NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Philadelphia Phillies legend John Kruk played a solid 10 years in MLB, earning three All-Star bids over that span.
But he didn’t have the best send-off with one of MLB’s longtime umpires.
Kruk revealed on Monday night during the Phillies TV broadcast that he once threatened to kill umpire Brian O’Nora during his second-to-last game in MLB.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame member John Kruk during the Pat Burrell (not pictured) induction ceremony before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
“I just got a text message from Judson Burch,” Kurk said to his partner, Tom McCarthy. “Big Phillies fan. Big umpire savant. He said Brian O’Nora has been around so long, he threw you out of a game.”
Kruk, then, dipped into his memory bank and pulled out a wild story about himself on the Chicago White Sox with O’Nora.
MLB LEGEND CHIPPER JONES UNLEASHES ON ‘WORST UMPIRE’ AFTER CONTROVERSIAL CALLS IN CUBS-TIGERS GAME
“The game before I retired, I think I threatened to kill him,” Kruk said, via Awful Announcing.
O’Nora was only in his third year of umpiring when that incident with Kruk happened in 1995.
Home plate umpire Brian O’Nora (7) stands on the field in the ninth inning between the Cleveland Guardians and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Progressive Field. (David Richard-Imagn Images)
Kruk’s words to O’Nora came from a strike out call while facing Doug Jones in the top of the ninth inning.
At the time, Kruk was slumping at the plate, so his frustrations boiled over, and he took it out on O’Nora.
The first baseman and left fielder began his career with the San Diego Padres, playing parts of four seasons with them before being dealt to the Phillies during the 1989 campaign.
Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman John Kruk during Phillies Alumni Weekend and the 20th anniversary of Citizens Bank Park before game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Kruk spent six seasons in Philadelphia, slashing .309/.400/.461 with 62 homers, 145 doubles and 390 RBI over 744 games.
Kruk spent his final year in MLB with the Chicago White Sox, playing just 45 games and hitting .308/.399/.390 with a .789 OPS and 23 RBI.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Roman Kemp & Tom Grennan dive into therapy on the You About? podcast. Source link
Frost & Sullivan celebrates companies for their outstanding achievements at the Frost & Sullivan…
Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the US equities myFT Digest -- delivered…
Jeff KassoufJun 26, 2025, 11:19 PM ETCloseJeff Kassouf covers women's soccer for ESPN, focusing on…
Last year, the NFC West was thrown for a loop.The San Francisco 49ers, expected by…
A dedicated crew, the Swift on Android Working Group, has assembled with the mission to…