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.

Related Topics:
October 12 - 1936 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - American - Baseball - Television - Broadcaster - New York Yankees - Major League Baseball - 1957 - 1965

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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 his prime he was a dangerous hitter and formed a top double play combination with second baseman 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.

Related Topics:
Shortstop - Outfielder - Infielder - Batting average - Home runs - American League - 1957 - American League Rookie of the Year Award - Double play - Second baseman - Bobby Richardson - 1960 World Series - Bill Virdon - Pittsburgh Pirates - Bill Mazeroski - Bob Costas

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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 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.

Related Topics:
Color commentator - NBC - Play-by-play - Announcer - Jim Simpson - Curt Gowdy - Joe Garagiola - Bob Costas - World Series - League Championship Series - All-Star Games - Toronto Blue Jays - The Sports Network - 1977 - Toronto Star - Winter - Hunting

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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.

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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.

Related Topics:
1972 - American League Championship Series - Oakland - Bert Campaneris - Detroit - Lerrin LaGrow - Chrysler Corporation - Bowie Kuhn

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In the 10th inning of Game 3 of the 1975 World Series, Cincinnati's Cesar Geromino 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.

Related Topics:
1975 World Series - Cincinnati - Cesar Geromino - Boston - Carlton Fisk - Ed Armbrister - Joe Morgan

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Kubek and Bob Costas, who teamed with Kubek since 1983, called the final edition (the 981st over all) of NBC's Game of the Week which aired on September 30, 1989. Coincidentally, that particular game featured the Toronto Blue Jays (a team that Kubek was long associated with as a broadcaster) beating Baltimore Orioles 4-3 to clinch the AL East title from the SkyDome. It was the 981st edition of NBC's Game of the Week overall. When the subject came of NBC losing the right to television Major League Baseball for the first time since 1947, Kubek simply said "I can't believe it!"

Related Topics:
1983 - September 30 - 1989 - Baltimore Orioles - SkyDome - 1947

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The team of Kubek and Costas (backing up Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola) proved to be a formiadable pair. Costas believed that his humor loosened Kubek while Kubek's knowledge improved Costas. There were even some who preferred the team of Kubek and Costas over the musings of Vin Scully and the asides of Joe Garagiola. Kubek at first, wasn't happy about once again being assigned the backup game but considered it to be no big ego deal. One of Tony Kubek and Bob Costas' most memorable broadcasts came on June 23, 1984. The duo were at Chicago's Wrigley Field to call an unbelievable 12-11 contest between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Led by superstar second baseman (and future Hall of Famer) Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs rallied from a 9-3 deficit before winning it in extra innings.

Related Topics:
Vin Scully - Joe Garagiola - June 23 - 1984 - Chicago - Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs - St. Louis Cardinals - Hall of Famer - Ryne Sandberg

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When NBC lost its baseball to CBS after the 1989 season, Kubek disappeared from the national scene, although he was briefly a member of the Yankees' local cable-TV announcing team (a gig that earned Kubek $525,000 a year). Ironically, back in 1978, Kubek said of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner that "He's got an expensive toy. Baseball's tough enough without an owner harassing you" After five years of calling games for the Yankees (1990-1994) on the Madison Square Garden Network, Kubek effectively quit broadcasting. Kubek explained his sudden retirement from sportscasting by saying "I hate what the game's become - the greed, the nastiness. You can't be married to baseball, give your heart to it, but when it starts taking over your soul, it's time to say whoa." Kubek added "I want to go home and spend more time with my family. They deserve it more than anyone. I don't need that ego stuff. I feel sorry for those who do." Kubek's resignation coincided with the bitter strike that wound up cancelling the World Series in 1994.

Related Topics:
CBS - 1989 - 1978 - George Steinbrenner - Madison Square Garden Network - Strike - World Series

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