Next to being at the ballpark, listening to baseball on the radio is my favorite way to experience a game.

I’ve never met Mike Krukow or Duane Kuiper, but I feel like I know them. For the last 36 years they have been the voices of the San Francisco Giants. Krukow is retiring after this season because of health reasons.

Broadcasters who make you feel like you are at the park, offer insight you might not otherwise glean and tell it like it is make the sport all that much more enjoyable. In my car, living room, bedroom—wherever I’d hear them—it’s almost like they became friends.

If one were to total the number of hours I’ve listened to both of them—on the radio and TV—I’m pretty sure I’ve heard their voices more than I have any family member or friend. And I’m not a die-hard, listen to every game kind of fan.

In recent years they’ve done fewer broadcasts together because of health issues. Other broadcasters have been brought in. I’ve gotten used to them—sort of. To be honest, I don’t always recognize their voices. I can’t say that about Kruk and Kuip, or for Jon Miller.

Miller is in the National Radio Hall of Fame. Kruk and Kuip are sure to follow. Miller has also received the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award which is an annual award for a broadcaster who made “major contributions to baseball.” It’s hard to imagine Kruk and Kuip won’t join this elite group.

It’s going to be hard next season without Kruk part of the broadcast team. It feels even harder to imagine than when a favorite player gets traded away or retires; probably because Kruk and Kuip have always been there—at least as long as I’ve been a fan.

While I feel sorry for myself and other fans who will miss this dynamic duo, we will have Kuip—and Kruk, well, he more than deserves to retire. On the bright side, he’s already said he wouldn’t mind joining a broadcast or two or an inning or so next year and for however long.