St. Louis sports fans are mourning this evening after receiving the news of the passing of former Cardinal and local radio host Chris Duncan. He was just 38 years old.
The son of longtime MLB pitching Dave Duncan, Chris made a name for himself in the Cardinals organization, playing a key role during the team’s World Series championship run in 2006. He’d go on to play a total of 5 seasons in St. Louis before being dealt to the Boston Red Sox in 2009. Injuries though would take their toll forcing him to leave the game and find a second career to sink his energy into.
To the surprise of many, he’d find it in the least likely of places – the media. Duncan, who admittedly wasn’t a fan of dealing with the media as a player, became a popular radio host on the airwaves of 101 ESPN. He was hired in 2011 as an on-air baseball analyst but quickly rose up the ranks earning a spot on the station’s afternoon show ‘The Fast Lane’ before shifting into middays to create ‘The Turn’ with Anthony Stalter.
But just as Duncan’s media career began to take off, health problems started to affect him. He was diagnosed in 2012 with glioblastoma, the same brain cancer his mother Jeanine suffered from. Thru treatment he was able to make a recovery and return to the air alongside Stalter until the same tumor returned in March 2018, forcing him to take a leave of absence.
As his battle with brain cancer intensified, it required full time attention, and in January 2019 Duncan announced that he’d be leaving 101 ESPN to concentrate on his health. He continued to fight against the disease until his passing earlier today.
Though he may be gone, what shouldn’t be forgotten is how Chris Duncan turned himself from a local hero on a baseball field to an important media voice in a passionate sports city. He moved into the business with a desire to be great, and demonstrated his commitment by preparing his ass off, taking every shift available, and bouncing ideas and questions off of anyone who would listen.
Chris wasn’t just a former baseball player who could talk about the sport he played. He invested himself in being a complete host who was able to discuss hockey, football, college sports and whatever mattered most to the St. Louis sports fan. In the process, he turned his cynics into fans, and his partnership with Stalter, and contributions on The Fast Lane helped 101 ESPN enjoy great ratings success.
Chris Duncan is survived by his wife, Amy; his father, Dave; and his brother, Shelley. Funeral arrangements are pending.