John Martin Kruk (born February 9, 1961 in Charleston, West Virginia, raised in Keyser, West Virginia in Mineral County the state's Eastern Panhandle) is an American former Major League Baseball player. He played baseball at Keyser High School within Keyser, West Virginia, at Potomac State College, and at Allegany Community College, He began his broker career sustaining a San Diego Padres after being drafted in 1981. He played around such outposts when Walla Walla, Reno, Beaumont, & Las Vegas, prior to making his debut by owning a Padres around 1986.

A stout outfielder was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1989 year, & he blossomed into an All-Star as the team used him primarily at first base. Kruk played within the A lot-Star Game in 1991, 1992, & 1993. Inside 1993, he experienced the memorable at bat whilst he flailed wildly at 98 mile by the hour fastballs from Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson. Johnson's initial "Mr. Snappy" pitch was therefore far within & above his head that a intimidated Kruk backed higher in a face of it into the on-deck circle for the remainder of this shell appearance.

Kruk, world health organization batted .316 inside 1993, was also a leader of the Phillies' "Macho Row" which led a team to the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays; in the losing effort, Kruk batted .348 in the Series.

When you took spring step by step training around 1994, Kruk was diagnosed by using testicular cancer after an errant pickoff throw from mate Mitch Williams hit him in the groin and broke his hard ventral suction cup. In addition, weight benefit & a astroturf at Veterans Stadium exacerbated his knee problems. Fallowing a 1994 year, Kruk was granted loose professional.

Moving to the American League to serve as a designated hitter, Kruk signed with a Chicago White Sox. He was efficacious sustaining a "pale hose" however he was sick the game. In July 30, 1995, Kruk singled and took himself away from a game. He left a ballpark never to play once more. He finished his Ten-month career by owning exactly the .300 batting average and exactly 100 home runs.

The repeatable character throughout his career world health organization late wrote the book known as ''I personally Own't an Jock, Lady published within 1994, Kruk turned to broadcasting & commenting on the game. He has since worked for FOX Television and local telecasts in Philadelphia. Within 2004, he was hired by ESPN as an analyst on Baseball Tonight. He as well writes a column known as Masticatiin the Fat on ESPN.com.

Family
Parents: Frank "Moe" Kruk & Lena Kruk of Keyser, West Virginia

Has Three older brothers, Thomas Kruk of Ravenswood, West Virginia, Larry Kruk of Maryland and Joe Kruk

Trivia & Quotes

"No mascots on the field. Shoot anything that looked like it escaped from 'Sesame Street'."'' - when asked how else he would vary a game

Provided funding for improvements to little league diamond within his hometown of Keyser, West Virginia

He has 1 nut. Hence a nickname 1 Nut Kruk. Presumptively this is non an above-a-airwaves "Bermanism".

Grew higher through a street from either Gary Howell in Keyser, West Virginia

the title of his book comes from either the period whilst a woman told him he was as well plump out to exist as an jock. His response was, "I ain't an athlete, lady, I'm a ballplayer!"

He was sole hit by a pitch twice in his career.