Kuenn arrived in the Three-I League after his junior year at the University of Wisconsin. George Moriarity, the former big league player, Detroit manager, and American League umpire, signed the righthanded shortstop. In a May 14, 1956 Sports Illustrated article on scouting, Moriarity recalled his role in brining Kuenn to the Major Leagues. "I knew that some club offered him a D League contract in high school, so I guessed he didn't look like too much of a prospect . . . . A lot of people around didn't think too much of Harvey. They said he didn't charge on a grounder the right way and he lacked polish, but the minute I saw him I liked his size and disposition and I figured he learn."

Added Moriarity: "And he always made the play in the hole real good, a little rough, but real good, and I've always said 'the play in the hole proves the shortstop.' Against Kalamazoo, in his last game in college, Harvey had a bad Charley horse, but he made two of the greatest plays I've ever seen and, in the rain, too. John McHale, our minor league director, was there with me that day. We signed him up for a $55,000 bonus. We had to go high but John and Spike Briggs in the home office backed me all the way on signing him."

Detroit then sent Kuenn to the Quad Cities Tigers for seasoning. The Quad Cities franchise represented Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and Rock Island and Moline on the Illinois side. Since the stadium was in Davenport, several biographical entries on Kuenn mistakenly list that city as the name of his minor league team. In 1952, Quad Cities ended the year 54-69, far behind first-place Evansville (74-47). The struggling franchise disbanded after the season, though in 1957 Davenport returned to the league for two lackluster years.

In 1952, the 21-year old Kuenn appeared in 63 games for Quad Cities, batting an impressive .340. Late in the season, last-place Detroit called him up, and he appeared in 19 games, batting .325 in 80 at-bats. In 1953, his first full season in the majors, Kuenn received A.L. Rookie of the Year honors. That season, he hit .308 while setting a Major League rookie record with 679 at-bats and an A.L. rookie record with 167 singles. In 1958, the Tigers moved Kuenn to the outfield, and the following season he enjoyed his last great year, leading the A.L. in batting average (.353), hits (198), and doubles (42).

In 1960, the Tigers traded Kuenn to Cleveland for slugger Rocky Colavito. Although he performed well for the Tribe (hitting .308 in 126 games), the Cleveland faithful undeservedly blamed him for the loss of fan favorite Colavito. From 1960 until a trade during the 1965 season, Kuenn played for the San Francisco Giants. During the 1962 World Series (a seven-game heartbreaker against the New York Yankees), Kuenn appeared in 4 contests, garnering only 1 hit in 12 at-bats. After brief stints with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, Kuenn called it quits. In 6,913 career at-bats, he recorded 2,092 hits, 356 doubles, and 671 RBIs. 

After his playing days, Kuenn suffered from ill-health. He underwent open-heart surgery in 1976, and four years later a blood clot necessitated the amputation of his right leg below the knee. In June 1982, Kuenn, then a coach for the fifth-place Milwaukee Brewers, replaced fired manager Buck Rogers. The club, 23-34 at the time, rebounded from its slow start, ending the season 95-67. After defeating the California Angels in the A.L. championship series, the Brewers fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Milwaukee earned the moniker "Harvey's Wallbangers" due to the impressive roster of sluggers, including Gorman Thomas (39 home runs), Ben Oglivie (34), Cecil Cooper (32), and Robin Yount (29). Kuenn received A.L. Manager of the Year honors.

In 1983, the Brewers wilted in the spotlight, finishing 87-75, fifth place in the A.L. East. The following season, Rene Lachemann replaced Kuenn, and Milwaukee slumped further to seventh place (71-90). Harvey Kuenn died February 28, 1988 in Peoria, Arizona. 

Born in Cleveland, Kuhel was a product of that city's sandlots (much like fellow Three-I veteran Joe Vosmik). In 1925, the 18-year-old prep star from Brooklyn Heights High School played for Flint of the Class B Michigan-Ontario League. In his first season of professional ball, the lefthanded Kuhel appeared in 125 games, batting .292 with 64 runs, 132 hits, 5 home runs, and 17 stolen bases. As the everyday first baseman, he finished with 1,198 putouts, 76 assists, and 19 errors. Kuhel spent the following season in Springfield of the Three-I League. The first-place Senators finished the campaign with 77 wins and 59 losses. Kuhel, again playing first base, also enjoyed a successful year. In 134 games and 527 at-bats, he scored 97 with 179 hits, 10 home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He batted a healthy .340, though still a full 20 points lower than league leader Harry Layne of Peoria. With an improved bat came a steadier glove. He ended his only season in the Three Eye with 1,233 putouts and 14 errors.

Kuhel then spent the 1927 season with Lincoln of the Class A Western League (.278 in 143 games and 587 at-bats). From 1928 through July 1930, he played first base for the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. In 1928, he batted .327 in 121 games. The following year, he appeared in 161 games (.325 with 135 runs, 211 hits, 6 home runs, and 19 stolen bases). He also smacked 19 triples, a mark that tied the league's existing record. On the field, he finished with 1,508 putouts, 117 assists, and 22 errors. In Kansas City, skipper Dutch Zwilling overhauled Kuhel's batting stance, enabling the first baseman to better hit the curve ball. In 1930, his last year in the minors, he batted .372 in 93 games. In July, Washington signed the 24-year-old to a $65,000 contract, and he finished the year in the American League. He appeared in 18 big league games (16 at first base), hitting .286 with 18 hits, 3 doubles, 3 triples, and 17 RBI. He recorded 149 putouts, 8 assists, and 3 errors. 

The 94-60 Senators finished the 1930 season in second place, 8 games behind Connie Mack's Athletics. Although Kuhel impressed manager Walter Johnson, first base remained the sole province of Joe Judge, the aging yet still-proficient veteran. The 36-year-old Judge had patrolled first base for the Nats since 1916, earning six fielding titles among A.L. first basemen. At the start of the 1931 season, Washington prepared to send Kuhel to Baltimore of the International League when an on-field appendicitis attack felled Judge. While the veteran recovered, Kuhel made the most of this unexpected break. He appeared in 139 at first base, batting .269 with 8 homne runs and 85 RBI. Though he could not match Judge's brilliant glove work, he finished with an impressive .991 fielding percentage. After splitting duties with Judge the following season, Kuhel became the Senators everyday first baseman in 1933. During this time, Ossie Bluege, another Three-I League veteran, anchored third base for the Nats.

In 1933, Washington captured the A.L. pennant with a 99-53 record. Kuhel enjoyed his finest season, batting .322 (sixth best in the A.L.) with 194 hits, 11 home runs, and 107 RBI (fifth best among junior circuit batters). In 153 games at first base, he committed only 7 errors while handling a league-leading 1,498 putouts. Unfortunately, the storybook season ended in heartbreak as the New York Giants defeated the Senators in 5 games. In 20 at-bats, Kuhel connected for a lowly 3 hits and 1 RBI. Giants pitching proved overpowering, especially Three Eye veteran Carl Hubbell. The lefthander earned two complete game victories, including the 11-inning, 1-run masterpiece of Game 4. In the final game, Mel Ott's 10th-inning home run gave the visiting Giants a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the 10th, Kuhel faced reliever Dolf Luque. With two men on base, he struck out on three pitches.

Kuhel remained in Washington through the 1937 season. On March 18, 1938, the Senators and the White Sox swapped first baseman. In Chicago, there was outrage over the loss of Zeke "the Physique" Bonura, a hard-hitting yet light-fielding fan favorite. Yet in six seasons on the South Side, Kuhel's steady play earned admiration from the surly fan base. Not only was his fielding a vast improvement, but his offensive production was the equal of "Banana Nose" Bonura. For instance, in 1940 he equaled Bonura's franchise record 27 home runs. 

In 1944, Kuhel returned to Washington for two full seasons. In June 1946, the Senators sent the 40-year-old first baseman back to Chicago, and he finished his career with the Pale Hose the following April. In addition to 2,212 hits and 1,049 RBI, Kuhel clubbed 131 home runs and batted .277. He finished with a lifetime fielding percentage of .992. 

In 1948, Kuhel joined the growing ranks of former Washington players (including Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson, Joe Cronin, and Ossie Bluege) to manage Clark Griffith's Senators. In two seasons, Kuhel won 106 and lost 201 (.345 winning percentage), finishing seventh in 1948 and eighth in 1949. Joseph Anthony Kuhel died on February 26, 1984 in Kansas City, Kansas.