Harvey Kuenn’s Bio
Early Years
Harvey Kuenn was born and raised in West Allis and Milwaukee. He was “Wisconsin through and through.” He attended Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, where he was a three-sport athlete, being named All Conference basketball, football and baseball. On the football field, he was known for setting the record for a 52-yard dropkick field goal.
In addition to playing high school baseball at Lutheran, he played on the Tanner-Paul American Legion team for legendary coach, Steve “Tex” Belich as well as the Highway Beers Team.
Pictured: Harvey after leading the Brewers to the 1982 AL pennant
After high school, Harvey went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and played on the freshman teams in both baseball and basketball. While playing baseball for UW, he was named All American in 1952. The same year, Harvey put together the greatest individual season in University of Wisconsin baseball history, batting a Big Ten best .436 while also leading the conference in RBIs, runs, doubles, triples and hits.
Pictured: Kuenn with then-NY Yankees manager Casey Stengel
“Harvey is one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. The guy can hurt you a million ways. He has no weakness at the plate that I have ever noticed.”
-Casey Stengel, NY Yankees Manager
Playing Career
Following his fabulous 1952 season at Wisconsin, Harvey was signed as a $55,000 “bonus baby” by the Detroit Tigers. He played 40 games for Davenport in the Three-I League (Iowa, Indiana and Illinois) before being called up to the big league club, where he hit .325 in 19 games.
As a starting shortstop for the 1953 team, Harvey hit .308 and led the American League in hits with 209 and 679 at bats, which set a Major League record for a rookie. For his great ‘53 season, he was named American League Rookie of the Year, getting 23 of 24 first place votes.
Pictured: Al Kaline, Ted Williams and Harvey Kuenn together at the 1957 All Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis
In 1954, there was no sophomore jinx for Harvey, who was known as a contact hitter and struck out only 13 times in 656 at bats/696 plate appearances and hit .306, leading the American League in hits with 201 for the second straight year. He was also an All Star that season.
Harvey ultimately led the league in hits 4 times, doubles 3 times and hit .353 in 1959 to win the American League batting title. He later played for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in his 15-year career. He was named to 10 All Star teams and finished his career with over 2,000 hits and a lifetime batting average of .303.
Pictured: Kuenn with Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda and Willie Mays with the Giants that went to the 1962 World Series
Coaching &
Management Career
Kuenn with Milwaukee Brewers Paul Molitor and Robin Yount
The Brewers played at a .626 winning percentage under Harvey, posting a 72-43 record under his leadership. The Brewers had the best record in the Major Leagues that season at 95-67. They became the first team in league championship history to win the AL pennant by winning 3 straight games after losing the first 2 games of the ALCS.
His team took the St. Louis Cardinals to the 7th game of the World Series before losing. The Brewers became known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers” that year and Harvey earned Manager of the Year honors. After the 1982 season, Harvey managed the Brewers in 1983 to an 87-75 record. Following that season, he worked as a major league scout for the Brewers until his untimely death on February 28, 1988, at the young age of 57.
After his playing days, Harvey became the Brewers’ spring training and minor league instructor in 1971 and then batting coach from 1972 until June 2, 1982, when he was named manager of the Brewers. He also managed in Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League and was named Manager of the Year in 1975.
In February of 1980, Harvey had his right leg amputated below the knee, was on the golf course 4 weeks later and continued to coach until taking over the team as Brewers manager on June 2, 1982. At that point in the season, the Brewers were tied for fifth place with a 23-24 record, 7 games out of first place.
