Comments on: Old Time Mets: Dave Kingman

By: Joe D

Joe D — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:48:34 +0000

Thanks for the memories, Barry. It’s great to have you writing fresh material again and it’s a privilege to showcase your writing on MMO.

By: Wexler

Wexler — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:07:35 +0000

That’s a great story. Thanks for sharing it.

By: Russell Zanca

Russell Zanca — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:40:59 +0000

I like that story.

By: gorgeguy

gorgeguy — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 13:01:38 +0000

He’s the reason I became a Mats fan in 1976. Why? After all, I lived in a part of California where everyone was a Dodgers fan.

It was the Mets vs. the Dodgers on a summer vacation day in 1976. I was playing tennis baseball in the front with my sister’s friend, Maria, a serious tomboy who bled “Dodger blue.” We were listening on the radio and Kingman hit a homerun for the Mets. I started needling Maria because I was never a fan of the team everyone around me loved.

When Kingman came up again, I listened more closely. I believe Vin Scully was announcing and Kingman launched his 2nd homer to get Scully raving about his power. At this point, I grew not only interested in a guy named Kingman but also the “Mets” because it was such a unique name.

When he came up the next time, I stopped in the middle of our game and listened with great interest. He hit his third homerun, and with Scully’s mesmerizing way of calling games, I was hooked on the Mets and a big KIngman fan.

By: Russell Zanca

Russell Zanca — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:34:43 +0000

Lou, I’m afraid I don’t find that comparison flattering to Ike…:)

But, yes, his home runs were ridiculous.

By: Fonzie13

Fonzie13 — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:03:25 +0000

Saw him hit one that went into the parking lot at Shea. The LFer never even turned around. I also remember him breaking a window outside of Wigley Field. He hit the game tying 9th inning HR in Strawberry’s MLB and Foster hit the walkoff in extras.

By: Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:36:07 +0000

You can forget about that one, that ball is gone, goodbye!

By: chuck

chuck — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:27:02 +0000

He was always great on Kiners Korner. Ralph loved calling his massive homeruns.

By: Seligman

Seligman — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:20:40 +0000

I wonder what it would have been like to have today’s snarky beat writers and twitter back when Kingman was hitting bombs or whiffing? He hated reporters to begin with but could you image him with today’s breed? Scary thought. Nice piece Barry. I kind of had a soft spot for Kong.

By: Metfan Lou

Metfan Lou — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:14:57 +0000

I saw him hit one of those monster home runs at Shea. It went far and got out in a hurry. You know who reminds me of this guy? Ike Davis.