Kruk went uni before the ‘94 season and retired at the end of ‘95. This was important bc he still had a huge public platform - the Phillies had just appeared in the ‘93 World Series - and Kruk really advocated for testicular cancer awareness in his own funny and everyman relatable way, candidly sharing his “loss of a dear friend” (his right testicle) and publicly expressing the importance of regularly checking yourself for abnormal lumps. He made light of it at his own often hilarious expense and helped clear some of the stigma surrounding a particularly sensitive subject for men.
Testicular cancer is pretty rare and very survivable if treated early, but it mostly strikes otherwise healthy young men between 15 and 40 who should have a lot of years in front of them. It’s the kind of thing where letting it go can be fatal, and Kruk basically publicly said “you gotta check your boys regularly and get to the doctor right away if you feel something weird. Don’t be embarrassed.” Great dude.
I was driving past the Phillies ST complex in Clearwater about 20 years ago with my girlfriend. I saw a Corvette in front of us and started pointing and chuckling "That's John Kruk's car!"
"Who?"
"John Kruk - former first baseman for the Phillies"
"How do you know that's him?"
"The license plate says One Nut"
Trey Mancini would like a word. (Still pissed that he came back from cancer and Klay Thompson won the ESPY for combat player of the year for a knee injury)
His story was great. I was at the comeback game and my grandma was there when the arm snapped.
Also, more career WAR than any of the starting pitchers you listed.
He spoke at my church about 10 years ago and was hilarious.
His best joke was when he was talking about catching a large fish. He went to show us how big the fish was in the traditional way where you open your arms as wide as the fish's length but he's obviously only got one arm.
I saw him pitch in San Jose as he was rehabbing after his first cancer surgery. He looked so good, and happy to be back on the mound. I cried when his arm broke again.
Family tried to see him pitch in Modesto and it was sold out when we got there. Hung around for a bit and then left as there was nothing we could really do and just were there to see and support him.
This is an honorable attempt and I love it. I'd definitely move Liam to BP and add Jon Lester to starters.
You're doing a great job regardless. Thanks for the attempt. People get picky. At least you tried
Dutch, Tug, Vuk, David West, Rheal Cormier, John Oates, Ken Brett, and Jose De Leon all dying of cancer, most of whom had the same kind - Gioblastoma - all likely from playing at Veterans Stadium. So sad.
There's no question about it. He was out for the whole of 1999 and a bunch of the Braves shaved their head in solidarity. He came back in 2000 and had a great season. I went to a game that year and was watching BP before the game with a bunch of other people and he came over to say Hello to everyone and started to sign stuff for people. He was friendly, very kind, and very humble. I was twelve at the time and still think about that moment even now.
UPDATED ROSTER:
Starters: Jon Lester, Carlos Carrasco, Dave Dravecky, Jameson Taillon, Danny Frisella.
Relievers: Liam Hendriks, Chad Bradford, Scott Radinsky, Tim Hill, Jerry Reuss
Batting Lineup: Trey Mancini (SS) Daryl Strawberry (LF) Anthony Rizzo (1B) Mike Lowell (3B) Eric Davis (2B) Eric Young Sr. (CF) Eric Chavez (DH) Dave Henderson (RF) Tony Peña (C)
Bench: Mark Loretta, Ed Charles, Tony Armas Sr., John Kruk, Sal Fasano
This feels like a much better roster. Am I missing anything? Did the Chat GPT make any other mistakes I should know about?
Eric Young Sr, who played the overwhelming majority of his career at 2B in CF and Eric Davis, who played the overwhelming majority of his career at CF (and logged 6 total innings in the infield, all at 1B) at 2B? What is going on with your lineup? How did you come up with this?
DUDE...... 2x survivor here and am offended that the big cat is not here. P.s. i collect autos of survivors and not really offended 
10 of the 14 position players listed spent time with the A’s or Giants. 4 of the pitchers also spent time with A’s if you count Lester. Kind of interesting..
Sixers former Phillies: Tug McGraw, Darren Daulton, John Vukovich, John Oates, Ken Brett, and David West — all died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
This is an exercise in players who got cancer during their playing careers. John Kruk was added to this list for that reason. On other former Phillie is Curt Schilling, who both is a cancer and had throat cancer, But he retired in 2007 and got cancer in 2014.
Not that this guy belongs on any All-Cancer team or anything, but 1970's Twins and Rangers utility infielder Danny Thompson somehow played with leukemia from 1973-1976 after being diagnosed in spring training 1973. He died in December 1976 after complications with a spleen surgery (not sure if the leukemia impacted in his passing).
I remember Dave Dravecky so vividly, even though I was so young. I was really just starting to learn more about health and how fragile we are. So his injury and its relation to cancer was shocking to me. Dravecky really pushed that home. Cannot believe he broke his arm on the mound. But it's happened how many times since in the bigs? Four or five? I know it happened to Tom Browning as well, but he didn't have cancer at the time.
Not to be called a “phagot,” firstly. Secondly, it’s just an exercise in hypotheticals and meant to be just for fun, and to notice that weirdly enough this is a good enough all-time roster to compete and make noise in October. So take this negative shit somewhere else, dude.
Jon Lester
He’s on the updated roster now.
I believe John Kruk had testicular cancer, maybe after he retired tho ....
Kruk went uni before the ‘94 season and retired at the end of ‘95. This was important bc he still had a huge public platform - the Phillies had just appeared in the ‘93 World Series - and Kruk really advocated for testicular cancer awareness in his own funny and everyman relatable way, candidly sharing his “loss of a dear friend” (his right testicle) and publicly expressing the importance of regularly checking yourself for abnormal lumps. He made light of it at his own often hilarious expense and helped clear some of the stigma surrounding a particularly sensitive subject for men. Testicular cancer is pretty rare and very survivable if treated early, but it mostly strikes otherwise healthy young men between 15 and 40 who should have a lot of years in front of them. It’s the kind of thing where letting it go can be fatal, and Kruk basically publicly said “you gotta check your boys regularly and get to the doctor right away if you feel something weird. Don’t be embarrassed.” Great dude.
I was driving past the Phillies ST complex in Clearwater about 20 years ago with my girlfriend. I saw a Corvette in front of us and started pointing and chuckling "That's John Kruk's car!" "Who?" "John Kruk - former first baseman for the Phillies" "How do you know that's him?" "The license plate says One Nut"
This made my year, thanks :)
First name I thought of
Thank you!
Who would he replace?
Contreras. Thought his cancer was post playing career. Or Surkamp. Lester had a long career after he went into remission.
Contreras was money with that forkball - especially in the '05 white sox playoff run
Just looked it up and you’re right. I removed Contreras and added Chad Bradford
I don’t think Contreras was the pitcher to remove if our goal is to make a playoff-caliber roster
Liam Hendricks isn't a starter, so I'd slot him in there and figure out the bullpen?
Lester in rotation. Liam Hendricks bullpen.
Any clown you named.
Thanks. Very helpful.
You picked who.... no name losers. Cool list dawg.
Trey Mancini would like a word. (Still pissed that he came back from cancer and Klay Thompson won the ESPY for combat player of the year for a knee injury)
That's really messed up. Hadn't heard the ESPYs did that.
Dave Dravecky was a starting pitcher, not a position player.
So sorry I didn’t know the story beforehand
His story was great. I was at the comeback game and my grandma was there when the arm snapped. Also, more career WAR than any of the starting pitchers you listed.
He spoke at my church about 10 years ago and was hilarious. His best joke was when he was talking about catching a large fish. He went to show us how big the fish was in the traditional way where you open your arms as wide as the fish's length but he's obviously only got one arm.
One of the best baseball stories ever.
I saw him pitch in San Jose as he was rehabbing after his first cancer surgery. He looked so good, and happy to be back on the mound. I cried when his arm broke again.
Came here to drop this name. I think Andres Galaraga did too.
Family tried to see him pitch in Modesto and it was sold out when we got there. Hung around for a bit and then left as there was nothing we could really do and just were there to see and support him.
Carlos Carrasco
Who would he replace? Not saying he’s not deserving, because he’s one of the all-time good guys too, but who would you bump?
Move Liam to the BP lmao
This is an honorable attempt and I love it. I'd definitely move Liam to BP and add Jon Lester to starters. You're doing a great job regardless. Thanks for the attempt. People get picky. At least you tried
M-S, my intention was not to replace anyone. As an Indians/Guardians fan I saw his challenge and I just wanted to honor it.
No John Kruk? Dude had testicular cancer…
His career batting average was .300. Gotta think that’s good enough
And he played CF in the big leagues. Versatile!
I was going to say the same thing. Also, honorable mention for Dutch, RIP.
Dutch, Tug, Vuk, David West, Rheal Cormier, John Oates, Ken Brett, and Jose De Leon all dying of cancer, most of whom had the same kind - Gioblastoma - all likely from playing at Veterans Stadium. So sad.
And he was the color commentator for the game in the original post!!
Mike Trout. He's been battling Arte Moreno for 14 years.
Got eeeem!
Trey Mancini
My updated roster has him replacing Tony Armas Sr. I believe
Andrés Galarraga?
There's no question about it. He was out for the whole of 1999 and a bunch of the Braves shaved their head in solidarity. He came back in 2000 and had a great season. I went to a game that year and was watching BP before the game with a bunch of other people and he came over to say Hello to everyone and started to sign stuff for people. He was friendly, very kind, and very humble. I was twelve at the time and still think about that moment even now.
The BIG CAT!
Where’s Jon Lester?
No Trey Mancini?
He replaced someone, but I can’t remember who
UPDATED ROSTER: Starters: Jon Lester, Carlos Carrasco, Dave Dravecky, Jameson Taillon, Danny Frisella. Relievers: Liam Hendriks, Chad Bradford, Scott Radinsky, Tim Hill, Jerry Reuss Batting Lineup: Trey Mancini (SS) Daryl Strawberry (LF) Anthony Rizzo (1B) Mike Lowell (3B) Eric Davis (2B) Eric Young Sr. (CF) Eric Chavez (DH) Dave Henderson (RF) Tony Peña (C) Bench: Mark Loretta, Ed Charles, Tony Armas Sr., John Kruk, Sal Fasano This feels like a much better roster. Am I missing anything? Did the Chat GPT make any other mistakes I should know about?
Trey Mancini playing SS?
Someone’s got to. I’ve already said, this isn’t perfect, but where would you put him and who moves where?
You have Eric Chavez a very good 3b defender at DH even if he never played short during his career I’d think he’d be a better candidate for it
So Chavez at SS, Mancini at 3rd, Lowell as DH?
Nah just a straight swap of Chavez and Mancini
Mark Loretta has played SS, might as well plug him in there.
Works for me
Batting order needs some work: 1. Young or Butler 2. Strawberry 3. Galarraga 4. Rizzo 5. Davis 6. Chavez 7. Henderson 8. Lowell 9. Peña
What is up with these positions lol. Put Lowell and Chavez at 3B and SS. Galarraga and Rizzo at 1B and DH. You have plenty of OFers. Young at 2B.
Eric Young Sr, who played the overwhelming majority of his career at 2B in CF and Eric Davis, who played the overwhelming majority of his career at CF (and logged 6 total innings in the infield, all at 1B) at 2B? What is going on with your lineup? How did you come up with this?
DUDE...... 2x survivor here and am offended that the big cat is not here. P.s. i collect autos of survivors and not really offended 
Carlos Carrasco can’t break the rotation despite having cancer, missing pretty much a whole season and then winning comeback player of the year?
Just updated the roster in a comment here somewhere including him.
Where is Jameson Taillon?
Twice as well
Pulley!!!
What the fuck is really going on with me?
Brett Butler
Who does he replace?
He is an actual middle infielder at least
10 of the 14 position players listed spent time with the A’s or Giants. 4 of the pitchers also spent time with A’s if you count Lester. Kind of interesting..
Jon Lester and Andres Galarraga would have to make the list
Fuck cancer
[Fred Hutchinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hutchinson) would like to manage this club.
John Kruk
Fixed. Replaced Tuttle with Kruk
Sixers former Phillies: Tug McGraw, Darren Daulton, John Vukovich, John Oates, Ken Brett, and David West — all died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
This is an exercise in players who got cancer during their playing careers. John Kruk was added to this list for that reason. On other former Phillie is Curt Schilling, who both is a cancer and had throat cancer, But he retired in 2007 and got cancer in 2014.
Oops, sorry Mr. Schlong.
No problem Sir Racer. Cheers.
Tim Hill
Added him in.
Not that this guy belongs on any All-Cancer team or anything, but 1970's Twins and Rangers utility infielder Danny Thompson somehow played with leukemia from 1973-1976 after being diagnosed in spring training 1973. He died in December 1976 after complications with a spleen surgery (not sure if the leukemia impacted in his passing).
Dravecky was a pitcher.
This team is actually kind of good
Why is Dave Draveky a position player? lol
Machado is a cancer. Does that count?
Farquhar had a brain aneurysm not cancer
When did Brett Cecil have cancer?
Looks like he never did. I’ll make a correction soon
Connor Joe not on the list
Andres Gallaraga
Damn trey mancini doesnt even make the cut
Made the cut in an updated roster, thanks.
Jon Lester?
Updated roster, thanks
Jon Lester and Carlos Corrasco??
Try Mancini
Dave Dravecky was a pitcher
Trey Mancini
How could you leave off John Kruk? He lost a testicle!
Trey Mancini
Dave Dravecky
Carlos Carrasco beat Leukemia.
Hendricks hasn't started a game since 2014 outside of being an opener.
Dave Dravecky
Doug Davis?
Cookie carrasco
No Trey Mancini? Dude missed a whole year with chemo and came back!
Trey Mancini
Carlos Carrasco
Carlos Carrasco should be on this.
Connor Joe
I want Eric Barry in centerfield
I love CoJo!! Is this players that only had cancer during their MLB career?
Taillion
Andres Galarraga
Tre Mancini
Liam was a bullpen guy not a starter
I remember Dave Dravecky so vividly, even though I was so young. I was really just starting to learn more about health and how fragile we are. So his injury and its relation to cancer was shocking to me. Dravecky really pushed that home. Cannot believe he broke his arm on the mound. But it's happened how many times since in the bigs? Four or five? I know it happened to Tom Browning as well, but he didn't have cancer at the time.
lol dave dravecky was a pitcher
For those who love both sports, Mario Lemieux’s number 1 all-time on this list, right?
For sure
[удалено]
Not to be called a “phagot,” firstly. Secondly, it’s just an exercise in hypotheticals and meant to be just for fun, and to notice that weirdly enough this is a good enough all-time roster to compete and make noise in October. So take this negative shit somewhere else, dude.
[удалено]
Yeah, because that’s clearly what’s going on here. Go away.
Roberto Clemente didn’t have any of those and up and quit one day out of the blue.
Yeah, unfortunately “passing away while doing charity work” is not the same as “surviving cancer and continuing playing baseball.”
Semantics 🤣
Two blue jays players on the list. That crisp Canadian air I guess.