Kiki Cuyler
| Birthdate | 8/30/1898 |
| Death Date | 2/11/1950 |
| Debut Year | 1921 |
| Year of Induction | 1968 |
| Teams | Cubs, Dodgers, Pirates, Reds |
| Position | Right Field |
KiKi Cuyler hit .320 or better in seven seasons and finished with a lifetime .321 average; four times he led the league in stolen bases.
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Cuyler got his nickname because of a stuttering issue
Cuyler got his nickname because of a stuttering issue
George Brace snapped photos of nearly every Major League Baseball player spanning almost seven decades as teams played the National and American league Chicago big league clubs. This image is of Hall of Fame outfield Hazen Shirley “Ki Ki” Cuyler.
Some today might mistakenly assume his nickname was pronounced “Key Key”. A .321 lifetime hitter, Cuyler was tabbed with the moniker that mimicked his style of pronouncing his own name.
Afflicted with a stuttering problem, Cuyler (rhymes with guy-lur) would often repeat the first syllable of his last name a couple of times before saying the remainder of his name.
You can just about hear him responding to those asking for his last name, “Cuy Cuy Cuyler”.
His baseball exploits are many. A four-time NL stolen base leader, he also topped the league in runs twice, and doubles and triples once each. Cuyler’s 26 three-base hits in 1925 put him tied for 9th on the single season list. No player has matched the figure since Cuyler.
During that 1925 campaign, Cuyler finished second in MVP voting. In his finest season, Cuyler led the Senior Circuit in runs (144) and triples (26). He also tallied 220 hits, 43 doubles, 102 RBI to go along with a career-high 18 home runs.
When he retired in 1938, Culyer’s career totals included 1,305 runs, 2,299 hits, 394 doubles, 157 triples, 1,065 RBI, and a .321 batting average. His lifetime OPS+ stands at 125.
Along with Goose Goslin, Cuyler was selected by the Veterans Committee for the Hall of Fame in 1968. The pair was inducted with writers’ pick Joe Medwick.
Autographs of Cuyler are somewhat elusive as he died 18 years before his election into the Hall of Fame.
After retiring as a player Cuyler coached in the minors and majors
After retiring as a player Cuyler coached in the minors and majors
A collectible of a bygone era, the pins produced by Orbit Gum remain a sought-after treasure. This one depicting Ki Ki Cuyler is from 1932.
After his playing career concluded in 1938, Cuyler went on to coach in the minors before returning to the big leagues as coach with the Cubs. During the 1950 season Cuyler was with the Red Sox when he died suddenly at age 51.
In 1968 Kiki Cuyler shared induction day with Joe Medwick and Goose Goslin
In 1968 Kiki Cuyler shared induction day with Joe Medwick and Goose Goslin
In 1968 the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony from the front steps on Main Street to the newly-constructed Hall of Fame Library. Three men received the honor, Veterans Committee choices Kiki Cuyler and Goose Goslin, along with writers selection Joe Medwick.
The July 22nd festivities were witnessed by 14 men previously-inducted. Cooperstown class of 1947 was represented nicely by Lefty Grove and Frankie Frisch with Pie Traynor (1949) as the third inductee from the decade. Four men enshrined during the 1950s were on hand in Charlie Gehringer (’50), Ray Schalk (’55), Joe Cronin (’56), and Zack Wheat (’59). The 1960’s had the strongest showing with Max Carey (’61), Edd Roush (’62), Sam Rice (’63), Heinie Manush (’64), Casey Stengel (’66), Red Ruffing (’67), and Lloyd Waner (’67).
Shown here is a photo signed by Kiki Cuyler’s 1968 Cooperstown classmate Goose Goslin .
