Rusty Kuntz had a long career as a backup infielder in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1984. While he was never a superstar player, Kuntz developed a cult following among baseball card collectors thanks to his amusing surname. Let’s take a closer look at Kuntz’s playing career and explore why his baseball cards have become novelty items that still attract attention today.
Kuntz was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 19th round of the 1971 MLB draft out of the University of Toledo. He made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 1974 at age 24 but only appeared in 8 games. In 1976, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals, where he would spend the bulk of his career as a backup second baseman and third baseman. With the Royals, Kuntz garnered more playing time and hit .245 with 23 home runs and 108 RBI over parts of 7 seasons between 1976-1982.
However, Kuntz is best known for his postseason heroics with the Royals. In both the 1980 and 1981 ALCS, Kuntz had walk-off singles in decisive Game 5 victories over the Yankees that sent the Royals to the World Series. These clutch playoff moments helped cement his legacy in Royals history. They also elevated his profile on a national stage and increased interest in his baseball cards among collectors.
After the 1982 season, Kuntz signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. He spent his final two MLB seasons in Detroit from 1983-1984 as a utility player and pinch hitter. He hit .225 with 5 home runs in 163 total games as a Tiger. Kuntz retired after the 1984 season at age 36, wrapping up a career where he batted .247 with 30 home runs and 266 RBI in 1179 total games over 11 seasons.
While Kuntz was never an All-Star caliber player statistically, his name made his baseball cards highly sought after novelties. Even today, rusty Kuntz cards in high grades can command prices far above what his career numbers would merit for most players. The rarity and amusement factor of his name have helped drive collector interest, especially as the hobby has expanded beyond just stats to include personal quirks and storylines associated with players.
Some of Kuntz’s key rookie and career defining baseball cards include his 1975 Topps, 1976 Topps, 1980 Topps, and 1983 Topps issues. High graded versions of these Rusty Kuntz rookie cards often sell for $50-$150 even though they were produced in large numbers. Pristine mint condition examples can reach upwards of $300-$500 due to scarcity and collector demand. The 1980 Topps card is especially coveted because it depicts Kuntz in his Royals uniform during the peak of his MLB career.
After retiring from baseball, Kuntz stayed involved in the sport by becoming a roving minor league hitting instructor and coach for the Royals organization from 1985-2002. He also briefly managed the AAA Omaha Royals club in 1993. This ensured Kuntz maintained his connection to Kansas City fans and collectors. Today at age 70, he still signs autographs at card shows and remains one of the more requested retired autograph signers due to his playing exploits and amusing name.
While Rusty Kuntz was far from the most prolific slugger or all-around star in MLB history, his simple yet amusing surname has boosted his baseball cards to near-icon status among collectors. Even though he produced largely as a backup player, Kuntz’s postseason heroics for the Royals also added to his folklore. The confluence of his name and clutch moments made him irresistible as a novelty collectible. After 40+ years, Rusty Kuntz cards remain a coveted curio that can sell for far more than comparably talented players due to intangible buyer interest in his legendary name.
