John Kruk was on the Peacock broadcast of the Cubs/Phillies game a couple weeks ago, and in addition to making me lament anew the demise of Baseball Tonight, it got me onto John Kruk’s Wikipedia page. Because I hadn’t heard him introduced, and I wanted to make sure it was John Kruk.
And that, my friends, is how I learned that John Kruk once found out he had testicular cancer because his cup broke on a Mitch Williams pickoff throw. From the Seattle Times, on March 10th, 1994:
PHILADELPHIA – An errant pickoff throw by old pal Mitch Williams may have led to the discovery of cancer in Philadelphia Phillie first baseman John Kruk.
Doctors said a throw by Williams that hit Kruk in the groin last summer led doctors to discover a cancerous tumor in his right testicle. The tumor, called a seminoma, often goes undetected because it does not cause pain, said Phillie physician Dr. Phillip Marone.
Kruk, 33, was in good spirits yesterday, one day after doctors removed his testicle during an hourlong operation in Philadelphia, Marone said.
He was resting in a Philadelphia hotel and was expected to return today to Clearwater, Fla., the Phillie spring-training site. He might begin light workouts in 10 days and is expected to fully recover.
“It was no big deal,” Marone said. “It’s like taking an appendix out – almost.”
Doctors believe the cancer was confined to the testicle, Marone said.
A starter in last season’s All-Star Game, Kruk had experienced discomfort in his groin since being struck with the throw to first base by Williams. The force of the blow broke Kruk’s supportive cup.
Marone said the throw by Williams did not cause the tumor, but may have helped Kruk discover it. Doctors examined Kruk after he complained of a hematoma, or pocket of blood, on his scrotal sac.
Despite the pain in his groin, Kruk hit .316 with 14 homers, 85 RBIs and 100 runs last season.
Thoughts:
- I had no idea cups could be broken by human throws. I will have to consider this the next time I’m receiving pickoffs from Mitch Williams.
- Oh boy, I hope Mitch Williams isn’t dead.
- Not dead! We can move on. (This is like passing a level on a video game.)
- I don’t think I really have many more thoughts, actually. Just happy for John Kruk. Miss having him on my TV every night.
