diagnosis. He said he had begun treatment and would be away from the booth for an unspecified period, though he emphasized he expected to return for Krukow’s final game. The news hit the Giants clubhouse and the fan base hard. Many fans wore “Kruk and Kuip” shirts to the ballpark Monday, and the team played a video tribute to Kuiper before the game.

The call that said everything

As the telecast returned from a commercial break in the bottom of the fifth inning, Krukow was preparing to hand the mic to Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Jon Miller. But before he could speak, Gilbert connected on the first pitch from Twins starter Zebby Matthews and sent it over the high right-field wall at Oracle Park. Caught off guard, Krukow reacted instinctively. “And there’s a bolt, right field!” he exclaimed. “And iiiiiit’s outta here!” The cadence and pitch of that last phrase are unmistakably Kuiper’s. Kuiper has used “It is outta here!” since his playing days and it became his signature home run call during decades with the Giants. On this night, with Krukow thinking of his partner fighting cancer, the phrase came out naturally.

Reactions from the booth

After Gilbert rounded the bases, Jon Miller added a knowing line: “Great call!” Krukow laughed and replied, “It was horrible!” Miller then asked, “Where’d you get that ‘It’s outta here!’ from?” Krukow’s answer was simple and heartfelt. “That’s the only thing I could think of! I just stole it from my partner.” The exchange, overheard on the broadcast, captured the warmth and humor that have defined the Kruok-Kuiper partnership for more than three decades. Fans on social media and in the ballpark quickly picked up on the moment, with many calling it the perfect tribute.

Why the Kruok-Kuiper partnership matters

Krukow, a former Giants pitcher, and Kuiper, a former second baseman, began working together in 1990. Their on-air chemistry, built on genuine friendship, irreverence, and deep baseball knowledge, made them one of the most recognizable broadcast teams in the sport. They won multiple local Emmy awards and were inducted into the Giants Hall of Fame in 2023. Kuiper’s signature home run call is one of the most imitated in baseball. For Krukow to use it in a moment of unguarded joy while his partner is away underscores how closely their voices and identities are intertwined. The moment also resonated because Gilbert was making his first start at Oracle Park after being acquired earlier this season, and the rookie center fielder said he was unaware of the broadcast significance until after the game.

What happens next

Kuiper said Sunday that he intends to return to the booth for Krukow’s final broadcast, which is expected this weekend. The Giants have not yet confirmed the exact date but the team is planning a farewell ceremony. Monday’s game continued with the Giants losing 6–4 to the Twins, but the final score was secondary to the moment that preceded it. For fans who have grown up with “Kruk and Kuip,” the fifth-inning sequence will likely be remembered as one of the defining moments of the farewell season.

Source: MLB.com – “Iiiit’s outta here!” Mike Krukow channels partner Duane Kuiper on HR call (https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-krukow-calls-drew-gilbert-home-run-for-giants)

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