John Kruk was quite the baseball player — but he’s not so great at putting on ties.
The former Phillies star and NBC “Sunday Night Baseball” analyst took a bit of a fashion risk on Sunday, as he planned to wear a bevy of ties (four of which were clip-ons) sent to him by a “knucklehead friend.”
However, Kruk struggled to switch ties during the top of the second inning as colleagues Joe Girardi Jason Benetti were more than happy to poke fun at him.
“I can’t get this dang button… I got four clip-ons,” he said on the broadcast. “When a knucklehead friend sends ’em to you, you better wear ’em. I might not be able to. I can’t get this button buttoned.”
Kruk continued to struggle with his tie as Girardi called the situation “pure entertainment” and Benetti referred to it as a “battle.”
Girardi then teased the former first baseman by suggesting he clip it to his headset, before posing a humorous question to Kruk.
“What was easier for you, facing Randy Johnson or putting this tie on?,” Girardi asked.
Kruk then quipped: “Oh Randy, lot easier than this.”
The broadcast then further tried to prod him by playing a clip of Johnson striking him out in an All-Star Game.
Kruk then revealed that his first tie on the broadcast (which was not a clip-on), was from broadcaster Tom McCarthy.
The three-time All-Star then revealed a chunky beige tie that he joked was from the 70’s.
“Look at how fat it is,” he said. “Well, look who’s putting it on, but..”
The game was an entertaining one, as the Yankees and Phillies combined for 15 runs in a 11-4 Philadelphia win, but Kruk’s woes certainly added to the fun of a broadcast.
