| Chris Duncan | |
|---|---|
 Duncan with the Washington Nationals | |
| Left fielder /First baseman | |
| Born:(1981-05-05)May 5, 1981 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Died: September 6, 2019(2019-09-06) (aged 38) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 10, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 20, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .257 |
| Home runs | 55 |
| Runs batted in | 175 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Christopher Edwin Duncan (May 5, 1981 – September 6, 2019) was an American professionalbaseballleft fielder andfirst baseman. He played for theSt. Louis Cardinals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2005 through 2009.
He was the youngest son ofDave Duncan, a formercatcher and retiredpitching coach for the Cardinals. His older brother,Shelley, was also afirst baseman andoutfielder in MLB. After his playing career, he worked as a mid-day radio program host onWXOS, the St. LouisESPN Radio affiliate.
Duncan was a graduate ofCanyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb ofOro Valley, Arizona. While there he was a teammate ofIan Kinsler.[1] TheSt. Louis Cardinals selected Duncan in the first round (46th overall) in the1999 Major League Baseball draft as a supplemental pick for loss of free agentDelino DeShields to theBaltimore Orioles.[2][3]
Duncan made his professional debut with theJohnson City Cardinals of theAppalachian League shortly after his 1999 signing. For the season, hebatted .214 with sixhome runs.[4] He spent 2000 and parts of 2001 and 2002 inClass A, advancing toDouble-A by 2003. In 2005, he reachedTriple-A, appearing in 128 games for theMemphis Redbirds, batting .265 with 21 home runs.
Duncan made his major league debut on September 10, 2005.[5] He appeared in nine MLB games over the next month, batting 2-for-10 (.200). On October 2, 2005, he became the last player to hit a regular season home run atBusch Memorial Stadium.[6]
After spending most of the first half of the 2006 season working his way into theregular roster, Duncan hit very well and ended the season with impressive power numbers. In 2006, he was third in all of baseball behindDavid Ortiz andRyan Howard in homers perat bat for players with at least 75 at bats. For the season, Duncan hit 22 home runs.[7]
In the2006 World Series, Duncan appeared in three of the five games, going 1-for-8 with one RBI. He committed anerror in the fourth inning of Game 5 which was promptly followed by a two-run homer bySean Casey, and misplayed a fly ball by Casey, which was ruled adouble, in the sixth inning. However, Duncan and the Cardinals won the game and the Series, defeating theDetroit Tigers four games to one.[8] Following the 2006 season, Duncan was named the team's Rookie of the Year.[9]
Duncan became a regular starter for the Cardinals in 2007, playing 127 of the team's 162 games that season. He batted .259/.354/.480, hitting 21 home runs (second on team) and 70runs batted in (RBIs) (second on team), and third in doubles (20). He started 90 games in the outfield, committing two errors. He also finished second in total bases (180). He led the team in strikeouts with 123.[10]
On September 20, 2007, Duncan underwent surgery for asports hernia. It was successful and he returned to the clubhouse on September 22. His brother, Shelley, also suffered a sports hernia; the brothers were very competitive and had been trying to outdo one another in their workouts.[11]
In 2008, after hitting .252 in 127 at bats, Duncan was sent down to his former team, the Triple-AMemphis Redbirds, on May 30.Joe Mather took his spot on the Major League roster.[12] Duncan was recalled in June to fill the hole at first base, which was left open afterAlbert Pujols went on the disabled list for a period of 15 days. He would spend most of his time in theoutfield after Pujols returned to the lineup.[13]
On July 22, Duncan was placed on the disabled list after experiencing severe discomfort in his arm, hand, and neck. The club called the injury a "pinched nerve". On August 2, it was reported that Duncan would miss the rest of the 2008 season after having surgery to address a herniated cervical disk in his neck. He ended the season with a .248 batting average, six home runs, and 27 RBIs over 222 at bats.[14]
Duncan successfully recovered from the surgery that ended his 2008 season, however, hit only .227, with five home runs and 32 RBIs in 260 at bats with the Cardinals. On July 22, Duncan was optioned to the Cardinals' triple-A affiliate, theMemphis Redbirds. A day later, he was traded to theBoston Red Sox along with a player-to-be-named-later or cash forshortstopJulio Lugo and cash considerations.[15]
The Red Sox assigned Duncan to their triple-A affiliate, thePawtucket Red Sox.[16] After batting only .188 with two home runs and ten RBIs at Pawtucket, Boston released Duncan on August 21, 2009.[17]
On January 19, 2010, Duncan signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals with an invitation to spring training. He played for theSyracuse Chiefs of the Triple-AInternational League in 2010,[18] his final professional season, batting .191 with seven home runs in 82 games.
Beginning on October 2, 2011, Duncan was a host for WXOS, theESPN Radio affiliate in St. Louis. He began on the nightly program "Stully and Duncan." On January 4, 2012, he was replaced by former Fast Lane commentator Bob Ramsey, making the show "Stully and Rammer", while he moved to co-host "The Fast Lane" withRandy Karraker and formerSt. Louis Rams defensive tackle andSuper Bowl XXXIV championD'Marco Farr. He was also a co-host of "The Turn" with Anthony Stalter.[19]
In October 2012, Duncan was diagnosed with abrain tumor and underwentchemotherapy.[20]
On January 9, 2019, it was announced that Duncan was taking a permanent leave of absence from his ESPN radio show to continue his fight againstglioblastoma.[21]
Duncan died frombrain cancer in Tucson[22] on September 6, 2019.[23][24]
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