His real name is Hazen Shirley Cuyler. Cuyler was called "Cuy" by his school teammates.

It was while winning the MVP title of the Southern Association with Nashville in 1923 that he acquired the Kiki nickname. Fans heard the players shout for him to take the ball when he rushed in on a short fly. The shortstop would yell, "Cuy," and the second baseman would echo the call. In the pressbox the writers turned this into "Kiki." (It's the long "i" sound, although it doesn't look like it.)

Older fans wince when they hear him called "Keekee," but they shouldn't be too harsh on younger fans who have only seen this name associated with singer Kiki Dee. (That Kiki sang "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Elton John and pronounced her name with the "e" sound).

Kiki Cuyler is in the Hall of Fame, and was part of the Cubs pennant winners of 1929 and 1932, although his teammates didn't like him much. They thought he was a bit of a fancy lad because he used to put suntan powder on his face.