Ron Kittle
Born: 1/5/1958 in Gary, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1982-09-02 | Final Game: 1991-08-13
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Ronald Dale Kittle
Biography
Ron Kittle was a professional baseball player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1982 to 1991. Born in 1958, Kittle emerged as a standout position player, known primarily for his power-hitting ability during the late 20th century. Over the course of his career, he played in 843 games and recorded 648 hits, including 176 home runs and 460 runs batted in (RBIs). With a batting average of .239, Kittle showcased his ability to change the dynamics of a game with his slugging prowess. He also contributed on the base paths, accumulating 16 stolen bases throughout his career.
Kittle's early career was marked by notable achievements, including being named the Rookie of the Year and earning the TSN Rookie Player of the Year honors. He was selected as an All-Star once, highlighting his status among the game's elite during his playing days. Kittle's playing style embodied the power hitters of his era, contributing to an offensive environment that increasingly favored home runs and long-ball hitters. His legacy remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, reflecting the power-centric approach that defined the game in the 1980s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 2708 | 356 | 648 | 100 | 3 | 176 | 460 | 16 | 236 | 744 | 0.239 | 0.306 | 0.473 | 0.779 | 4080.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | CHW | AL | 20 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.241 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | CHW | AL | 145 | 520 | 75 | 132 | 19 | 3 | 35 | 100 | 8 | 39 | 150 | 0.254 | 1349.2 |
| 1984 | CHW | AL | 139 | 466 | 67 | 100 | 15 | 0 | 32 | 74 | 3 | 49 | 137 | 0.215 | 438.7 |
| 1985 | CHW | AL | 116 | 379 | 51 | 87 | 12 | 0 | 26 | 58 | 1 | 31 | 92 | 0.230 | 395.2 |
| 1986 | CHW | AL | 86 | 296 | 34 | 63 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 48 | 2 | 28 | 87 | 0.213 | -230.2 |
| 1986 | NYY | AL | 30 | 80 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 0.237 | -230.2 |
| 1987 | NYY | AL | 59 | 159 | 21 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 36 | 0.277 | 341.6 |
| 1988 | CLE | AL | 75 | 225 | 31 | 58 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 43 | 0 | 16 | 65 | 0.258 | 837.2 |
| 1989 | CHW | AL | 51 | 169 | 26 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 37 | 0 | 22 | 42 | 0.302 | 967.3 |
| 1990 | BAL | AL | 22 | 61 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0.164 | -308.8 |
| 1990 | CHW | AL | 83 | 277 | 29 | 68 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 43 | 0 | 24 | 77 | 0.245 | -308.8 |
| 1991 | CHW | AL | 17 | 47 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.191 | -97.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.286 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | ALCS | CHA | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 72 | 67 | 485 | 23 | 8 | 55 |
| OF | 353 | 340 | 602 | 28 | 17 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | CHA | OF | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | CHA | OF | 139 | 137 | 234 | 7 | 9 | 0 |
| 1984 | CHA | OF | 124 | 118 | 226 | 14 | 7 | 2 |
| 1985 | CHA | OF | 57 | 55 | 88 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | CHA | OF | 20 | 20 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | NYA | OF | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | NYA | OF | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | CHA | 1B | 27 | 27 | 208 | 11 | 4 | 28 |
| 1989 | CHA | OF | 5 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | BAL | 1B | 5 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | CHA | 1B | 25 | 24 | 150 | 5 | 2 | 18 |
| 1991 | CHA | 1B | 15 | 14 | 101 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 72 |
| Left Field | 347 |
| Center Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 5 |
| Designated Hitter | 353 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Player of the Month | May |
| 1989 | Player of the Week | Week of 1989-05-12 |
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-09-13 |
| 1984 | Player of the Week | Week of 1984-04-27 |
| 1983 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1983 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | CHA | AL | $550,000 |
| 1989 | CHA | AL | $550,000 |
| 1988 | CLE | AL | $300,000 |
| 1987 | NYA | AL | $425,000 |
| 1986 | CHA | AL | $400,000 |
| 1985 | CHA | AL | $300,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $2,525,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 1st | 104.0 | 140 | 15 |