GaryMrMets
06-27-2005, 04:37 PM
Kuiper Brothers Broadcast Game Together
By JANIE McCAULEY
.c The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Duane Kuiper quickly told his younger brother how it would be: The family's elder statesman would be calling more innings during their first broadcast together.
Duane is 13 years older, so there was little arguing from Glen.
The brothers announced Saturday's game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics for the Giants' local broadcast station.
The added bonus? Their other brother, Jeff, produced the Bay Bridge Series matchup, and their 80-year-old father, Henry, a standout fast-pitch softball hurler in his day, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
``I would say that probably is a first,'' with three brothers, said Glen, 42, who broadcasts A's games for TV and radio. ``We've tried to downplay it as much as we can. But, obviously, it's going to be very special for us. ... It's almost one of those things where you look forward to it and you look forward to when it's over and you can go back and watch.''
Last week, the brothers found out FOX had dropped the game as a national telecast and realized this could happen. They've thought about the possibility for years, and thought it might work out a few years earlier but the Giants didn't hire Glen. Officials for both teams had to agree to the split broadcast, and the brothers are grateful for the rare opportunity.
``We know it's special and will probably never happen again,'' Glen said. ``We said a big thank you to the A's and Giants.''
The plan was for Duane, an 11-year major league infielder in his 21st season announcing in the big leagues, to call play-by-play for the first, second, third, eighth and ninth innings. Glen, who played three seasons of Class-A ball in the Cardinals organization, did the fourth through seventh.
``Let's put it this way, I set the ground rules when we were kids and it hasn't changed,'' said Duane, 55. ``He's lucky he's doing four, but that's because my dad's here and I want to be fair.''
Henry has 31 no-hitters in fast pitch softball, so that's where the kids got the baseball bug. He's a proud father - ``You've got to fight it all the time,'' he said - and came from Wisconsin with wife, Pauline, for the special day. The Kuipers' mother, Annette, died in 1992.
``It means a lot. That's why we're here,'' Henry said.
He moved a few feet in from the mound for his underhanded toss - ``a real slow changeup,'' he said afterward with a big smile. ``I was just glad the guy caught it.''
Said Glen: ``How 'bout the 'ol man, he's psyched!''
So was Ken Pries, the A's vice president of broadcasting and communications. He worked for two weeks to get this game on local TV - communicating with FOX, the commissioner's office and the Giants to agree on the plan and find a station. He woke up in the middle of the night thinking of ways to make it happen.
``It's been crazy. It's been insane,'' Pries said. ``We came up with the idea of who's the most impartial for both sides and the Kuiper brothers were a natural. They're well respected in the area and could split the innings down the middle.''
And when someone backed out Friday for the first pitch, Henry was the obvious choice.
After his pro career ended, Glen moved to the Bay Area to be closer to his television brothers. A career path in TV and radio was a natural move, and he earned his degree in broadcasting at San Francisco State.
The 48-year-old Jeff wanted no part of the microphone, preferring behind-the-scenes detail work.
``I'm right where I want to be,'' he said. ``I'm trying to approach this as another game. It's my job to do that for the fans. These guys are both pros, and we want to play it straight.''
Others made that difficult.
As Duane and Jeff made their way to the lunchroom before the game, they got a little razzing.
``Too many Kuipers in one elevator,'' said Giants hitting coach Joe Lefebvre. ``Break 'em up, spread 'em out.''
Then Tommi Valente, a member of the press lounge staff, said, ``Two Kuipers, where's the third?''
``They said they always tried to lose him when he was little, too, and he always found them,'' she said. ``Their mother must have been a saint.''
Turns out Glen was doing a little prep work. After all, the brothers certainly wanted to impress each other.
06/25/05 20:33 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By JANIE McCAULEY
.c The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Duane Kuiper quickly told his younger brother how it would be: The family's elder statesman would be calling more innings during their first broadcast together.
Duane is 13 years older, so there was little arguing from Glen.
The brothers announced Saturday's game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics for the Giants' local broadcast station.
The added bonus? Their other brother, Jeff, produced the Bay Bridge Series matchup, and their 80-year-old father, Henry, a standout fast-pitch softball hurler in his day, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
``I would say that probably is a first,'' with three brothers, said Glen, 42, who broadcasts A's games for TV and radio. ``We've tried to downplay it as much as we can. But, obviously, it's going to be very special for us. ... It's almost one of those things where you look forward to it and you look forward to when it's over and you can go back and watch.''
Last week, the brothers found out FOX had dropped the game as a national telecast and realized this could happen. They've thought about the possibility for years, and thought it might work out a few years earlier but the Giants didn't hire Glen. Officials for both teams had to agree to the split broadcast, and the brothers are grateful for the rare opportunity.
``We know it's special and will probably never happen again,'' Glen said. ``We said a big thank you to the A's and Giants.''
The plan was for Duane, an 11-year major league infielder in his 21st season announcing in the big leagues, to call play-by-play for the first, second, third, eighth and ninth innings. Glen, who played three seasons of Class-A ball in the Cardinals organization, did the fourth through seventh.
``Let's put it this way, I set the ground rules when we were kids and it hasn't changed,'' said Duane, 55. ``He's lucky he's doing four, but that's because my dad's here and I want to be fair.''
Henry has 31 no-hitters in fast pitch softball, so that's where the kids got the baseball bug. He's a proud father - ``You've got to fight it all the time,'' he said - and came from Wisconsin with wife, Pauline, for the special day. The Kuipers' mother, Annette, died in 1992.
``It means a lot. That's why we're here,'' Henry said.
He moved a few feet in from the mound for his underhanded toss - ``a real slow changeup,'' he said afterward with a big smile. ``I was just glad the guy caught it.''
Said Glen: ``How 'bout the 'ol man, he's psyched!''
So was Ken Pries, the A's vice president of broadcasting and communications. He worked for two weeks to get this game on local TV - communicating with FOX, the commissioner's office and the Giants to agree on the plan and find a station. He woke up in the middle of the night thinking of ways to make it happen.
``It's been crazy. It's been insane,'' Pries said. ``We came up with the idea of who's the most impartial for both sides and the Kuiper brothers were a natural. They're well respected in the area and could split the innings down the middle.''
And when someone backed out Friday for the first pitch, Henry was the obvious choice.
After his pro career ended, Glen moved to the Bay Area to be closer to his television brothers. A career path in TV and radio was a natural move, and he earned his degree in broadcasting at San Francisco State.
The 48-year-old Jeff wanted no part of the microphone, preferring behind-the-scenes detail work.
``I'm right where I want to be,'' he said. ``I'm trying to approach this as another game. It's my job to do that for the fans. These guys are both pros, and we want to play it straight.''
Others made that difficult.
As Duane and Jeff made their way to the lunchroom before the game, they got a little razzing.
``Too many Kuipers in one elevator,'' said Giants hitting coach Joe Lefebvre. ``Break 'em up, spread 'em out.''
Then Tommi Valente, a member of the press lounge staff, said, ``Two Kuipers, where's the third?''
``They said they always tried to lose him when he was little, too, and he always found them,'' she said. ``Their mother must have been a saint.''
Turns out Glen was doing a little prep work. After all, the brothers certainly wanted to impress each other.
06/25/05 20:33 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.