Dave Kingman

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kingman was born in Pendleton, Oregon, in 1948, and moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, in 1951, then to Los Angeles, California, in 1954, and finally to Mount Prospect, Illinois. He attended Prospect High School, where he played basketball, football, and baseball. Kingman was drafted by the California Angels out of high school in the second round of the 1967 MLB draft but chose to attend Harper Junior College. He later played college baseball for USC and was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the 1968 draft. Kingman began as a pitcher at USC before being converted to an outfielder. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the first pick of the secondary phase draft. Kingman made his MLB debut on July 30, 1971, with the Giants. He played for the Giants from 1971 to 1974, then was sold to the New York Mets on February 28, 1975. Kingman played for the Mets from 1975 to 1977, then was traded to the San Diego Padres on June 15, 1977, as part of the "Midnight Massacre." He was waived by the Padres and claimed by the California Angels on September 6, 1977, then traded to the New York Yankees on September 15, 1977. Kingman signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs on November 30, 1977, and played for them from 1978 to 1980. The source does not specify his teams after 1980.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at Shea Stadium changed in February 1975 when the Mets acquired Kingman from the Giants. He quickly adapted to the city, emerging as a slugger who could clear the fences with remarkable frequency. In his debut season of 1975, he hit 36 home runs, a record that defined his early years with the team. By 1976, he had improved that total to 37, solidifying his status as one of the league's premier power hitters and earning him an All-Star selection. However, his career in New York was cut short by franchise-altering trades. On June 15, 1977, Kingman became one of three players involved in the "Midnight Massacre" deals orchestrated by the Mets' front office. He was traded to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Paul Siebert and Bobby Valentine, marking a chaotic end to his time as a Met.

Reader's Guide

Kingman was a power hitter who twice led the National League in home runs. Known for his long home runs, he hit one measured at over 530 feet. Kingman struck out frequently and posted a low batting average and on-base percentage. His 1,816 strikeouts was the fourth-highest total in MLB history at the time of his retirement. He finished in the top 25 voting for National League Most Valuable Player four times (1972, 1975, 1976, and 1979) and American League Most Valuable Player once (1984). Upon retiring, only eighteen other players had more home runs than Kingman for a career, and he was tied for 4th on the all-time grand slam list with 16 (tied with Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth).

Did You Know?

• Kingman set a Mets club record with 36 home runs in 1975, then broke his own record with 37 homers in 1976.
• Kingman's single-season home run record for the Mets stood until 1987, when it was broken by Darryl Strawberry.
• Kingman hit for the cycle on April 16, 1972, for the Giants.
• Kingman is the only player to play in each division in baseball in a single year since the establishment of divisional play in 1969, having played for four teams in 1977.