Chris Duncan, a member of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Series winning team and fan favorite, passed away this afternoon after a courageous battle with glioblastoma. He was just 38 years old.
The Cardinals selected Duncan in the first round of the 1999 MLB Draft. However, he was no stranger to the organization. In fact, prior to being selected, he was a regular to the dugouts with his father Dave. Dave Duncan had been the team’s pitching coach since 1996.
After being drafted, Duncan spent seven years in the minors. He received his first call-up in September of 2005.
During that brief stint, he became the last player to hit a home run out of the original Busch Stadium during the regular season.
Duncan played a crucial role on the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Series winning team, where he hit 22 homers in just 280 at bats. After his successful rookie campaign, Duncan would remain with the Cardinals until July 2009, before being traded to Boston. He never made it back to the majors from there.
He would briefly catch on with Washington in 2010 before retiring shortly thereafter.
Following his retirement, he became a very successful host on ESPN affiliated station WXOS. His sense of humor quickly endeared him to his listeners. Duncan’s show, “The Turn” with Kevin Stalter, became one of the station’s most beloved shows due to his humor and name recognition.
His employer, Hubbard Radio, summarized Duncan’s on-air mannerisms to a tee:
“The energy, humor, baseball knowledge and player insight Chris brings into the studio everyday makes The Turn a great option for those who truly care about St. Louis sports, and that’s just about everyone in America’s best sports town.”
Chris Duncan is survived by his wife Amy and his father Dave. He also leaves his brother, Shelley Duncan, who played in the MLB as well. We at Overtime Heroics offer our deepest condolences to the Duncan family, as well as the WXOS and St. Louis Cardinals organization.
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