Harvey Kuenn

Harvey Kuenn
Kuenn, circa 1959
Outfielder/Shortstop
Born:(1930-12-04)December 4, 1930 West Allis, Wisconsin,U.S.
Died:February 28, 1988(1988-02-28)(aged 57) Peoria, Arizona,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 6, 1952, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1966, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Batting average	.303
Hits	2,092
Home runs	87
Runs batted in	671
Teams
As player Detroit Tigers(1952–1959) Cleveland Indians(1960) San Francisco Giants(1961–1965) Chicago Cubs(1965–1966) Philadelphia Phillies(1966) As manager Milwaukee Brewers(1975,1982–1983) As coach Milwaukee Brewers(1971–1982)
Career highlights and awards
10×All-Star(1953–1960²) AL Rookie of the Year(1953) AL batting champion(1959) American Family Field Walk of Fame Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor

Harvey Edward Kuenn(/kiːn/;December 4, 1930 – February 28, 1988) was an Americanprofessional baseballplayer,coach,andmanagerinMajor League Baseball(MLB). As ashortstopandoutfielder,he played with theDetroit Tigers(1952–1959),Cleveland Indians(1960),San Francisco Giants(1961–1965),Chicago Cubs(1965–1966), andPhiladelphia Phillies(1966). Kuenn batted and threw right-handed. After retiring, he managed theMilwaukee Brewers(1975, 1982–1983).

Early life and career

Kuenn was born inWest Allis, Wisconsin,but raised in neighboringMilwaukeeand attendedLutheran High School.He was the only child born toGerman-AmericansHarvey and Dorothy (Wrensch) Kuenn.He once kicked (dropkicked) a 53-yard field goal for Lutheran in a football game, which is tied for the eighth-longest field goal in Wisconsin high school football history. He played collegiate baseball at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison,where he was a member ofDelta Upsilonfraternity. Signed by Detroit as an amateurfree agentin 1952, Kuenn was named the starting shortstop after joining the team late in the season. In his first full season in 1953, hehit.308with 94runsand led the major leagues with 209hits,setting a major league rookie record with 167singles.He received theAmerican League Rookie of the YearandTSNRookie of the Yearawards. Also in that season, he received the first of his ten consecutive selections to theAll-Star Game.On October 29, 1955, he married former Miss Wisconsin 1954, Dixie Ann Sarchet in her hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

A line drive hitter who hit to all fields, Kuenn showed consistency in the next two seasons, compiling very similar numbers: he hit.306 with 81 runs and 201 hits in 1954, then hit.306 with 101 runs and 190 hits in 1955. In 1956, he set career highs with 12 home runs and 88 RBIs and raised his average to.332, surpassed only byMickey Mantle(.353) andTed Williams(.345) in the batting race. A year later, he slumped badly to.277. But he rebounded in 1958 with.319, ending third in the league behind Williams (.328) andPete Runnels(.322), and surpassingAl Kaline,Vic Power,Bob Cerv,Mantle,Rocky Colavito,Minnie MiñosoandNellie Fox.In that season, he switched to the outfield, where he played all three positions over the remainder of his career.

Later playing career

After winning theAmerican Leaguebatting crown in 1959 with a.353 average, Kuenn was traded to Cleveland forRocky Colavito,who had won thehome runtitle with 42 homers (the trade that is often referred to by Cleveland fans as "the curse of Rocky Colavito"). With the Indians, Kuenn hit.308 in the 1960 season. He finished his career in theNational Leagueplaying for the Giants, Cubs and Phillies,retiring at the end of the 1966 season.

In a 15-season playing career, Kuenn was a.303 hitter with 87 home runs and 671RBIin 1833games.He led the AL in hits four times and doubles three times, and finished with 2,092 hits. Playing all three outfield positions and the infield except catcher and second base, Kuenn recorded a.966fielding percentage.

Kuenn had the dubious distinction of making the final out in two ofSandy Koufax's fourno-hitters—in 1963 and 1965. In the former, the final out was on a ground ball back to Koufax.In the latter, he struck out for the final out inKoufax's perfect game.

Kuenn was activated by the Brewers for the last two weeks of 1970, in order for him to qualify for a pension. He never appeared in a game, however.

Milwaukee Brewers career

Kuenn became a Milwaukee Brewers coach in1972and served as aninterim managerin1975.He experienced a series of medical complications beginning in the mid-1970s, including heart and stomach surgeries, and in February 1980, he had his right leg amputated just below the knee after ablood clotcut circulation. He returned to coaching only six months after the operation, with a prosthetic leg.

In 1982, Kuenn managed theMilwaukee Brewersto their onlyWorld Seriesappearance to date after taking over the team in mid-season. He was selected by theAssociated Pressas the ALManager of the Year,after taking the Brewers in June from a 23–24 start to theAL Easttitle with a 95–67 record. Milwaukee then won the AL pennant after rallying from a 2–0 deficit and beating theCalifornia Angelsin the best-of-fiveAmerican League Championship Series.They ultimately lost the1982 World Seriesto theSt. Louis Cardinalsin seven games.

During his tenure, the hard-hitting Brewers were known as"Harvey's Wallbangers".At the time, the Brewers' roster includedCecil Cooper,Ben Oglivie,Gorman Thomas,and futureHall of FamersPaul Molitor,Ted SimmonsandRobin Yount.

Kuenn was fired as manager after theBrewersfinished fifth in the AL East with an otherwise respectable 87–75 record in 1983. He compiled a 160–118 managerial record.

After being replaced, Kuenn worked as a major leaguescoutingconsultant for the Brewers.

Death

Kuenn died from complications from heart disease and diabetes at his home inPeoria, Arizona,in 1988 at the age of 57. The Brewers wore a patch with his initials during the 1988 season to commemorate him. That same year, he was elected to theWisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.In 2002, his name was added to the Brewers' honorarium with a plaque in the concourse circlingAmerican Family Field.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball batting champions
• List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
• Major League Baseball titles leaders

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
• Harvey Kuenn managerial career statisticsatBaseball-Reference
• Harvey Kuennat Baseball Almanac
• Harvey KuennatFind a Grave