Dave Kingman Career Redux

[tdneu99]

So how did he do compared to the rest of his teammates:

Well, he led the Giants in 37 HR, tied with Bobby Bonds with 96 RBI, finished second in Runs Scored to Bonds with 87, and led the team with his 84 walks.



Fielding is still a bit of an issue, though:

[tdneu99]

Big Dave finished second in the NL in HR, one big fly behind the Cubs Billy Williams, and tied with Johnny Bench and Mike Schmidt. Not bad company.

But the real story is that Dick Allen never did cool off, and ended up with some ridiculous final stats to indeed take the Triple Crown:



IRL 1973 Allen played only 72 games, and while he had a great half-year, even tripling these stats you don't approach his sim results:

[tdneu99]

Here's how the Playoffs turned out:



IRL 1973 only the Reds actually made the playoffs. Baltimore and Oakland were the real AL matchup, and the Mets were Cincy's real NL opponent. Graphic courtesy of Wikipedia.



This now makes two straight sim seasons that the IRL Champion Oakland A's never even made the playoffs - ergo - no virtual mid-70's dynasty.

No postseason awards for Kong. He lost out on a Silver Slugger Award at 1B to the Phillies Willie Montanez, who did have a great year:

[tdneu99]

Last thing - all GREEN on the Historical Accuracy stats:



On to 1974!

[joefromchicago]

My favorite Dave Kingman moment came in, I think, the 1981 Cubs home opener. Kingman was, let's say, not popular with the fans. He had a rocky relationship with the club and the media during his time with the Cubs, and he was traded to the Mets after the 1980 season. As luck would have it, the Mets were scheduled to play the Cubs in their opener at Wrigley Field in 1981. So on top of the longstanding animosity that Cub fans had toward the Mets (a legacy of 1969), the generally disliked Kingman would be back in Wrigley, but this time in a Mets uniform.

It had snowed the night before and into the morning hours that day, and it was uncertain whether they would even play the game. But Cub management wasn't about to cancel a game with a sell-out crowd, so it was time for me to bundle up and head to the ballpark. The park's crew worked overtime to get the field in shape for play, but I was amazed to see that there was still snow piled underneath the grandstand seats where I had my tickets (you can't beat baseball in Chicago in April).

So it must have been the first inning. Kingman goes out onto the on-deck circle and kneels down on one knee. First he was greeted with a lusty chorus of boos from the fans, and then the snowballs started flying out of the stands - maybe a half-dozen, maybe more. All these snowballs are being chucked at Kingman, while the mighty Kong is imperturbable, doesn't even flinch, doesn't move a muscle - he is god-like in his disdain. Maybe he was confident that none of the projectiles would hit him because, after all, they were being thrown by Cubs fans. And sure enough, not so much as a flake touched him. I don't think many Cubs loyalists gave him any credit for that act of stoicism, but that day I must admit I gained a small measure of respect for the man.

[tdneu99]

That is a great story! Thanks for posting it

[David Watts]

I have two Kingman memories: One was the home run he drilled at Wrigley that landed on someone's porch across the street about 2 or 3 houses from the corner. Insane.

And the Tommy Lasorda, Dave Kingman rant will always be hilarious.

[joefromchicago]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I have two Kingman memories: One was the home run he drilled at Wrigley that landed on someone's porch across the street about 2 or 3 houses from the corner. Insane.

Those monster shots down Kenmore Ave are the stuff of legend.

Originally Posted by David Watts

And the Tommy Lasorda, Dave Kingman rant will always be hilarious.

A classic, to be sure. Still, it doesn't hold a candle to Lee Elia's profanity-laden tirade. (Needless to say, both are very NSFW)

And then there was the time when Kingman was, I think, with the Padres - this was before he ended up with the Cubs. Chicago had a utility infielder by the name of Mick Kelleher, and Cubs fans who watched the games on WGN could be excused for thinking that his full name was "Little Mick Kelleher," because that's how the announcers always referred to him. Baseball-ref lists him as 5'9", which might be a bit generous, but he was surrounded by guys who were 6' and over, so he looked tiny.

Anyway, one day at Wrigley Kelleher is playing short and Kingman is the runner on first. The batter hits a grounder to second, who throws to Kelleher covering the bag. Kingman barrels into Little Mick to break up the double play. Now Kingman ran like a water buffalo, so he flattened Kelleher like a bug. Little Mick, undaunted by the nine-inch height difference, starts beating on Kingman and the benches cleared. Honestly, it was like watching a toddler try to fight a gorilla.

After that, it wasn't just "Little Mick Kelleher" for the Cubs broadcast team. It was "Little Mick Kelleher, remember when he tried to beat up Dave Kingman?" Funny thing is, Kingman and Kelleher were teammates on the Cubs not long after that. I don't think it affected their relationship though - Kingman was probably as big a jerk to Kelleher as he would have been had they never fought.

[tdneu99]

I was a Braves fan growing up, and I remember a bench-clearing episode with the Mets where Joe Torre ran in from the dugout to try and separate Kingman and Dale Murphy, who had sprinted in from center while the scrum formed. He said it was like trying to push two trees apart.

[tdneu99]

Jim Barr of the San Francisco Giants shut out the Cincinnati Reds, 7-0, on 5 hits. He rang up 3 strikeouts and walked 1.

"He's got great stuff and good movement," Cincinnati manager said after the game. "He threw a lot of breaking balls. He made adjustments. We just couldn't figure him out today."

Giants first baseman Dave Kingman did much of the damage with a 3-run homer off LHP Fred Norman, as he fell apart late in the game.

BOTTOM OF THE 7TH
Count: 3-2
3-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 89XD), Distance : 395 ft

Season HR #1 - Career HR #82

[tdneu99]

Montreal center fielder Willie Davis played a vital role in his team's 6-5 triumph over San Francisco. He was 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 singles, while scoring 2 times and driving in 2 for Montreal. Chuck Taylor finished to wrap up his 1st save. Montreal, now 10-5, has played well in the early going.

Davis had a game-changing single in the top of the ninth. On a first pitch fastball from Elias Sosa, he banged a run-scoring single to center, giving the Expos a 6-5 lead. It was the 23rd hit of the year for Davis.

"I'm just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well," said Davis. "And not try to do too much."

Kingman hit a leadoff HR in the 5th off LHP Balor Moore as the Giants tried to come back.

BOTTOM OF THE 5TH
Count:1-2
SOLO HOME RUN (Line Drive, 7LD), Distance : 370 ft

Season HR #2 - Career HR #83

[tdneu99]

San Francisco got a terrific performance from first baseman Dave Kingman, but it wasn't enough to beat the New York Mets. New York won the Candlestick Park contest, 6-5. Kingman was the player of the game despite being on the losing side. He went 2-3 with a solo home run off RHP Bob L Miller, a triple, and a walk. He drove in 3 runs and scored once. George H Stone picked up the save, his 1st. The Giants, now 10-11, continue their sluggish start.

Don Hahn's hit in the top of the ninth was a game-changer. With two out, he rapped a fastball from Ron Bryant for a run-scoring single. It put New York in front, 4-3.

BOTTOM OF THE 8TH
Count: 2-1
SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 9D), Distance : 363 ft

Season HR #3 - Career HR #84

[tdneu99]

The San Francisco Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 9-6, in NL action at Riverfront Stadium, with San Francisco first baseman Dave Kingman named player of the game. At 17-18, San Francisco is in 5th place in the NL West Division.

San Francisco needed the clutch hitting of Bobby Bonds to notch the win. The right fielder hammered a 3-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to put the Giants on top, 6-2. For the game, Bonds had 1 home run and 1 single in 4 at-bats.

"We put it together today and came out with the win," Kingman said in postgame remarks. "That's the main thing." His homer came off starter RHP Roger Nelson.

TOP OF THE 1ST
Count: 3-2
2-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 7D), Distance : 361 ft

Season HR #4 - Career HR #85

[tdneu99]

The San Francisco Giants racked up a win at Candlestick Park, bumping off the San Diego Padres, 8-1. Ed Halicki, who started for San Francisco, pitched effectively for his team. The win boosts the Giants to 19-20. The loss puts the Padres at 18-23.

The Giants picked up the win with a combination of good hitting and good pitching. Kingman added a homer off RHP Mike Corkins.

BOTTOM OF THE 6TH
Count: 1-2
SOLO HOME RUN (Line Drive, 7D), Distance : 383 ft

Season HR #5 - Career HR #86

[tdneu99]

The San Francisco Giants saddled the Atlanta Braves with a loss at Candlestick Park. The final score was 6-5. Gary Thomasson, named player of the game, was 3 for 5, including 2 singles and 1 home run. The San Francisco center fielder scored 1 run and drove in 3. The Giants, at 21-20, have now won 4 straight.

Thomasson had a game-changing single in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-1 slider from Joe Niekro, he banged a 2-run single to left-center, giving the Giants a 6-5 lead. It was the 38th hit of the year for Thomasson.

"If we play like this, we can win a lot of games," Thomasson told the San Francisco Observer.

Kingman got the scoring going with a long homer off RHP Barry Lersch in his first at bat.

BOTTOM OF THE 1ST
Count: 1-1
2-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 89XD), Distance : 419 ft

Season HR #6 - Career HR #87

[tdneu99]

San Francisco starter Ed Halicki pitched effectively against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Candlestick Park. The right-hander led his team to a 6-1 win. The third-place Giants have won 7 straight games.

The Dodgers had trouble solving Halicki, who surrendered no earned runs on 5 hits over 7.2 innings. Kingman hit his 3rd career homer off the veteran RHP Don Sutton.

BOTTOM OF THE 8TH
Count: 3-2
SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 9LD), Distance : 341 ft

Season HR #7 - Career HR #88

[tdneu99]

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a win at Candlestick Park, knocking off the San Francisco Giants, 4-3. Starting pitcher Andy Messersmith was an essential part of his team's success. The winner was Mike G Marshall in relief. His record improves to 4-4. Randy Moffitt took the loss. The Dodgers own a robust 30-17 mark.

The Dodgers got a big at-bat from left fielder Tom Paciorek. For the game, Paciorek went 1-1 with a home run. He drove in 2 runs and scored once. In the top of the ninth, with a runner on 1st, he stroked a 2-run home run. His 3rd home run of the season gave Los Angeles a 4-3 lead

Dave Kingman had put the home team ahead with a 2-run blast off RHP Mike G Marshall.

BOTTOM OF THE 8TH
Count: 0-1
2-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 89XD), Distance : 412 ft

Season HR #8 - Career HR #89

[tdneu99]

San Francisco right-hander Ed Halicki made an effective start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, leading his team to a 5-1 win. Getting the save was Randy Moffitt, his 6th. The Giants bumped their record to 27-22 with this latest triumph.

Gary Thomasson chipped in for San Francisco with a 2-run home run in the top of the fourth. For the game, the center fielder had 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 home run, 1 single, 1 run scored, and 2 runs batted in.

Kingman got the scoring going early with a 2-run opposite field shot off Cubs RHP Burt Hooton that initially looked like RF Jose Cardenal had easily. "it just kept carrying," said the Giants slugger. "I might like to play here with this wind."

TOP OF THE 2ND
Count: 2-2
SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 9D), Distance : 387 ft

Season HR #9 - Career HR #90

[tdneu99]

San Francisco right-hander John D'Acquisto made an effective start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium, leading his team to a 5-1 win. D'Acquisto went 7.2 innings to notch the win. He scattered 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 8. His record improves to 3-3. The Giants bumped their record to 29-22 with this latest triumph.

Had Garry Maddox not delivered a key base hit in the top of the eighth, the outcome might have been different. Instead, with two down and the bases loaded, Maddox hit a run-scoring single. That made the score 2-1, in favor of the Giants.

Kingman hit another dinger off Phillies starter LHP Steve Carlton, his 3rd career.

TOP OF THE 6TH
Count: 2-1
SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 9D), Distance : 362 ft

Season HR #10 - Career HR #91

[tdneu99]

Big Dave pulled up lame at first after beating out an infield single. Ed Goodson came in to run for him and played first the rest of the game.

It's the first time on th DL for the Giants slugger.