- In 1977, he became the first player to play in four different divisions in the same year - New York Mets (National League East), San Diego Padres (National League West), California Angels (American League West) and New York Yankees (American League East)
- Led the National League in strikeouts 3 times (131, [1979]; 105, [1981]; 156, [1982])
- In 1982 he hit 37 home runs, a new Mets' single-season record, which stood until Darryl Strawberry hit 39 in 1987. But he also batted just .204<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference">[8]</sup>, the lowest batting average ever recorded for a first baseman with enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. Leading the league in home runs that year, it is also the lowest batting average for anyone during the season they led in home runs.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference">[9]</sup> Additionally, he accomplished the dubious feat of leading the league in home runs while having a lower batting average than the Cy Young Award winner, (Steve Carlton, .218).<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference">[10]</sup>
- Lifetime walks-to-strikeout ratio: 0.335 (608-1816)
Way back when ...
I went to my one of my first Phillies games at the Vet, and I believe King-Kong was with the Cubbies back then ....
He hit a "monster-shot" ... I was stunned!
that was probably the hardest-hit HR, I saw ...
and watching Mike Schmidt and G. Luzinski play, that's saying something.
Happy Birthday .... Kong :drink:
I went to my one of my first Phillies games at the Vet, and I believe King-Kong was with the Cubbies back then ....
He hit a "monster-shot" ... I was stunned!
that was probably the hardest-hit HR, I saw ...
and watching Mike Schmidt and G. Luzinski play, that's saying something.
Happy Birthday .... Kong :drink:
I remember when Kingman "late in his career" played for the Padres. Game at Wrigley he slides into Cubs shortstop "Mick Kelleher". Kelleher didn't like the hard slide. Kelleher put Kingman in a upper body lock and pinned Kingman to the ground. Benches cleared and Mick had to be pulled off of Kingman. For those that don't remember Kingman was twice the size of Kelleher.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rr1GaFAwaHs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rr1GaFAwaHs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Over 30 years ago I was at Wrigley sitting in the left field bleachers. Wind blowing out and Cubs were playing the Phillies. It was wild game. Final score was something like Phily 21 Cubs 19. Kingman and Schmidt put on a show. They each hit 3 HR one of them may have hit 4?
Classic game! I was around 15 and had the time of my life with my friends in the bleachers.
Classic game! I was around 15 and had the time of my life with my friends in the bleachers.
Given his era, yeah he was a star slugger !
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingmda01.shtml
so he could play on my team, seems to be a star of that era, actually !
