Harvey Kuenn
| Birthdate | 12/4/1930 |
| Death Date | 2/28/1988 |
| Debut Year | 1952 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Brewers, Cubs, Giants, Indians, Phillies, Tigers |
| Positions | Left Field, Manager, Shortstop, Third Base |
Harvey Kuenn was the final out in two of Sandy Koufax’s no-hitters, one a perfect game; he also singled off of Koufax in his final MLB at bat.
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1963 Picture Pal contract with Harvey Kuenn
1963 Picture Pal contract with Harvey Kuenn
Harvey Kuenn was one of the top hitters in baseball during the 1950s. He earned the Rookie of the Year Award in ’53, reached eight straight All Star games, and led the league in hits four times. In the final year of the decade he hit .353 to win the batting championship. By the time he retired, Kuenn amassed 2,092 hits and a .303 lifetime batting average.
Kuenn has three interesting links to Dodger great Sandy Koufax. The last out in two of the lefty’s no hitters – one a perfect game – Kuenn also faced Koufax in his final big league at bat. Revenge was sweet for Kuenn who laced a single to left and called it a career.
In the collection is 1963 contract between Kuenn and Picture Pal. That season Kuenn saw his numbers drop from 148 hits, 10 homers, and 68 RBI in 1962 to 121 hits, 6 homers, and 31 RB in ’63. Kuenn would play three more years, his statistics declining each season.
Back side of contract signed by Harvey Kuenn
Back side of contract signed by Harvey Kuenn
Harvey Kuenn singled in his last big league at bat off of none other than The Left Arm of God, Sandy Koufax. Though Kuenn was proud of that moment, it was another Koufax encounter that remains vivid in the minds of many baseball fans.
That came on September 9, 1965 when Kuenn was in the twilight of his career and Koufax was at his apex. The Dodger lefty retired 25 straight batters before Cubs skipper Lou Klein summoned Kuenn to take the on-deck circle. From there Harvey watched teammate Joe Amalfitano become the fifth consecutive Chicago batter to go down on strikes. As Amalfitano walked back to the dugout he told Kuenn, “Watch out, Harv. He’s really humming.”
Kuenn, who came into the game hitting .224 replied prophetically, “Wait here, Joe. I’ll be right back.” When the former batting champ swung and missed on a 2-2 fastball, Koufax completed the finest performance of his career, a 14- strikeout perfect game.
The image above shows the reverse of the 1963 contract between Picture Pal and Kuenn who has affixed his signature at the bottom. So how did Kuenn actually fare against Koufax during his career? He had more strikeouts than hits and tallied a .114 average in 70 lifetime at bats.
