Craig Kusick
Encyclopedia
Craig Robert Kusick was an American
first baseman
and designated hitter
in Major League Baseball
who played nearly his entire career from to for the Minnesota Twins
.
His son Craig Kusick, Jr.
led Wisconsin–LaCrosse to the 1995
Division III football championship
as a quarterback
, received the Melberger Award
as the top Division III player, and later played in the Arena Football League.
and grew up in the suburb of Greenfield
. After attending the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, he was signed by the Twins in 1970. He broke in with the team in September 1973, and gradually took over first base duties from Harmon Killebrew
, but was primarily used as a DH from 1976-78 when Rod Carew
was moved over from second base
. On August 27, 1975 Kusick tied a major league record by being hit by pitch
es three times in an 11-inning game against the Milwaukee Brewers
. His career peaked with a 1977 season in which he batted
.254 with 12 home run
s and 45 runs batted in
. After hitting .173 in 1978, and posting a .241 mark through 24 games in 1979, his contract was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays
in midseason. He hit .204 in 24 more games with the Blue Jays before being released after the season. He ended his career with a .235 batting average, 46 HRs, 171 RBI, 291 hits
, 155 runs
and 11 stolen base
s in 497 games. In his brief stint with Toronto he also made one appearance as a relief pitcher
in a 24-2 blowout loss against the California Angels
, allowing three hits and two runs in 3-2/3 innings
for a 4.91 earned run average
.
Kusick later was named baseball coach at Rosemount High School
in Rosemount, Minnesota
from 1982 to 2004. Seven of his teams played in the state tournament.
, Kusick died of leukemia
on September 27, 2006, three days before his 58th birthday, in St. Paul. He died nine months after his wife Sarabeth
(October 27, 1949 — December 22, 2005) succumbed to ovarian cancer
; they were survived by their two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played nearly his entire career from to for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
His son Craig Kusick, Jr.
Craig Kusick, Jr.
Craig Robert Kusick, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played four seasons, two for the Milwaukee Mustangs and two for the Grand Rapids Rampage...
led Wisconsin–LaCrosse to the 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
Division III football championship
NCAA Division III national football championship
The NCAA Division III National Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the NCAA's former "College Division"....
as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, received the Melberger Award
Melberger Award
The Melberger Award is given annually to an outstanding U.S. college football player in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The award is named after Clifford Melberger and is presented by Diversified Information Technologies, which Mr...
as the top Division III player, and later played in the Arena Football League.
Biography
He was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and grew up in the suburb of Greenfield
Greenfield, Wisconsin
Greenfield is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2000 census.-History:Greenfield was originally created as the Town of Kinnickinnic around 1839. On Feb. 19, 1841, the name of the town was changed to Greenfield, taking its name from the name of the...
. After attending the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, he was signed by the Twins in 1970. He broke in with the team in September 1973, and gradually took over first base duties from Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
, but was primarily used as a DH from 1976-78 when Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
was moved over from second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. On August 27, 1975 Kusick tied a major league record by being hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
es three times in an 11-inning game against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. His career peaked with a 1977 season in which he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.254 with 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 45 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. After hitting .173 in 1978, and posting a .241 mark through 24 games in 1979, his contract was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in midseason. He hit .204 in 24 more games with the Blue Jays before being released after the season. He ended his career with a .235 batting average, 46 HRs, 171 RBI, 291 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 155 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 11 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 497 games. In his brief stint with Toronto he also made one appearance as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in a 24-2 blowout loss against the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, allowing three hits and two runs in 3-2/3 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
for a 4.91 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Kusick later was named baseball coach at Rosemount High School
Rosemount High School
Rosemount High School is a public four-year high school in Rosemount, Minnesota founded in 1918. The school is a member of Minnesota Independent School District 196...
in Rosemount, Minnesota
Rosemount, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,619 people, 4,742 households, and 3,931 families residing in the city. The population density was 434.2 people per square mile . There were 4,845 housing units at an average density of 143.9 per square mile...
from 1982 to 2004. Seven of his teams played in the state tournament.
Personal life
A resident of Apple Valley, MinnesotaApple Valley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,527 people, 16,344 households, and 12,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,625.5 people per square mile . There were 16,536 housing units at an average density of 953.6 per square mile...
, Kusick died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on September 27, 2006, three days before his 58th birthday, in St. Paul. He died nine months after his wife Sarabeth
(October 27, 1949 — December 22, 2005) succumbed to ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
; they were survived by their two children.