Glen Kuiper facts for kids

Glen Alan Kuiper (born May 20, 1963) is a former American sportscaster. He was best known as the main announcer for the Oakland Athletics baseball team. He worked for them for nearly two decades, from 2006 to 2023. He also sometimes announced games for the Athletics Radio Network.

Glen Kuiper's Career

Early Life and Baseball

Glen Kuiper was born in Racine, Wisconsin. In 1982, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team drafted him. He decided to continue his education instead of playing right away. Kuiper later attended the University of New Orleans. He then played minor league baseball for two years. He was an infielder, mostly playing second base.

After his playing career, he moved to the Bay Area. He earned a degree in broadcasting from San Francisco State University.

Becoming a Broadcaster

Kuiper started appearing on the Oakland A's TV broadcasts in 2004. For his first two years, he was a reporter on the field. He also filled in as an announcer when needed. In 2006, he became the main announcer for the team. He sometimes announced A's games that were shown on Fox across the country.

From 1996 to 2000, Kuiper hosted shows called Giants Lite and A's Lite. These shows were on SportsChannel Pacific and later FSN Bay Area. They were 30-minute highlight shows. They summarized games that had not been shown on TV.

Other Sports Work

Besides baseball, Glen Kuiper also worked as a sideline reporter. He covered some NFL games for Fox. He also reported for the San Jose Sharks hockey team. Kuiper handled different college sports assignments for NBC Sports Bay Area. He also worked with the Golden State Warriors basketball team.

Leaving Broadcasting

On May 5, 2023, during a pre-game show, Kuiper made a mistake while speaking. He was talking about visiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He quickly apologized on air for what he said. He explained that it did not come out the way he wanted it to.

After the game, the Oakland A's released a statement. They said that the language used was unacceptable. They also stated that they did not approve of such language. They announced they were looking into the situation.

On May 22, 2023, NBC Sports California announced a decision. After an investigation, Kuiper would no longer work for the network. Kuiper also released a statement that evening. He said it was hard for him to understand how one mistake led to his job ending.

Personal Life

Glen Kuiper is the younger brother of Duane Kuiper. Duane is a former Major League Baseball player. He is also a current broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants. Glen Kuiper lives in Danville, California. He lives there with his wife, Amanda, and their two children.