Former Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan passed away Friday after a prolonged battle with brain cancer. The son of former St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan and younger brother of former Yankee Shelley Duncan, Chris was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2012 and took a leave of absence from his ESPN radio show in January. He was 38 years old. MLBTR joins those around the game in expressing our deepest sympathies to the Duncan family.
The Cardinals organization issued a statement on Twitter: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Duncan after his courageous battle against brain cancer. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Amy, the entire Duncan family, and his many friends.”
Duncan played his entire career with the Cardinals from 2005 to 2009, finishing with marks of .257/.348/.458 across 1317 plate appearances and 389 career games. He hit 43 of his 55 career home runs over the 2006 and 2007 seasons, winning a World Series with the 2006 Cardinals. Duncan was a big part of that 2006 title team, as he chipped in a red-hot second half, hitting .295/.374/.604 with 19 homers after the All-Star break. Dave Duncan was the pitching coach for that ball club, helmed by Tony La Russa, which snuck into the playoffs with just 83 wins.
In recent years, Duncan became a popular radio personality in St. Louis, chronicled in a great piece about his passing by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
RIP Chris!
Rest in peace
Sad. So young. Always seemed like a good guy. His Dad did too. I didn’t even know he had brain cancer. At least he isn’t suffering anymore. Condolences to his family. I’m not even a Cardinals fan and I remember watching him play. It’s not often that a major league pitching coach coaches for the same team as his son. Especially when the son is a position player and not a pitcher. Multi talented family.
Agree. Great family. As a Yankees fan, I loved having his brother Shelly on the team. Love and prayers for all of them
Sad news. Best thoughts for his family.
Really sucks. My mom went to high school with his brother. I’m praying for him and his family.
Oh so young.
This is really sad. I have devoted over 15 years to the ACS Relay for Life to try to raise funds for cancer research. My wife has had surgery for a brain tumor (fortunately benign). I lost a good friend and former student to brain cancer a year after he graduated from college. Someday maybe we’ll be able to get past this disease that robs so many of their lives. I was incredibly lucky when my dad survived pancreatic cancer but I know it takes an awful lot of good fortune to beat the disease. The Duncan family are in my prayers and hopefully more people will continue to work hard in his memory to try and find effective solutions and maybe even cures to all forms of cancer. I know that progress is being made. Rest in peace, Chris Duncan.
Respect
Such sad news. He spent a short time in the Red Sox AAA roster where he was able to play against his brother (who was with the Yankees AAA team). It was fun to watch. RIP
Loved the guy
Always enjoyed him on the radio and the stories he told about his time in the bigs
Sad day, will be missed by many
Prayers to his family and friends
Rest in peace Duncan
RIP… prayers to family
I wish nothing more than for this disease to be eradicated, what a sad shame.
RIP Mr. Duncan…..
Obviously one of the good guys. He will be well-remembered. Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP
Wow. So young. His mother died from the same thing.
let’s have a few man sodas (as dunc would put it) in his memory rip Chris you will be missed
RIP dunc
Great radio personality
Great guy
listening to 101 espn in stl seems empty without him on the air i really miss his player take on baseball. enjoy them man sodas up there with brock and gibby and if you can let the big dog eat of gibby i’ll owe you a man soda when i get there.
He made 1.6 mil career so at least his family cam cover funeral and live ok.
$ can’t replace the love of someone that was a truly beloved by all. His mom and now him, so sad. Did anyone else see the clip of stand up for camper last night in between the seventh inning, and his name was there. I lobe that TLR truly showed the spotlight in this talented and one of the truly nicest and strongest (in more than one way) people anyone could meet or know. In 2006 he was a hero to a team, but after his career battling this he became a hero to many others battling cancer.
don’t forget wanio was holding that sign with tlr which i thought that was classy of both of them as a player he wasn’t the greatest in all aspects but dunc brought stuff to the table that you can’t put on stat sheets and helped kept that clubhouse loose. i’m really going to miss him on the radio but at least dunc gets to see lane staly, Bradley, contain and the other rock greats rock out everyday. rip brother you’ll be very missed down here but enjoy those epic shows up there and have a few man sodas up there for us
You are a tool.. What is the point of a comment like that? A 38yr old passed away and your reaction, “well he made enough money so his family is okay.” Just stupid.