Harvey Kuenn was a professional baseball player who played for 15 seasons in the Major Leagues. He was born on December 4, 1930, in West Allis, Wisconsin, and grew up playing baseball in his hometown. Kuenn was a standout player in high school and was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Wisconsin, but he chose to sign with the Detroit Tigers instead.
Kuenn made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 1952 and quickly established himself as one of the top young players in the game. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award that season after hitting .308 with 94 runs scored and 63 RBI. Kuenn was a versatile player who could play multiple positions, but he was primarily a shortstop and outfielder.
Kuenn played for the Tigers for nine seasons and was a six-time All-Star during that time. He won the American League batting title in 1959 with a .353 average and finished second in the MVP voting that year. Kuenn was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1960 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1962.
Kuenn played for the Giants for two seasons and was a key player on their 1962 National League championship team. He hit .319 that season and was named to the All-Star team for the seventh time in his career. Kuenn was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1964 and played for them for one season before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1965.
Kuenn played for the Phillies for two seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Braves in 1967. He played for the Braves for two seasons before retiring after the 1968 season. Kuenn finished his career with a .303 batting average, 2,092 hits, 671 RBI, and 87 home runs.
After retiring as a player, Kuenn became a coach and manager in the Major Leagues. He was a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1970 to 1972 and was the team's manager from 1975 to 1977. Kuenn also managed the Oakland Athletics from 1982 to 1983.
Kuenn was known for his hitting ability and was one of the best contact hitters of his era. He was a career .303 hitter and had a lifetime on-base percentage of .357. Kuenn was also a solid defensive player and was known for his versatility in the field.
In conclusion, Harvey Kuenn was a standout player in the Major Leagues for 15 seasons. He was a six-time All-Star, won a batting title, and was a key player on a National League championship team. Kuenn was also a successful coach and manager after retiring as a player. He was known for his hitting ability and versatility in the field and was one of the top players of his era.
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