The Voices of the Bay

In Major League Baseball history, there are plenty of brother combinations to have tremendous success. Families like the Aaron’s (Henry and Tommie), the Alomar’s (Roberto and Sandy), and the Waner’s (Paul and Lloyd) produced terrific ballplayers. But down by the Bay Bridge, there is another successful brother dual, a dual that found success in a different role as announcers.

Duane and Glen Kuiper may not have had great careers as players, but the two men have indeed had historic careers as play-by-play men. Out of just 30 broadcast pairs in the big leagues, Duane and his partner Mike Krukow, and Glen along with Ray Fosse, have arguably teamed up for the two greatest booths in the sport.

Before Duane took his talents to the broadcast booth with the San Francisco Giants, he was a Major League Second Baseman for 11 seasons. He started as a 24-year-old with the Cleveland Indians while Glen was just in elementary school. Kuiper was nothing like a modern day middle infielder. He was a human highlight real at second base, running all over the place to make great grabs, but at the dish, it was the opposite. He hit .271/.325/.316 with just one home run over the course of his career.

The latter part of his career led him to what he is now known as; A member of the San Fransisco Giants. Duane joined the Giants in 1982 and stuck around for three more seasons until grabbing a role in their booth. He made his broadcast debut in 1986 and from that point on (Excluding 1993 with the Colorado Rockies), he has turned himself into a legend around the Bay Area.

His classic home run call “Hit’s it high, hits it deep, it is Outta Here” makes for one of the most distinct calls in the game. That line has been heard for some of the games most recent historical moments, including Barry Bonds 756th home run. Him and his partner Krukow, have formed a diatomite duplex since 1994, earning the nickname “Kruk and Kuip.” But up until the 2010’s, they called a lot more Giants losses than wins, something brother Glen is now getting used to.

Glen missed out on broadcasting the “Moneyball” teams of the early 2000’s, but since working full time in 2006, Glen has become a big voice in a small losing market. Since Kuiper #2 joined former A’s catcher Fosse in the booth, they’ve worked well together. They don’t have a dual nickname like “Kruk and Kuip,” but the two’s chemistry is certainly comparable. Duane says “it is Outta Here,” but Glen has “And that baby’s gone,” it’s voiced in a different tone but recorded almost equally as efficient.

Although Glen has experienced many uncompetitive seasons. His voice has been heard for some magical moments. Most notably Dallas Braden’s perfect game in 2010 and recently Sean Manaea’s no-hitter against the Red Sox.

Like Candlestick Park, the Oakland Alameda Coliseum is not a great place to watch a ballgame. But while seeing a game on the television, Glen’s voice and excitement level make as if the Coliseum is as enjoyable as AT&T Park. That describes the effect he has on viewers.

There is another Kuiper brother also involved in baseball. Jeff, the producer for the Giants. Isn’t that terrific? Three brothers who love baseball, working in baseball near each other. To quote Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto, “Holy Cow.”

If there ever are again two play-by-play men who are brothers working during the same era in baseball, I’d be shocked. But if it does happen, I think it’s fair to say the Kuiper’s are the gold standard and it may just take triplets to surpass Duane and Glen as the greatest story in the booth.

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