Ron Kittle
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Ronald Dale (Ron) Kittle (born January 5, 1958 in Gary, Indiana) is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power. From 1982 through 1991, Kittle played for the Chicago White Sox (1982-86, 1989, 1991), New York Yankees (1986-87), Cleveland Indians (1988) and Baltimore Orioles (1990). He batted and threw right handed.
In a 10-season career, Kittle posted a .239 batting average with 176 home runs and 460 RBI in 843 games.
A former steelworker who made a relatively late major league debut, being nearly 25 years old, Kittle was popular on the Chicago White Sox when they won a surprising 99 games in 1983 to make their first playoff appearance since the 1959 World Series. That season, Kittle was selected an All-Star and won Rookie of the Year honors after hitting 35 home runs (club record for a rookie) and 100 RBI.
Kittle also has hit 50 homers in the minor leagues with the Edmonton Trappers and has his jersey retired in Edmonton at TELUS Field. There are also pictures of him.
He was most well-known for his line-drive rooftop home runs (7 MLB record) at the historic Comiskey Park (1910-1990) setting off the fireworks, exploding scoreboard and ecstatic south side Chicago fans as they sang the famous "na na na na hey hey heyeee GOODBYE" song played by White Sox organist Nancy Faust.
Kittle maintained his home run power, but after 1983 his average dropped and his strikeouts were increasing. Kittle had short stints with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. He returned again to the White Sox in 1990 playing first base. Later in the season he was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles, and finished his career with the White Sox in 1991.
In March of 2005, Kittle's book "Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout" was published. Co-written with Bob Logan, the book features anecdotes (some of them never before told to the public) from his time as a major leaguer. The book caused some controversy when Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants accused Kittle of fabricating an insulting story about Bonds.
[edit] External link
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
| Preceded by Cal Ripken, Jr. |
American League Rookie of the Year 1983 |
Succeeded by Alvin Davis |
Categories: Baseball Rookies of the Year | American League All-Stars | Baltimore Orioles players | Chicago White Sox players | Cleveland Indians players | New York Yankees players | Major league left fielders | Major league designated hitters | Major league players from Indiana | People from Gary, Indiana | 1958 births | Living people
