Kuhn was born in 1899 in Vicksburg, Michigan, and attended Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) where he played college baseball. In his senior season of 1923, he was the team captain.
Detail of Kuhn's minor league baseball career is lacking. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians organization in February 1924, at which time it was noted that he had been playing semi-pro baseball during the prior two years. He attended spring training with the Indians in Hot Springs, Arkansas, prior to the 1924 season. He played much of that season with the Utica Utes of the early New York–Pennsylvania League, compiling a 5–10 win–loss record in 19 games. He then pitched in five games for the Terre Haute Tots in August, registering a 1–3 record. He was transferred to the major league Indians on August 26.[a]
On September 1, 1924, Kuhn made his only major league appearance, pitching for Cleveland against the St. Louis Browns in an away game played at Sportsman's Park. Kuhn entered the first game of a doubleheader in the bottom of the eighth inning, with the score tied, 8–8. Cleveland's prior pitcher, reliever Paul Fitzke, had allowed two runs in four innings of work, in what was also Fitzke's only major league appearance. The first batter that Kuhn faced, future hall of famer George Sisler, reached base on an infield single, and the next batter, left fielder Ken Williams, hit a home run. This was followed by a single, sacrifice bunt, single (scoring another run), fly out, and then a ground out to end the inning. Overall, in his one inning of work, Kuhn had faced seven batters and allowed three runs on four hits. As the Indians were unable to score in the top of the ninth inning, Kuhn was the losing pitcher for Cleveland.

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