Bill Kunkel (baseball)
Bill Kunkel | |
---|---|
Pitcher / Umpire | |
Born: Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. | July 7, 1936|
Died: May 4, 1985 Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 48)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 15, 1961, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 21, 1963, for the New York Yankees | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 6–6 |
Earned run average | 4.29 |
Strikeouts | 83 |
Teams | |
|
William Gustave James Kunkel (July 7, 1936 – May 4, 1985) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1961 to 1963, who went on to a career as an American League umpire from 1968 through 1984. As a player, he was listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 187 pounds (85 kg); he both threw and batted right-handed. His son Jeff was a major league shortstop from 1984 to 1992.
Playing career
Kunkel was born in
Kansas City Athletics
In November 1960, Kunkel was selected by the
Kunkel finished the 1962 season with Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, pitching to a 6–1 record with 2.35 ERA in 15 games (two starts) and 46 innings of work.
New York Yankees
Kunkel was again a Rule 5 draft pick, this time by the New York Yankees on November 26, 1962.[4] With the 1963 Yankees, he made 22 relief appearances with a 3–2 record and 2.72 ERA in 46+1⁄3 innings pitched. Kunkel was on the Yankees' roster for the 1963 World Series,[5] but he did not make an appearance, as the Yankees were swept by the Dodgers.
Kunkel returned to the Braves' system for the 1964 season, spending time with two Triple-A clubs, the
At the end of
Overall, Kunkel appeared in MLB during three seasons, compiling a 6–6 record, 4.29 ERA, 83 strikeouts, and 49 walks in 142+2⁄3 innings pitched. As a batter, he hit 3-for-14 (.214) with an RBI and two runs scored.
Officiating career
Kunkel worked as a referee in the National Basketball Association for two seasons, 1966–67 and 1967–68, and in the American Basketball Association during the 1968–69 season.[11]
Kunkel was an umpire in the
Kunkel officiated in the World Series in 1974 and 1980, and in the American League Championship Series in 1971, 1975, 1978 and 1982. He also worked the All-Star Game in 1972 and 1977, calling balls and strikes for the second contest. Kunkel's experience as the plate umpire is documented in the MLB official highlight film of the 1977 All-Star Game.
Notable games
On August 10, 1971, Kunkel was the home plate umpire when Harmon Killebrew hit his 500th career home run.[13] As a pitcher, Kunkel had given up three home runs to Killebrew during the 1961 season.[14][15][16]
On September 28, 1974, Kunkel was the first base umpire when
On September 30, 1980, Kunkel caught pitcher Rick Honeycutt of the Seattle Mariners using a thumb tack to illegally alter baseballs during a game against the Kansas City Royals.[21] Kunkel ejected both Honeycutt and Seattle manager Maury Wills.[22]
On April 25, 1981, Kunkel was the crew chief when Seattle manager Maury Wills had the
Death
Kunkel died on May 4, 1985 of cancer at age 48 in Red Bank, New Jersey.[25] During his battle with cancer, Kunkel was featured in Safe at Home, a 10-minute film released by the American Cancer Society. Regarding his recovery, Kunkel stated that "I'm living proof that there's life after cancer. ... My problem never enters my mind until someone brings it up."[26]
Legacy
Kunkel's uniform number 9, assigned when the American League adopted umpire numbers in 1980, was retired after his death until the umpiring staffs were unified in 2000, when it was assigned to Brian Gorman.
At the time of his death, Kunkel was one of only two umpires still using the outside chest protector, Jerry Neudecker being the other.
Kunkel was the last MLB player who later became a major league umpire.[citation needed]
In addition to his son Jeff Kunkel playing in MLB; son Kevin Kunkel,[27] [28] both had minor league playing careers. Father-and-son Bill and Jeff were featured on a Topps baseball card in 1985, # 136.[29]
There is a park named in Kunkel's honor in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township, New Jersey,[30] where he had been a longtime resident.[31]
See also
References
- ^ Bill Kunkel Baseball Stats, Baseball Almanac. Accessed August 5, 2019. "High School: Demarest High School (Hoboken, NJ)"
- ^ "New York Yankees 5, Kansas City Athletics 3". Retrosheet. April 15, 1961. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Athletics Active". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. AP. August 4, 1962. p. 18. Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Majors Pay Draft High Of $695G," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, November 27, 1962. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. October 1, 1963. p. 41. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Roberts, Charlie (April 16, 1965). "Crax in New Home; Turley Mound Tutor". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 49. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Extra Bases". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. April 26, 1965. p. 54. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Reddy, Bill (August 2, 1965). "Tuttle Stars In Tribe Win". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p. 14. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Baseball-reference.com
- ^ "Tigers Call Stanley in Emergency". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. August 31, 1965. p. 14. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Ralby, Herb (October 3, 1968). "Off the Cuff". The Boston Globe. p. 47. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Retrosheet
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles 4, Minnesota Twins 3". Retrosheet. August 10, 1971. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins 9, Kansas City Athletics 3". Retrosheet. July 1, 1961. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins 9, Kansas City Athletics 4". Retrosheet. August 15, 1961. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins 7, Kansas City Athletics 0 (2)". Retrosheet. September 10, 1961. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ISBN 0-934289-00-X.
- ^ "California Angels 4, Minnesota Twins 0". Retrosheet. September 28, 1974. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ Coberly, p. 172.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics 5, California Angels 0". Retrosheet. September 28, 1975. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ "Displaying the Evidence". The Daily News Journal. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. AP. October 1, 1980. p. 13. Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kansas City Royals 7, Seattle Mariners 5". Retrosheet. September 30, 1980. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics 7, Seattle Mariners 4". Retrosheet. April 25, 1981. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- The San Francisco Examiner. p. 56. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bill Kunkel, AL ump, dies of cancer at 48". The Baltimore Sun. May 5, 1985. p. 51. Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Baseball notes". The Baltimore Sun. May 29, 1983. p. 40. Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Alfano, Peter (May 23, 1983). "An Umpire's Son Gets Ready for Big Leagues". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ MLB bio
- ^ "1985 Topps Bill Kunkel, Jeff Kunkel #136". kronozio.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Bill Kunkel Memorial Park". Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via Google Maps.
- ^ "Kunkel undergoes tests". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. Associated Press. February 18, 1983. Retrieved August 14, 2012 – via Google News.
Further reading
- Obituary at The New York Times
- "July 7 – Happy Birthday Bill Kunkel". Pinstripe Birthdays. July 7, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet