Chris Krug, who played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, has died. He was 86.
Krug died on Jan. 16, according to a Facebook post by his daughter. His death was never reported outside of his family’s social media accounts, but was confirmed to The Big Lead this week.
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Krug spent parts of two seasons with the Chicago Cubs (1965-66) and one with the expansion San Diego Padres (1969). A highly regarded defensive catcher, Krug retired with a .192 batting average, five home runs, and 25 RBIs in 79 games.
Although his professional playing career was brief, Krug played an instrumental role in Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs on Sept. 9, 1965 at Dodger Stadium.
Krug caught seven innings for Chicago pitcher Bob Hendley before the Dodgers got their first hit of the game. By then, however, the Cubs were already trailing Koufax 1-0 — thanks in part to an error by Krug.
Hendley walked Lou Johnson in the fifth inning. Johnson went to second base on a bunt and stole third. When Krug’s throw to third baseman Ron Santo sailed over his head and into left field, Johnson scored. It was the only run of the game for either team.
Krug also saw more pitches in any individual at-bat against Koufax — seven — than any Cubs hitter that day.
After retiring as a player, Krug started a company called Athletic Turfs, Inc. and began building fields and laying turf for local ballparks. They eventually worked on college fields (Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State) and major league stadiums (Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium).
Krug and his company also helped build the “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, Iowa used in the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.
A native of Southern California, Krug originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1958. He later came home to work as an assistant baseball coach at UCLA under Gary Adams in 1977, and from 1980-84.
According to Adams, Krug suffered from complications of diabetes and multiple strokes that paralyzed his left side.
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The post Former Cubs catcher, key player in Sandy Koufax perfect game, dies at 86 appeared first on The Big Lead.