Dave Kingman was the ultimate all-or-nothing slugger of the Major League Baseball era
In short: Standing six-foot-six, Dave Kingman redefined the power hitter archetype. He was a prolific home run machine who frequently struck out, leaving a trail of broken records and bizarre clubhouse controversies in his wake. From hitting balls onto distant porches to mailing live rats to reporters, Kingman was baseball's most polarizing enigma.
Known as Kong, Kingman was a towering presence who played for sixteen seasons across multiple teams. His career was defined by extreme volatility: he hit 442 home runs, averaging one every 15.11 at-bats, yet he also accumulated 1,816 strikeouts, which ranked as the fourth-highest total in league history when he retired. His power was undeniable, as evidenced by a 530-foot blast and a legendary 550-foot shot at Wrigley Field that landed on a residential porch.
Kingman's career was marked by frequent movement, including a chaotic 1977 season where he played for four different franchises. His tenure with the Chicago Cubs saw him lead the National League with 48 home runs in 1979, a season where he also posted a .613 slugging percentage. However, his defensive limitations and low batting averages often overshadowed his offensive output. In 1982, he led the league in home runs while hitting just .204, the lowest average ever for a home run champion.
Beyond the diamond, Kingman was notoriously difficult to manage and often clashed with the media. His relationship with sportswriters reached a nadir in 1986 when he sent a live rat to a female reporter, Sue Fornoff, as a supposed practical joke. This incident, combined with his refusal to apologize, cemented his reputation as a volatile personality. Despite these tensions, he remained a potent offensive threat until his final season in 1986, when his 35 home runs set a record for a retiring player that stood for three decades.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dave Kingman
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