1. Overview
Ronald Dale Kittle (born January 5, 1958) is an American former professional baseball player who primarily played as a left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). Known for his powerful home run hitting, Kittle rose to prominence as the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year. His MLB career spanned 10 seasons, playing for the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Baltimore Orioles. After retiring as a player, Kittle transitioned to a managerial role, becoming the first manager for the minor league Schaumburg Flyers. He has also authored a memoir about his baseball experiences and remains involved with the White Sox in a public relations capacity.
2. Early Life and Background
Ron Kittle was born on January 5, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the son of a steelworker. Following his high school graduation, Kittle initially planned to join his father in the steel industry, having already received his ironworkers apprentice union card. However, his path shifted when he was encouraged to attend a baseball tryout camp held by the Los Angeles Dodgers in La Porte, Indiana.
At 18 years old in 1976, Kittle's impressive performance at the tryout led to him being signed by the Dodgers. He began his professional baseball career in Clinton, Iowa. Early in his career, Kittle suffered a severe injury; on his very first baserunning play while attempting to score a run, he broke his neck when a catcher landed on him. The injury was later diagnosed as a broken neck, with three crushed vertebrae and a cracked spinal cord. Doctors initially doubted he would ever play baseball again, and the injury permanently affected his ability to hit from both sides of the plate. For the next couple of years, Kittle worked as an ironworker while diligently rebuilding his body to defy medical expectations.
A few years later, Kittle took a suggestion to play summer baseball with the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. During one game, he hit a towering home run that traveled over 500 ft from the park, landing on Interstate 294. This remarkable feat caught the attention of Bill Veeck, who at the time owned the Chicago White Sox. Veeck offered Kittle a tryout, and Kittle ultimately signed with the White Sox in September 1978.
3. Baseball Career
Ron Kittle's baseball career began in the minor leagues, where he overcame significant early injuries to achieve remarkable success, earning him a call-up to Major League Baseball. He quickly made an impact, particularly in his rookie season, before navigating various team changes throughout his tenure.
3.1. Early Career and Minor Leagues
After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1976 and then transferring to the Chicago White Sox organization in 1978, Kittle began to showcase his immense power in the minor leagues. He achieved a notable milestone by hitting 50 home runs while playing for the Edmonton Trappers. In recognition of his accomplishments, his jersey was later retired in Edmonton at Telus Field. Kittle's impressive performance earned him the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award in 1982. He also received multiple other prestigious minor league accolades, including the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award in 1981, and the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award, The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award, and Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award in 1982. Between 1981 and 1982, Kittle combined for 90 home runs in the minor leagues, signaling his readiness for the major leagues.
3.2. Major League Debut and Rookie Year
Ron Kittle made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in September 1982, at nearly 25 years old. His first full season in 1983 proved to be highly impactful. Under the guidance of Charlie Lau, Kittle's batting skills improved significantly. During the 1983 season, he played in 145 games, recording 35 home runs-a club record for a rookie-and 100 RBI, despite a batting average of .254 and accumulating 150 strikeouts. His strong performance led to his selection as an All-Star and earned him the prestigious American League Rookie of the Year honor. Kittle was a popular figure on the 1983 Chicago White Sox team, famously dubbed the "winning ugly" squad, which achieved 99 wins and secured their first playoff appearance since the 1959 World Series. During his career, Kittle was particularly known for his ability to hit home runs to the roof of Comiskey Park, a feat he accomplished seven times, the most in the park's history.
3.3. Major League Tenure and Team Changes
After his stellar rookie season in 1983, Ron Kittle continued to demonstrate his home run power, but his overall batting average declined and his strikeouts increased. In 1984, he hit 32 home runs and recorded 74 RBI, but his batting average dropped to .215. The following year, 1985, saw him play in 116 games, with 26 home runs and 58 RBI, hitting .230.
Kittle left the White Sox after the 1986 season. He was notably traded midway through a game to the New York Yankees. For the combined 1986 season, he played in 116 games, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 60 runs, while striking out 110 times. He continued with the Yankees for the 1987 season, appearing in 59 games, with 12 home runs and 28 RBI, achieving a .277 batting average.
In 1988, Kittle joined the Cleveland Indians, playing in 75 games, where he hit 18 home runs and had 43 RBI, with a .258 batting average. He then returned to the White Sox in 1989 for a brief stint, playing in 51 games, contributing 11 home runs and 37 RBI with a .302 batting average.
His second return to the White Sox in 1990 saw him sharing playing time at first base with Carlos Martínez. Through the first four months of that season, Kittle batted .245 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI, striking out 77 times in 277 at-bats. On July 30, 1990, he was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles from the White Sox in exchange for Phil Bradley. Kittle expressed resentment over this trade, as it opened the door for Frank Thomas to be promoted from the minor leagues. The Orioles, in need of a right-handed power hitter, acquired Kittle, who had a salary of 550.00 K USD, compared to Bradley's 1.15 M USD. However, Baltimore's general manager Roland Hemond faced criticism from the Daily Press for bringing in too many former White Sox players, including Kittle, Greg Walker, Kevin Hickey, Tim Hulett, and Dave Gallagher. Kittle's performance with the Orioles was limited, as he batted .164 after the trade. He became a free agent in the offseason when the Orioles, having already signed Dwight Evans, chose not to exercise the option on his contract on December 15, 1990.
3.4. Retirement
Ron Kittle returned to the Chicago White Sox for a third time for the 1991 season. However, his career was cut short by a serious health incident. During a pitch in one game, he blacked out after swinging. A subsequent doctor's examination revealed that continuing to play baseball would put him at risk of paralysis. Faced with this severe medical prognosis, Kittle made the decision to retire from professional baseball in August 1991, stating his desire to see his children grow up with an able-bodied father. Over his 10-year MLB career, Ron Kittle appeared in 843 games, hitting a total of 176 home runs and accumulating 460 runs batted in.
4. Managerial Career
After his playing career, Ron Kittle transitioned into baseball management. In 1998, he was appointed as the first manager of the Schaumburg Flyers, a non-affiliated minor league team in the Northern League. During the early years of the Flyers franchise, Kittle played a key role in promoting the team through a series of television commercials. In these ads, he utilized a memorable gimmick, portraying both himself and his fictional "Ma Kittle" character. The "Ma Kittle" advertisements proved successful in generating initial interest for the team, as the Flyers aimed to draw fans from the nearby Kane County Cougars, which was then a Florida Marlins Class A team. The commercials notably mimicked the highly successful Converse ads featuring basketball player Larry Johnson and his "Grandmama" character. Kittle held the managerial position with the Schaumburg Flyers until his resignation in 2001.
5. Post-Playing Career and Personal Life
Following his retirement from professional baseball, Ron Kittle has remained active in various ventures, including publishing his memoirs and engaging in unique business pursuits, while also balancing aspects of his personal life.
5.1. Memoirs and Current Activities
In 2005, Ron Kittle published his memoirs, titled Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout. The book was co-written with Bob Logan, who also notably co-authored Michael Jordan's book Come Fly with Me. Kittle's memoir features a collection of anecdotes and stories from his time as a major league player, primarily focusing on his experiences with the Chicago White Sox. However, the book also sparked controversy, as Kittle was reportedly sued by Barry Bonds due to what Bonds considered insulting content within the publication.
Beyond his literary endeavors, Kittle has channeled his creativity into a unique craft: he builds custom collectible benches using baseballs, bats, and bases. He also continues to maintain a connection with his former team, working in public relations for the Chicago White Sox.
5.2. Personal Life
Ron Kittle was married from 1984 until 2010. He has two children.
6. Awards and Honors
Throughout his baseball career, Ron Kittle received several significant awards and honors:
- Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award (1981)
- Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award (1982)
- Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award (1982)
- The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award (1982)
- Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award (1982)
- MLB All-Star (1983)
- American League Rookie of the Year (1983)
7. Career Statistics
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | BB | HBP | SF | SH | SO | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | CWS | 20 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | .241 | .313 | .414 | .727 |
| 1983 | CWS | 145 | 570 | 520 | 75 | 132 | 19 | 3 | 35 | 262 | 100 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 150 | 10 | .254 | .314 | .504 | .818 |
| 1984 | CWS | 139 | 525 | 466 | 67 | 100 | 15 | 0 | 32 | 211 | 74 | 3 | 6 | 49 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 137 | 7 | .215 | .295 | .453 | .748 |
| 1985 | CWS | 116 | 417 | 379 | 51 | 87 | 12 | 0 | 26 | 177 | 58 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 92 | 12 | .230 | .295 | .467 | .762 |
| 1986 | CWS | 86 | 333 | 296 | 34 | 63 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 125 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 87 | 10 | .213 | .282 | .422 | .704 |
| 1986 | NYY | 30 | 89 | 80 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | .238 | .292 | .413 | .705 |
| 1986 Total | 116 | 422 | 376 | 42 | 82 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 158 | 60 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 10 | .218 | .284 | .420 | .704 | |
| 1987 | NYY | 59 | 173 | 159 | 21 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 85 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 4 | .277 | .318 | .535 | .853 |
| 1988 | CLE | 75 | 254 | 225 | 31 | 58 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 120 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 65 | 0 | .258 | .323 | .533 | .856 |
| 1989 | CWS | 51 | 196 | 169 | 26 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 94 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 2 | .302 | .378 | .556 | .934 |
| 1990 | CWS | 83 | 305 | 277 | 29 | 68 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 130 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 77 | 3 | .245 | .311 | .469 | .780 |
| 1990 | BAL | 22 | 64 | 61 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | .164 | .203 | .295 | .498 |
| 1990 Total | 105 | 369 | 338 | 33 | 78 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 148 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 91 | 6 | .231 | .293 | .438 | .731 | |
| 1991 | CWS | 17 | 55 | 47 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | .191 | .291 | .319 | .610 |
| Career Total: 10 years | 843 | 3013 | 2708 | 356 | 648 | 100 | 3 | 176 | 1282 | 460 | 16 | 16 | 236 | 20 | 38 | 0 | 744 | 53 | .239 | .306 | .473 | .779 | |