5 Memorable Hits & Games From Chris Duncan’s MLB Career
The baseball world lost a good one on Friday when former big leaguer Chris Duncan, 38, passed away after a long fight with brain cancer. Duncan spent his entire five-year MLB career with St. Louis and was part of their 2006 World Series team. Post-baseball, he found success in the city he once played with WXOS, where he served as an analyst and radio host. In a heartfelt article posted on the radio’s website after the news broke, co-worker Randy Karraker called him “an amazing, caring human being” with a work ethic that was “unmatched.”
Duncan finished his career with a .257 batting average and 55 home runs in 389 games.
Chris Duncan Career Highlights
5: September 24, 2005
Duncan’s first MLB hit was a big one, a two-run double off Brewers pitcher Dana Eveland.
4: October 2, 2005
On the final day of the season for St. Louis, Duncan hit his first career home run, a pinch-hit solo jack in the fifth inning off Reds pitcher Brandon Claussen. The homer knotted the game 5-5, though they’d eventually lose 7-5.
3: June 15, 2008
Duncan had his lone walk-off for St. Louis, knocking in Rick Ankiel via groundout in the Cardinals 7-6 win over Philadelphia.
2: August 10, 2006
On this day, Duncan registered his first-ever multi-home run game in a 6-1 win over Cincinnati. Both homers were solo shots, coming off the arms of Bronson Arroyo and Rheal Cormier.
T-1: October 17, 2006/October 21, 2006
The most memorable hits of Chris Duncan’s MLB career came on the biggest stage. With the NLCS tied 2-2, Duncan hit a pinch-hit solo homer off Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano in the sixth inning of Game 5, increasing the Cardinals lead from 3-2 to 4-2. The lead would stand up and St. Louis would eventually beat New York in seven games.
In the 2006 World Series, Duncan broke a 1-1 tied in Game 1 with an RBI double in the third inning. They’d go on to win Game 1 by a 7-2 score and the series in five short games. Duncan had 26 plate appearances in the 2006 postseason, reaching base six times.