Ron Kittle
Encyclopedia
Ronald Dale 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, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year. 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. Kittle was also a manager for the minor league Schaumburg Flyers
.
. 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 hit 50 homers in the minor leagues with the Edmonton Trappers
and has his jersey retired in Edmonton
at Telus Field
.
He was most well known for his line-drive rooftop home runs (7, an MLB record) at Comiskey Park (1910–1990).
Kittle maintained his home run power, but after 1983 his average dropped and his strikeout
s 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 .
In ten seasons, Kittle posted a .239 batting average
with 176 home run
s and 460 RBI
in 843 games
.
of the Northern League. During the early years of the Flyers franchise, Kittle did a series of TV commercials to promote the team, using the gimmick "Ma Kittle." where he played both himself and his "Ma Kittle." The ads were successful at sparking some initial interest in the team as the Flyers hoped to steal away fans from the nearby Kane County Cougars
, then a Florida Marlins
Class A team. The ad mimmicked the highly successful Nike
ads where Larry Johnson starred as both himself and "Gramama." Kittle resigned his position in 2001.
's book "Come Fly with Me." The book features anecdotes (some of them never before told to the public) from his time as a major leaguer, mostly with the Sox. One story talked about the hilarity of Ozzie Guillén
ordering dinner while Kittle, Guillen and Cubs SS Shawon Dunston
were out at a local restaurant. The book also caused some controversy when Barry Bonds
of the San Francisco Giants
accused Kittle of fabricating an insulting story about Bonds, claiming Bonds refused to sign autographs intended to help a children's charity in Chicago. The book says Bonds also made racially inappropriate statements.
in Gary, Indiana
. Ron and Laura have two children, Hayley and Dylan. Hayley was born 5/5/1986 and Dylan was born 1/12/1989. Ron and Laura were divorced in 2009.
Also Punched John Lucich, MD in the stomach at the beginning of 7th grade gym class causing forced expiration.
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
) is a former left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who was known mostly for his home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year. From 1982 through 1991, Kittle played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1982–86, 1989, 1991), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1986–87), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1988) and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1990). He batted and threw right-handed. Kittle was also a manager for the minor league Schaumburg Flyers
Schaumburg Flyers
The Schaumburg Flyers were a professional baseball team based in Schaumburg, Illinois, in the United States. The Flyers were to be a charter member of the North American League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, however, the team folded in March of 2011, before they began play in...
.
Career
A former steelworker who made his major league debut at nearly 25 years old, Kittle was popular on the Chicago White Sox when they won 99 games in 1983 to make their first playoff appearance since the 1959 World Series1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
. That season, Kittle was selected an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and won Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
honors after hitting 35 home runs (club record for a rookie) and 100 RBI.
Kittle also hit 50 homers in the minor leagues with the Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
and has his jersey retired in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
at Telus Field
TELUS Field
Telus Field is a baseball stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is home to the Edmonton Capitals of the independent North American League, and was home to the former Edmonton Trappers, an AAA baseball team of the Pacific Coast League. The Trappers moved to Round Rock, Texas, and became the...
.
He was most well known for his line-drive rooftop home runs (7, an MLB record) at Comiskey Park (1910–1990).
Kittle maintained his home run power, but after 1983 his average dropped and his strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s 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
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. Later in the season he was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles, and finished his career with the White Sox in .
In ten seasons, Kittle posted a .239 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 176 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 460 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 843 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Managerial career
In 1998, Kittle was hired as the first manager of the non-affiliated minor league Schaumburg FlyersSchaumburg Flyers
The Schaumburg Flyers were a professional baseball team based in Schaumburg, Illinois, in the United States. The Flyers were to be a charter member of the North American League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, however, the team folded in March of 2011, before they began play in...
of the Northern League. During the early years of the Flyers franchise, Kittle did a series of TV commercials to promote the team, using the gimmick "Ma Kittle." where he played both himself and his "Ma Kittle." The ads were successful at sparking some initial interest in the team as the Flyers hoped to steal away fans from the nearby Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
, then a Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
Class A team. The ad mimmicked the highly successful Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
ads where Larry Johnson starred as both himself and "Gramama." Kittle resigned his position in 2001.
Other Notables
In March 2005, Kittle's book "Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout" was published. Co-written with Bob Logan, who also co-wrote Michael JordanMichael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
's book "Come Fly with Me." The book features anecdotes (some of them never before told to the public) from his time as a major leaguer, mostly with the Sox. One story talked about the hilarity of Ozzie Guillén
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
ordering dinner while Kittle, Guillen and Cubs SS Shawon Dunston
Shawon Dunston
Shawon Donnell Dunston is a former shortstop and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball. He resides in Fremont, CA. He was the first overall pick in the 1982 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs, and played for the Cubs , San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , Cleveland Indians , St...
were out at a local restaurant. The book also caused some controversy when Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
accused Kittle of fabricating an insulting story about Bonds, claiming Bonds refused to sign autographs intended to help a children's charity in Chicago. The book says Bonds also made racially inappropriate statements.
Present Day - Benches and Blog
Kittle now builds custom collectible benches out of baseballs, bats, and bases. He additionally works in public relations for the White Sox and maintains a popular website and blog at RonKittle.comPersonal
Ron Kittle married the former Laura Ann Cooke on October 19, 1984, at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Gary, Indiana. Both were students and friends at William A. Wirt High SchoolWilliam A. Wirt High School
William A Wirt Senior High School was a four year public high school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana. In May 2009 the school announced that after over 70 years, it would finally be closing...
in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. Ron and Laura have two children, Hayley and Dylan. Hayley was born 5/5/1986 and Dylan was born 1/12/1989. Ron and Laura were divorced in 2009.
Also Punched John Lucich, MD in the stomach at the beginning of 7th grade gym class causing forced expiration.