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. Kittle was also a manager for the minor league Schaumburg Flyers.

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 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 MLB record) at the historic Comiskey Park (1910-1990).

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.

[edit] Tenure as a Manager

In 1998, Kittle was hired, mostly due to his local popularity, as the first manager of the non-affiliated minor league Schaumburg Flyers 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.

[edit] Other Notables

In March of 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 Jordan'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.

[edit] See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• Chicago White Sox all-time roster

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 School 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.

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube