Athletes - Tony Kubek

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	Athletes - Tony Kubek

Anthony Christopher Kubek (born October 12, 1936 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a retired American baseball player and television broadcaster.

A left-handed batter, Kubek signed his first professional contract with the New York Yankees and rose rapidly through the Yanks' farm system. He was 20 years of age when he played his first game in Major League Baseball in 1957, and - except for one year (1962) spent largely in the U.S. military - remained with the Yankees until his retirement due to a back injury at the close of the 1965 season.

Kubek played 1,092 games, 882 of them at shortstop (although he also was an outfielder and utility infielder in his early career), compiling a lifetime batting average of .266 with 57 home runs. During his nine years with the Yankees, he played on seven American League pennant winners (1957-58, 1960-64) and three world champions (1958, 1961-1962). In 1957, Kubek won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. In Game 3 of the 1957 World Series, he had one of the best World Series games a rookie has ever had. In his prime he was a dangerous hitter and formed a top double play combination with second baseman (and roommate) Bobby Richardson. In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, Kubek was victimized by a bad-hop ground ball that struck him in the throat; Kubek was badly injured and the batter, Bill Virdon, reached first base, enabling the Pittsburgh Pirates to rally in a game they eventually won 10-9 on a ninth-inning homer by Bill Mazeroski. Kubek was curiously sensitive about the Bill Virdon incident. When future broadcasting partner Bob Costas once referenced Virdon's smash on the air, Kubek put his hand on Costas' thigh to stop him.

Broadcasting Career

NBC Sports

Upon his retirement, Kubek became a color commentator on NBC's Saturday Game of the Week telecasts. He spent 24 years at the network, teaming with play-by-play announcers such as Jim Simpson, Curt Gowdy (whom Kubek called his favorite partner), Joe Garagiola, and Bob Costas. In addition to the weekly in-season games, Kubek worked over a dozen World Series (1969-1976, 1978, 1980, and 1982), plus League Championship Series (1969-1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1989), and All-Star Games (1969-1975, 1977, 1979, and 1981).

He also worked local telecasts for the Toronto Blue Jays on The Sports Network and CTV after they entered the AL in 1977. The Toronto Star said that Kubek "educated a whole generation of Canadian baseball fans without being condescending or simplistic." During the winter time, Kubek would go hunting, coach junior high basketball, and wait for baseball to resume.

Kubek initially had trouble adjusting to the world of broadcasting. Although he had a lot to say, he was gangling, he tended to stutter, and talked too fast. Curt Gowdy soon suggested to Kubek that he should work offseason to improve his delivery. Buying a recorder, Kubek often read poetry aloud for 20 minutes a day. Kubek eventually became a respected broadcaster, doing both play-by-play and commentary.

As both a local and national sportscaster, Kubek was known for his outspokenness. While calling the 1972 American League Championship Series, Kubek said that Oakland's Bert Campaneris throwing his bat at Detroit's Lerrin LaGrow (who knocked Campaneris down) was justified. Kubek believed that any pitch aimed squarely at the batter's legs can endanger his career. Incensed, Detroit's Chrysler Corporation phoned Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who then called NBC, which in return, pressured Kubek.

On April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron hit his record breaking 715th career home run, Kubek, who was calling the game with Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola, criticized Bowie Kuhn on air, for failing to be in Atlanta on that history night. Kuhn argued that he had a prior engagement that he could not break.

In the 10th inning of Game 3 of the 1975 World Series, Cincinnati's César Gerónimo reached first base. Then, Boston catcher Carlton Fisk flung Ed Armbrister's bunt into center field. Kubek on the NBC telecast, immediately charged that Armbrister interfered despite the fact that home plate umpire Larry Barnett didn't agree. After Joe Morgan drove in the game winning run for the Reds (by a score of 6-5), Barnett blamed Kubek for death alarum. Later, Kubek got 1,000 letters dubbing him a Boston stooge.

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Athletes - Tony Kubek

Broadcasting Career

NBC Sports

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