Books and articles about Harvey Kuenn

The unassuming, broad-faced Tiger bonus baby reached the majors in his first pro season after just 63 games in the low minors. En route to the 1953 Rookie of the Year Award, Kuenn hit .308 with a league-leading 209 hits, setting a ML rookie record with 679 at-bats and an AL rookie record with 167 singles. Smooth and consistent, Kuenn was Detroit's shortstop from 1953 to 1957 and then switched to the outfield. A line-drive hitter, he led the AL in hits four times and won the league batting title in 1959 with a .353 mark. Traded to Cleveland the next year for home run champion Rocky Colavito, he was booed by Indian fans who blamed him for Colavito's departure. Nevertheless, Kuenn hit .308. He spent the remainder of his playing career in the NL and retired after the 1966 season with 2,092 hits.

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Made a Brewer coach in 1972, the native of Milwaukee overcame heart and stomach surgery and the amputation of his right leg below the knee. In June 1982 he took over as manager of the fifth-place Brewers. He took the team, known as "Harvey's Wallbangers" for their heavy hitting, to the 1982 World Series, where they lost in seven games to St. Louis. Kuenn was named Manager of the Year. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 14, 1953: The NL wins its fourth All-Star Game in a row, 5-1 in Cincinnati's Crosley Field behind the stellar pitching of Robin Roberts and Warren Spahn. Cardinal OF Enos Slaughter gets two hits, scores twice, and robs Harvey Kuenn of an extra-base blow. » December 14, 1953: Detroit's Harvey Kuenn is voted American League Rookie of the Year. Kuenn hit .308 for the season. » April 30, 1955: Harvey Kuenn of the Tigers goes 5-for-5 in an 11-7 win over the Senators. » July 23, 1959: With Ty Cobb in the stands, the Tigers make 15 hits to beat the Senators, 11–2. Harvey Kuenn, the American League's leading hitter, is 4-for-4 and scores four runs. Bunning allows four hits to win. » April 17, 1960: On Easter Sunday, Frank Lane brings American League batting champ Harvey Kuenn to Cleveland and sends co-HR champ Rocky Colavito to Detroit. Colavito, an unparalleled fan favorite in Cleveland, had been a brief Spring hold out for more money. Colavito was on first base in an exhibition game in Memphis against the White Sox when manager Joe Gordon informed him of the trade. Rocky will hit 173 home runs before returning to the Tribe on January 20, 1965. Kuenn will report to Cleveland, pull a muscle, and never be the same hitter. He'll be traded after one season. » December 3, 1960: Cleveland trades OF Harvey Kuenn to San Francisco for OF Willie Kirkland and P Johnny Antonelli. » September 19, 1961: The Giants clobber Warren Spahn for four home runs, one of them a grand slam by Willie Mays, and then rally in the 8th and 9th to top the Braves, 11–10. The two teams combine for eight home runs and 57 total bases, but the short ball wins it -- Harvey Kuenn's tie breaking single in the 8th, and Ed Bailey's sacks full single in the 9th. » May 29, 1965: OF Harvey Kuenn, P Bob Hendley and C Ed Bailey are traded from the Giants to the Cubs for C Dick Bertell and 1B/OF Len Gabrielson. » September 28, 1975: Put me in, coach! Two hours before game time, Milwaukee fires manager Del Crandall. Harvey Kuenn fills in as the Brewers win their finale 7–0, behind Larry Anderson. Anderson is just the 3rd pitcher this century to throw a shutout in his only ML start. George Scott drives in 2 runs to give him the AL lead with 109. » February 16, 1980: Brewers coach Harvey Kuenn has his right leg amputated below the knee after four operations to remove a blood clot. » June 2, 1982: Milwaukee fires manager Buck Rodgers and replaces him with batting coach Harvey Kuenn. » October 3, 1983: Less than a year after leading the club to its first World Series, Brewers manager Harvey Kuenn is fired and replaced by Rene Lachemann. Milwaukee finished 5th in the American League East this season with an 87-75 record. » September 9, 1997: Boston loses to the Yankees, 8-6, despite two RBIs for Nomar Garciaparra. The ribbies give Garciaparra' 87 on the year, for a new major league record for leadoff men. Harvey Kuenn held the old mark with 85 in 1956 for Detroit.