Here we go again on Friday Funday, and we’re going to look at one of the most lovable major leaguers ever: John Kruk. First off, he is one of those .300 career hitters who is not in the Hall of Fame, but he also endeared himself to a fans in a variety ways during his 10-year career in baseball. One of those ways was during his All-Star Game plate appearance against Randy Johnson in 1993. We all could relate, for sure.

His physical appearance, too, gave the illusion to fans that he was just like us—and that maybe in some alternate universe? We also could make it to the majors with a tummy paunch and a mullet. Yet clearly Kruk was a talented ball player, at least with a bat in his hand. He wasn’t the worst of fielding first basemen/left fielders, either, but he wasn’t really close to being even average, either. He was born to DH, really, for sure.

And yet he barely played for any American League team during his career (1986-1995), playing just 45 games out of 1,200 for the Chicago White Sox at the very end of his MLB residency. And he hit .308 in that stretch with the Pale Hose in his age-34 season, the last of his career. He still could hit well on his way out the door, which is saying something for a guy listed at 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds (hat weight might not be accurate …).

Regardless, his .842 career OPS reflects his ability to hit with a little power (100 career home runs, 199 career doubles) and draw plenty of walks (649). He didn’t strike out (701 times) that much, either, showing his ability as a contact hitter. Twice, he even stole bases in the double digits (1987, 1990), and his caeeer triples (34) show he had at least a little get-up-and-go ability when the situation warranted it. Ah, Krukkie.

A third-round draft pick in 1981 by the San Diego Padres out of a small college, he made his MLB debut in 1986, and he hit. 309 in 122 games as a rookie. That earned him enough ROTY votes for seventh place that season, but perhaps the best thing that happened to Kruk was that he got to play next to Tony Gwynn. Even if through mere osmosis, Kruk had to have learned plenty from the one of the best hitters in MLB history.

Kruk had an outstanding second season in 1987: .313, 20 HRs, 91 RBI, 18 SBs, .894 OPS, 140 OPS+. His production fell off tremendously in 1988 and 1989, however, and he found himself traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in a random deal featuring an exchange of relative nobodies. Yet Kruk was able to thrive in Philly, hitting .309 in five-plus seasons with the Phillies and getting to the postseason in 1993.

He hit .298 in that one postseason, with an .899 OPS, so he was not overmatched in October at all, drawing 11 walks against 12 Ks. His team came up short in the World Series, but Kruk’s All-Star Game appearance that summer certainly earned him a big fan following in the days before the Internet existed. That postseason would be his only playoff experience in his MLB career, but he played for two more years, still.

Seven times in his career, he hit .300-plus for a season. Other than his 1988 aberration in San Diego (.241 BA), his other two seasons below .300 finished with batting averages in the .290s—a pretty incredible achievement. The career .397 OBP is also pretty stellar, in combination with his .300 batting average. Kruk remains one of those professional athletes so down to earth, we all wanted to have a beer with him. Cheers!