Books and articles about Dave Kingman

Kingman could hit baseballs great distances, but disdained defense, the fans, and sportswriters - female writers in particular. He was a pitcher at USC before coach Rod Dedeaux converted him to the outfield. He played mostly third base and first base with the Giants, pitching in a couple of games, played outfield and first base with the Mets and Cubs, and became a DH in the American League.

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RELATED LINKS » 1976: The Slugging of Dave Kingman from The New York Mets Encyclopedia by Peter C. Bjarkman » 1977: Two Unforgettable Trades from The New York Mets Encyclopedia by Peter C. Bjarkman » 1981: The Return of Kingman from The New York Mets Encyclopedia by Peter C. Bjarkman Matchups » Who's Better: Dave Kingman or Greg Luzinski? Around the Web » Dave Kingman from baseball-reference.com » Dave Kingman from thebaseballpage.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Kong's tremendous home runs (he retired 20th on the all-time list) and sweeping strikeouts (he led the NL three times), after which he'd sometimes fall in a 6'6" tangle of arms and legs, brought him unwanted attention. People admired his strength, laughed at his awkwardness. In 1979 he tied a ML record for HR in two consecutive games (five), and most times hitting three or more HR in a game in one season (two). On the other hand, in 1982 he tied a ML record by striking out five times in a nine']-(((inning game.

Kingman was a smart and, at one time, fast baserunner, and he had a lightning-quick swing with a home run uppercut. He shortened his stroke while with the Cubs in 1979 (in the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field) and set career marks in batting average (.288) and home runs (a league-high 48). He led the NL in HR with 37 for the 1982 Mets but batted just .204. His average dropped to .198 in 1983; with Oakland in 1984, his 35 homers, career-high 118 RBI, and .268 average won him AL Comeback Player of the Year honors. Kingman's unpredictable, often antisocial behavior and one-dimensional game got him traded often; he tied a modern record by playing with four different clubs during the 1977 season. While with Oakland in 1985, he sent a rat to a female sportswriter. In 1986, though he had just come off a 35-HR season, the free agent found no takers. (KT)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 4, 1970: In the June draft, the Padres select high school catcher Mike Ivie as the number-one pick and sign him in three days to a $100,000 contract. He'll play in the ML 11 years but catch only nine games in the bigs because of a phobia about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Choosing next, the Indians take Stanford P Steve Dunning, who will debut in 10 days. Catchers Barry Foote (Expos) and Darrell Porter (Brewers) go next. The Pirates wait till the 14th round to take Dave Parker. Rich Gossage goes in the 9th round to the White Sox; Rick Reuschel to the Cubs (3); pitcher Dale Murphy to the Braves (18th). The Giants took Randy Moffitt and Chris Speier on the first round in January and repeat the good first round picks today with John D'Acquisto and Dave Kingman. The Reds take prep SS Gary Polczynski in the first round, but have better luck in the 8th (Will McEnaney), the 10th (Ray Knight) and the 19th (Pat Zachry). The Phillies, Royals, Dodgers, and Angels pick 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th on the first round and also come up with duds. Future seventeen-year major leaguer Frank White goes undrafted today. » August 1, 1971: After homering yesterday off Dave Giusti, rookie Dave Kingman, in his 2nd ML game, clouts two homers for the Giants to help sweep a pair from the first-place Pirates, 11–7 and 8–3. Willie McCovey adds a 3-run homer and Willie Mays a bases-loaded double. Willie Stargell has a pair of homers for the Pirates to go over the 100 RBI mark. » April 16, 1972: Hitting for the cycle, Dave Kingman drives in six runs to lead the Giants to a 10–6 win over the Astros. The third sacker makes out in his final at bat after clouting a 3-run homer in the 7th. Sudden Sam McDowell, making his NL debut, pitches five 2/3 inning for the win despite allowing 3-run homers to Bob Watson and Tommy Helms. » February 28, 1975: The Mets purchase 1B-OF Dave Kingman from the Giants. » April 14, 1976: At Chicago, the Mets' Dave Kingman launches a home run estimated at 550 feet that plunks a house some 530 feet from home plate, but the Cubs survive to win, 6–5, and tie for 1st. Buddy Schultz cops his only victory of the year, and Hank Webb, in his only decision of the year, takes the loss. Capping the day is Randy Hundley, signed after the Padres release him, who ignites a 3-run rally in the 7th with a pinch double. » June 4, 1976: Dave Kingman hits three home runs and knocks in eight runs during a Mets 11–0 win over the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. » July 19, 1976: The Mets Dave Kingman tears ligaments in his thumb diving for a ball in a 4–2 loss to the Braves. Kingman, who already has 32 home runs for the season, will hit only five more after being sidelined for six weeks. » September 18, 1976: Tom Seaver cuts down the Pirates for the 2nd time in six days, this time winning 6–2 at Shea. Dave Kingman belts his 35th homer and Ed Kranepool adds another of the Mets. » June 15, 1977: New York fans are in shock as the Mets trade ace P Tom Seaver to the Reds. In return they get P Pat Zachry, IF Doug Flynn, and minor leaguers Steve Henderson and Dan Norman. The Mets also trade slugger Dave Kingman to the Padres for utility player Bobby Valentine and a minor league pitcher. » September 6, 1977: California acquires Dave Kingman for cash. Nine days later the Yankees will buy Kingman, making him the first player to wear four uniforms in four divisions in the same year. His 26 home runs will be the most by a player with more than two teams. » May 14, 1978: Happy Mother's Day, Mrs. Kingman. Dave Kingman drives in eight runs with a single and three home runs, including a 15th-inning 3-run shot that gives the Cubs a 10–7 win over the Dodgers. This is the 2nd time he has enjoyed a 3-HR, 8-RBI day at Dodger Stadium. » May 17, 1979: The wind is really blowing out at Wrigley as the Cubs (6) and the Phillies (5) combine for a ML-record-tying 11 home runs and 97 total bases during a wild 10-inning slugfest won 23–22 by the Phils. Dave Kingman has three home runs and six RBIs for the Cubs, while teammate Bill Buckner has a grand slam and seven RBIs. Mike Schmidt's two home runs include the game-winner in the 10th off Cub relief ace Bruce Sutter. Bob Boone has five RBIs and Larry Bowa five hits. The Phils jump to a 7–0 lead in the 1st and lead 15–6 after three innings, and 21–9 going into the bottom of the 6th but can't hold it. Rawly Eastwick shuts out the Cubs for two frames to win. The two teams combine to have 21 different players score runs and the 2-team total of 47 extra bases on long hits (24-Phi) sets a ML mark for an extra inning game. It is the largest scoring game in the majors since August 25, 1922, when these same two teams met. » July 27, 1979: The Cubs top the Mets at Shea Stadium, 4–2, behind Dave Kingman's two home runs. » July 28, 1979: The Cubs Dave Kingman continues his slugging with a single and three consecutive home runs during a 6–4 loss to the Mets. It is Kingman's 2nd 3-HR game of the season (May 17th), and enables him to tie the major-league record with five home runs over two consecutive games. » February 28, 1981: The Mets trade OF Steve Henderson and an estimated $100,000 to the Cubs for slugger Dave Kingman, who led the NL with 48 home runs in 1979. » January 30, 1984: After failing to trade him, the Mets give veteran slugger Dave Kingman his release. Kingman hit .198 with 13 home runs last year, but will find a new home as Oakland's designated hitter. » April 16, 1984: Dave Kingman hits three home runs—including his 12th career grand slam—and drives in eight runs in the A's 9–6 win over the Mariners. It is Kingman's 5th career 3-HR game, one shy of the major-league record held by Johnny Mize. » May 4, 1984: At Minnesota, Oakland's Dave Kingman hits a pop up that collides with the Metrodome, 180 feet up, and stays there. The ball is dislodged tomorrow. Frank Viola pitches seven 2/3 scoreless innings in the Twins 3–1 win. » June 20, 1984: Dave Kingman hits his 3rd grand slam of the season in the first inning of the A's 8–1 win over Kansas City. Kingman's 14 grand slams are the most among active players. » August 27, 1984: Dave Kingman hits a double and homer to help Oakland score seven runs in the 7th inning, but that's all the A's score in losing to the Yankees, 7–6. Bobby Meacham has two homers, including the game winner in the 8th, to back Dave Righetti's relief win. Bill Caudill loses. » April 11, 1985: Gorman Thomas, recovering from rotator cuff surgery, smashes three home runs in Seattle's 14–6 rout of visiting Oakland. The Mariners set a one-game club record with seven home runs. Dave Kingman gets robbed of a monstrous homer when his deep drive in left bounces off a loud speaker and is caught. » June 27, 1985: San Francisco's Jeffrey Leonard hits for the cycle in a 7–6 loss to the Reds. He is the first Giant to do so since Dave Kingman in 1972. » August 10, 1985: Oakland's Dave Kingman becomes the 21st player to hit 400 career home runs, belting a 2-run shot off Matt Young in the first inning of the A's 11–5 win at Seattle. » August 6, 1996: Darryl Strawberry strokes three home runs off Kevin Tapani in the Yankees 9-2 victory over the White Sox. In doing so, he becomes just the 8th player to hit three in a game in both leagues. The others to do it were Babe Ruth, Johnny Mize, Dave Kingman, Cory Snyder, Darnell Coles, Claudell Washington, and Larry Parrish. » August 4, 2000: The Blue Jays obtain OF Dave Martinez from the Rangers for a player to be named later. Martinez becomes the 9th major leaguer to play for four teams in a season. He began the year with Tampa Bay and also played with the Cubs, in addition to Texas and Toronto. The last to do so was Dave Kingman, in 1977: before him, according to historian Scott Flatow, the four-in-one players were Frank Huelsman, 1904; Willis Hudlin, 1940; Paul Lehner, 1951; Ted Gray, 1955; Wes Covington, 1961; and Mike Kilkenny, 1972. » June 28, 2002: Tampa Bay whips their cross state rival Marlins 4–0 behind Wilson Alvarez and two relievers. Jared Sandberg homers for TB. In the 7th, Kevin Millar of the Marlins hits a towering fly that lands on one of the catwalks that hang from the stadium's dome. It never comes down and it is ruled a double. It's the second time a ball has gotten stuck in a catwalk at Tropicana Field. In 1999, Jose Canseco hit a home run drive that lodged there. Millar joins Ruppert Jones, Rickey Nelson, Dave Kingman, Alvaro Espinoza and Canseco as the only players to hit a fair ball that got stuck in a stadium obstruction. Jones and Nelson both had hits get caught in the overhead speakers at the old Kingdome. The balls hit by Kingman and Espinoza were at the Minneapolis Metrodome with Kingman's getting stuck in a drainage valve and Espinoza's lodging in an overhead speaker.