The day Duane Kuiper goes yard

Duane Kuiper

Much to the surprise of Chicago White Sox pitcher Steve Stone – not to mention the hometown Cleveland crowd of 6,236 – Indians second baseman and No. 2 hitter Duane Kuiper finally turns on a pitch.

And he hits it hard.

Hits it high.

Hits it deep.

And, for the 175-pound Kuiper, real deep.

This is news 49 years ago tonight, given that Kuiper goes his first three-plus seasons and 1,382 at-bats in the major leagues without hitting a home run.

That changes in career at-bat No. 1,383 as Kuiper homers off Stone with one out in the bottom of first inning to give the Indians a 1-0 lead en route to their 9-2 victory over the White Sox.

The left handed-hitting Kuiper sends his drive off the right-handed Stone into the right-field bleachers at Cleveland’s old Municipal Stadium.

Alas for Kuiper, he has another 1,996 at-bats in the majors without any more homers before his otherwise fine, 12-year career ends in 1985 with the San Francisco Giants.

He remains today with the Giants as a broadcaster.

Just guessing that the subject of Kuiper’s one and only homer comes up in conversation today during the Giants’ day-night doubleheader against Arizona.

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