Books and articles about Ken Singleton

Singleton was a consistent power hitter who topped 20 HR in five seasons, with a high of 35 in Baltimore's 1979 AL championship year. He was in double figures in homers in all but three of his 15 seasons and hit .300 four times.

RELATED LINKS » 1973: O, Charlie O. Submissions » Some Expos Nostalgia by Maxwell Kates Ask The Experts » Who are the top ten switch-hitters in terms of career home runs? Corrections » Bug #102 Around the Web » Ken Singleton from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

The native New Yorker started his career with the Mets, but was not given a chance to play regularly and was traded to the Expos in April 1972 with Mike Jorgenson and Tim Foli in exchange for Rusty Staub. In his first season with Montreal, Singleton had troublesome rashes that were finally traced to an allergic reaction to the Expos' wool uniforms; the club had to order double-knit uniforms especially for him. He had perhaps his best year, considering the circumstances, in 1973. Playing on a losing team with only one other significant power hitter, Singleton hit 23 HR with 103 RBI (fifth in the NL), 100 runs, 123 walks (one behind the league leader), and a .302 BA. After dropping off in 1974, he was traded to the Orioles with Mike Torrez for Dave McNally and two throw-ins.

With the Orioles, Singleton became a star. When he hit .328 in 1977 (third in the AL), it set the club record, as did his .438 on-base percentage (second in the AL). He also holds Oriole season marks with 118 walks in 1975 and 35 switch-hit HR in 1979. In major league history, only Singleton, Mantle, and Howard Johnson have switch-hit 35 or more HR in a season. Singleton also ranks high in most Baltimore career offensive categories, including fourth in hits, HR, RBI, and total bases. Twice with Baltimore he had 100 RBI and three times he topped 100 walks. His production dropped off after 1982, when he had muscle deterioration in his right forearm. Until then, he had had a strong throwing arm (he led the NL in assists with 20 in 1973), but that and his decreasing speed, never good even when he was young, forced him into a DH role. That confined his 1983 WS action to two pinch-hit appearances, but in one of them, in Game Four, he walked with the bases loaded to force in the tying run in the Orioles' 5-4 victory. He had an excellent postseason in 1979, hitting .375 with two RBI and four runs in the four-game LCS and .357 with two RBI in the Orioles' WS loss. (JFC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 1, 1970: Fergie Jenkins allows two hits—two doubles by Ken Singleton, and Joe Pepitone hits a 2-run homer to beat the Mets, 4–1. The win puts the Cubs in 2nd place in the NL East, with the Mets in 3rd. » September 15, 1971: At Shea Stadium, Mike Jorgensen hits a 2-out single in the 7th to break Burt Hooton's no hit bid, and Ken Singleton follows with a homer to tie the match at 2–2. But Billy Williams clocks a pinch homer in the 9th and Hooton finishes the 3–2 victory with 15 strikeouts, notching his first ML win. In opener of the twi-night DH, Bill Hands beats Jerry Koosman, 6–2. Hands starts the Cubs' scoring with a 2-run single in the 2nd. » April 5, 1972: The Mets trade OF Ken Singleton, 1B-OF Mike Jorgensen, and IF Tim Foli to the Expos for OF Rusty Staub. » July 7, 1972: Back in the Expos lineup for the first time since June 27, Ken Singleton drives in three runs to support Bill Stoneman's 7–2 win over the Giants. Singleton wears a special uniform to prevent a rash from reoccurring because of his allergy to materials in the Expos regular uniform. » August 3, 1972: Cubs pitcher Bill Hands allows one hit, by Ken Singleton, in beating the Expos, 3–0, in the nitecap. The Cubs lose the opener, 2–1, as Jack Aker absorbs his 3rd loss in his last five save opportunities. » December 4, 1974: In a dismal trade for Montreal, the Expos trade OF Ken Singleton and P Mike Torrez to the Orioles for P Dave McNally, OF Rich Coggins, and a minor league pitcher. » April 28, 1981: Ken Singleton's consecutive-hit streak is snapped at 10 when he grounds into a double play off Chicago's Rich Dotson in the Orioles' 8–6 loss. Singleton singles and homers in his first two at bats after going 4-for-4 in each of the previous two games. » September 4, 2000: In the Red Sox win over the Mariners, 5-1, Carl Everett of the Sox became only the sixth major-league switch-hitter to drive in 100 runs in both leagues when he knocked in his 100th ribbie of the year. Everett drove in 108 runs for the Houston Astros last season. The other five 100-100 switches were Ted Simmons, Ken Singleton, Eddie Murray, Bobby Bonilla and J.T. Snow. Pedro Martinez is the big star, striking out 11 in eight innings to go 7–0 over the M's. Jamie Moyer loses his 6th in a row, though not his fault as a routine fly ball by Jose Offerman to Mike Cameron becomes a 3-run triple when the center fielder stumbles. Prior to the game, Boston retires Hall of Fame C Carlton Fisk's uniform No. 27.