Dave Kingman's BIZARRE 1982 Season

It is easy to pick on Kingman without knowing about him. I don't think he warrants that much criticism compared to today's ballplayers. Did Kingman really strike out that much? Let's compare him to some of today's best sluggers over a 162 game season. Kingman averaged 152 strikeouts per season compared to Judge (201), Stanton (192) Schwarber (187), Ohtani (174), and Trout (159). Kingman average 162 game statistics were .236 BA, 37 HR, and 101 RBI. That would earn a $200+ million multi-year contract today. He was not the best outfielder but a serviceable one with a fielding percentage of .974. He possessed a cannon for a throwing arm. He was a pitcher for USC in college before converting to outfield. He was also remarkably fast for his size and played receiver and safety in high school. His power was unheard of then and now. Few people could hit it as far as Kingman in any era. Think about him playing today in the small bandbox ballparks used today to enhance home runs. He was much larger than he was listed which was a common practice in those decades. He was probably closer to 230-240 at 6'6" and his strength was legendary. But Kingman was his own worst enemy many times. He did not like the press and quarreled with them frequently and dismissed fans, even his own fans. But he was exciting to watch with a bat in his hands.

In today's baseball he would be a superstar.

Kingman's base stealing was excellent in '82. Four steals in four attempts.

My buddy and I went to Wrigley for 1 reason. To see Kingman blast HR’s… I remember One of his homers where he got fooled on a pitched, reached for it, had one hand on the bat when he made contact, and drilled it over the fence…

AKA, the guy 2023 analytics say is the perfect baseball player.

Great video. Fun fact: Dave Kingman, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx are the only players with three 8-RBI games

One overlooked stat on Kingman… he never paid for drugs.

Dude hit bombs!!! 3rd house across the street ball bounced off front porch.

He did have great 1979 season with the Cubs, when he hit .288 avg/48 hrs/115 rbi with a .956 ops. Also went .268/35/118 w .826 ops with 1984 A's. Hit 35 bombs in his last major league season [1986] with the A's at age 37.

from 78-1980. those 3 seasons Kingman was with the Cubs. him and my boy Buckner. put A LOT of fannies in those seats at Wrigley. 16 seasons in the Major Leagues is actually pretty GOOD. we still LOVE you Dave here in Chicago. and thank you for giving us kids across the Chicagoland area. some thrills.

I would say 2023 Kyle Schwarber = 1982 Dave Kingman, but at least Schwarber walks a lot.

I remember people talking about how in 1982, the NL HR leader had a lower batting average than the NL Cy Young winner. Kingman .204 / Carlton .218.

One of 4 people who hit over 400 home runs and will never make the HOF.

Didn't call him King Kong for nothin.😮😮😮

I remember when he came into prominence with the Mets in 1975. Think he was pretty unknown before this. My best memory of him was a multi-strikeout game at Shea where he destroyed his hair dryer after the game (the tantrum made the NY Daily News). The Mets flew out to LA and he hit 3 homers against the Dodgers in the next game. It was fun to watch him bunt, too! Almost always got on base!

He was fun to watch.

Always a great trivia question. Only player to play in all 4 divisions in MLB(back when they were only 4) in one season. Dave Kingman

I've been waiting for a video about Kingman's 1982 season!!!

I’m a Yankees fan since I was a kid in the 70’s but Kingman was one of my favorite players because of the bombs he would hit. That September he spent with the Yanks in 77 was awesome to my 9yo self. 😂

"Chicks dig the long ball." - Dave Kingman