Chris Duncan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Duncan |
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Duncan with the Washington Nationals
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| Left fielder / First baseman | |||
| Born: May 5, 1981 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
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| Died: September 6, 2019 (aged 38) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 10, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 20, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .257 | ||
| Home runs | 55 | ||
| Runs batted in | 175 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Christopher Edwin Duncan (born May 5, 1981 – died September 6, 2019) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder and first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was part of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2005 to 2009.
Chris was the youngest son of Dave Duncan, who was a former catcher and a well-known pitching coach for the Cardinals. His older brother, Shelley, also played in MLB. After his baseball career, Chris became a radio host in St. Louis.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Chris Duncan went to Canyon del Oro High School in Arizona. There, he played baseball with Ian Kinsler, who also became a famous MLB player.
The St. Louis Cardinals chose Chris in the first round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. This was a big step for him into professional baseball.
Playing Career Highlights
Chris started his professional baseball journey in 1999 with the Johnson City Cardinals. He slowly moved up through different levels of minor league baseball. By 2005, he reached Triple-A, which is just one step below the major leagues. That year, he hit 21 home runs.
He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 10, 2005. A cool fact is that on October 2, 2005, he hit the very last regular season home run at the old Busch Memorial Stadium.
Winning the World Series in 2006
In 2006, Chris became a regular player for the St. Louis Cardinals. He showed a lot of power, hitting 22 home runs that season.
He played in the 2006 World Series where the Cardinals faced the Detroit Tigers. Even though he had some tough moments, Chris and his team won the World Series! They defeated the Tigers four games to one. After this amazing season, Chris was named the Cardinals' Rookie of the Year.
Becoming a Regular Player in 2007
In 2007, Chris was a full-time starter for the Cardinals. He played in 127 games. He hit 21 home runs and had 70 runs batted in (RBIs). These were both the second-highest numbers on his team.
Towards the end of the 2007 season, Chris had surgery for a sports hernia. His brother, Shelley, had the same injury, showing how competitive they were in their workouts.
Injuries and Trades (2008-2009)
The 2008 season was tough for Chris. He was sent down to the minor leagues for a short time. Later, he had to have surgery on his neck because of a pinched nerve. This injury ended his 2008 season early.
He recovered for the 2009 season, but his performance wasn't as strong. In July 2009, the Cardinals traded him to the Boston Red Sox. He played for their minor league team, the Pawtucket Red Sox, but was released by Boston in August.
Final Baseball Season
In 2010, Chris signed with the Washington Nationals. He played his final professional season with their Triple-A team, the Syracuse Chiefs.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Chris Duncan started a new path in radio. In 2011, he became a host for WXOS, an ESPN Radio station in St. Louis. He co-hosted popular sports shows like "The Fast Lane."
Later Life and Passing
In October 2012, Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He bravely fought the illness for several years.
Chris Duncan passed away from brain cancer on September 6, 2019, in Tucson, Arizona.
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
