Player Profile: Rusty Kuntz

Rusty Kuntz

White Sox, Twins and Tigers, OF, DH

1979 - 1985

Rusty Kuntz (sounds like 'Koonce' even though it's clearly spelled Kuntz)

Russell Jay Kuntz, was a young man when he was born in the mystic dungheap of Orange, CA that fine February 4th in 1955. He grew up to be a guy destined to coach, 1st base that is...

After being drafted in the 11th round by the Chicago White Sox, Rusty only took 2 years to make it to the bigs for his first in a string of annual cups of coffee. The bean counters in the front offices must have enjoyed mulling over a cup of joe with Rusty Kuntz. He finally got a chance to break through with the buzzsaw 1984 Detroit Tigers. He apparently even hit a 'crucial' sacrifice fly to tie a game. WOW!

Well all those years of coffee and sitting next to coaches surely taught Rusty a thing or two. Even though Rusty Kuntz looked good in those White Sox uni's of the late 70's (Get his throwback jersey here), he would go on to coach with Oklahoma something or other college and sometime recently (maybe now even) the Pittsburgh Pirates. I remember when he was coaching with the Mariners, he got married on the Kingdome rooftop, before they blew it up. I couldn't find it referenced anywhere, but I remember it, so I'm the source!

Anyway, Rusty Kuntz went deep 5 times in his career, and doesn't seem like much of a speedster either, but with 5 career stolen bases he's in the 5-5 club and I'm not! Also, it's kinda weird but baseball reference doesn't have any comparisons of his career to other players? Hmm.

I think his 1985 Fleer baseball card is worth 45¢ or so...

Well, all ya need is a little Carlton Fisk to play a fun game the 'Kevin Bacon Game/degrees of separation' aka baseball oracle. Carlton Fisk played with Dick Pole on the 1974 Boston Red Sox, then went on to play with Rusty Kuntz on the 1983 White Sox! Amazing!

Gets a little more complicated when you go to Jack Glasscock; who played with Tom Brown for the 1887 Indianapolis Hoosiers, Tom Brown played with Harry Davis for the 1898 Washington Senators, who played with Charlie Grimm for the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, who played with Phil Cavarretta for the 1934 Chicago Cubs, who played with Minnie Minoso for the 1955 Chicago White Sox, who played with Rusty Kuntz for the 1980 Chicago White Sox !!! phew...there ya go!

You can see why Rusty Kuntz seems like he couldn't be a nicer feller. I'm sure he'd be a hoot! But to me and the people of the lake-riddled state of Minnesota, Rusty Kuntz will always be remembered twice, he was such the epitome of what being a 'Twin' means.

...and he's no Richard Suck...(sounds like 'sook' even though it's clearly spelled suck!)