I'm also looking forward to seeing more. Your Kong collection is amazing!
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Dave Kingman 1976 All-Star Presentation Bat
1979 and 1980 Dave Kingman All-Star Presentation Bats
Top: Dave Kingman Game Used Bat Model S2 used with either Mets or Padres in 1977. Kingman played for 4 teams in 77: Mets-Padres-Angels-Yankees. Uniform numbers were respectively 26/26/10/48; so we can narrow this bat to Met/Padres usage. (Cupped end)
Middle Bat: Also narrowed to '77 and with the #10 on the knob we conclude use of this Model S2 with the Angels. 6 Bats were ordered with the specs on March 11, 77 making this pretty rare. (solid end)
Bottom: Model S2 77-79 labeling period. An H&B bat so manufactured '78/79 during his Cubs tenure. (Cupped end)
[SIZE="4"1979 Dave Kingman Tour of Japan Bat. I've seen a few of these out there for Yaz and maybe one other player through the years. Very tough bat and came via trade with a strong Mets NJ collector with an amazing Kingman collector that I am envious of to say the least.
April 1980 Cub of the Month Bat: Dave Kingman. Didn't know they did this and to date this is the only one like it I have seen.
1980-83 Labeling period: Dave Kingman Game Used R161C Bat. Ordered twice in career; 1978 and 1980. This bat pertains to the 1980 order of 12 bats. Red 10 on knob, cupped end.][/SIZE]
Top: Dave Kingman Game Used Adirondack Model 113X. Cupped end.
Second: Kingman Game Used Bat 80-83 Model S2 Cupped end.
Third Bat: Same as second with exception that it has a solid end.
Fourth Bat: Also 80-83 labeling period but specific to 1981 because he was #10 with Cubs and the K10 is #26. Kingman ordered 12 bats on 3/27/81. This model was made specifically for Kingman based on a ADR model he sent to H&B for replication on 3/16/81. [/SIZE][/B]
Top: The 80's opened the door for a new bat manufacturer: Worth. Many players starting using them and here Kingman used both a natural model WC115 and a black model W5R. The black bat was used in '84; the natural in '86.
Also pictured a unfinished C243 bat used in 1986.
*I want to say I obtained the blonde Worth in the early 90's and I like it because of the story of acquiring it, and the fact that it is the ONLY blonde Worth I've ever seen. Had seen several Black Worth thru the years.
Ok, the story... Guy calls me up and says he has the blonde Worth. Back in the early 90's Kingman's bats were $75 and he wanted $200. I said ok. He said "hang on; the bat is in my soon to be divorced wife's house. I need to get in there and get it." He called a few days later and said he got it and send the money. Never will forget that!
Very nice Bob, keep the pictures coming. Hope you're feeling better.
Dave Kingman Game Used C271 bat from 1984 season in Oakland. Rare model for him, ordered 2/22/84 (12), 3/30/84 (6), 4/10/84 (6).
The C271 is flanked by two S2's... being Kingman's 14th and 15th career Grand Slams!
The top Kingman bat is a bit "unknown." Another collector of Kingman also owns one of these S188 bats. Standard length of a Kingman gamer is 35" or higher so unsure what this shorter model is and it does not seem to match records. Any help here would be appreciated.
Second bat down is a late career S2
Third bat (K55); for the longest time I thought that was an Oakland bat. Turns out it was ordered in 1989 for use in the SPBA (Senior League).
Lastly, in 1986 this K75 was sent as a double stamped error and not used.
Couple of early bats here:
A late 60's model Len Gabrielson gamer used at USC, used by Kingman with a bold black 51 on the knob.
A game issued bat from 1972, a S2 model Kingman bat
[B]Onward to gloves now. As I find other bats I will post them but that is all of them at this time. As any collector would say - let the hunt go on and hopefully there is never an end!
Wanted to mention some key information regarding Kingman game used bats to look for if you want one for your collection. For most of his career, Kingman preferred natural-colored H&B (later known as Louisville Slugger) bats but was known to use Adirondack bats from time to time as well. From what I can tell, he used one most everywhere but Oakland. I cannot find any photos to prove to me that he used them in Oakland anyway. Kingman was not an avid user of pine tar. Even his well-used bats do not often exhibit remnants of the substance. It is also fairly common to find Kingman's uniform number marked on the knobs of his bats. Usually in black marker earlier and mid career he often used a thick red marker.
While somewhat rare, you may also see an additional notation on the knob (GAME), which identifies the bat specifically for game use. Some Carl Yastrzemski gamers feature a similar knob notation. That said, most Kingman gamers do not feature this additional marking. Mid career he also would use the red mark to go around the knob in a line as an identifier. Kingman wore several different uniform numbers during his career. For reference, those numbers include "45" (San Francisco Giants), "26" (Giants, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland A's), "48" (New York Yankees) and "10" (California Angels, Chicago Cubs and Oakland A's).
RK
Re: S188 bat.
For some reason mine has a stamped New York Yankees next to Dave's name. Given the fact that there are no bat record orders for this model & given the store model length w/ no knob designation....It must be a store model or promotional bat. Someone could have put that Yankees stamp on after it was issued. (maybe a Yankees nut who wanted to personalize it more). The stamp is starting to bleed into Dave's signature. I'm curious to get someone else's opinion of this bat. However, maybe just a handful of these exist.
AND THE S188 MYSTERY CONTINUES.....DON'T MISS IT !!!!!
!!! SAME BAT TIME........SAME BAT CHANNEL........!!!
""HOLY S188 BATMAN""
Early 70's Dave Kingman Game Used Wilson 1st Baseman's Glove.
I have a photomatch to this glove; Kingman holding Lou Brock on 1st at Candlestick.
[B]1975-76 Mets OF Game Used Glove. Glove is a "high-end" store model Willie Mays glove complete with COA. Came as a surprise to me also that players used these back in the day. McGregor Glove. [/SIZE]
1978-80 Mizuno Game Used Dave Kingman Glove. Believed to be used during Kingman's entire stint with Chicago.
Early 80's Wilson Dave Kingman Game Used Glove
Nice KONG stuff. Gotta like King Kong! Either a HR or a K.
Posted here are pickups as of today 4/2/15. While this date reminds me of what started as the passing of my mother 25 years ago today and the beginning of that odyssey; at least today 25 years later I can look at the date in a different light. 2 great kids; both talented and amazing young adults... and pictured here 3 great new bats!
The R161 Kingman and the S2 are both old label H&B's that we can trace to the '78 season by the labeling period ('77-79), and throw 77 out as the #10 is represented on the knob of 1 bat and both came originated from a bullpen coach with the Cubs... the R161 was ordered by Kingman in '78 and '80...the '80 season would have been the new large LS logo so we can pinpoint one or both from '78, the start of 3 seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
FINALLY GOT A K55 MODEL TODAY. NOT MUCH USE ON IT THOUGH.
WOW........THAT CUBS GLOVE IS HAMMERED WITH USE.......GREAT USE ON THAT GIANTS FIRST BASEMAN'S MITT TOO.
NICE STUFF......McDUFF
Great find Erik. The K55 is traced to Dave's time with the Tropics in the SPBA in '89 as referenced earlier in this thread. I have a COA somewhere on it from Mike Specht which I think identified the number of bats ordered...(not many). I could hear the excitement in your voice today when you located that in that card shop and called me. I was excited for you! Like anything else; as the space of time increases, finding vintage material decreases. It's a treasure to locate the stuff. Some times you gotta pay up but it's worth it. I owe so many people in the hobby for their time and resources that have aided me in obtaining great pieces. I plan on creating a separate thread just about that...
The K55 was ordered by Kingman on 11/15/89; 12 bats
Bob,
Love the thread and the "Big Time" effort put forth.
Your ole' pal from 1989.
Erik Bakalar
Vintage Game Used Caps used by Kingman. Left to Right; late 60's Alaska Goldpanners, Amarillo Giants and '76 All Star Cap!
Dave Kingman game used Giants (71-74), Mets (81-83), and Phoenix Firebirds helmets (87).
All customary flapless helmets, as was Kingman's preference. To my knowledge he never wore a flapped helmet - ever. I have never seen any of his other helmets offered, and I know the collector who owns Kingman's Mets -75-77 helmet and his Yankee helmet; not likely will those ever leave his residence.
The Firebirds helmet was worn during Kingman's short comeback in 1987. I obtained it in or around 1989 via Robb Wochnick and Sports Warehouse. He told me Wendell Kimm sold him the helmet (Firebirds manager at that time). When I first met Kingman in March of 1992 in Florida he seemed shocked to see the helmet, acknowledged it was his.
Oakland A's Dave Kingman Pony GU cleats. Signed and inscribed.
1980 Rawlings Big Stick Award
1980 Babe Ruth Crown
Wow Bob, the awards are super. Are those coming directly from Kingman? Players almost never part with those types of awards.
Congrats Bob, I know you have been chasing after that crown for some time now!
Thanks guys. It was on display in Chicago the last few years. It was an ongoing laborious deal. Glad it is done!
The history of the origin of the Babe Ruth Crown & info per Kingman's 1979 season: This enchanting piece of royal hardware is among baseball’s most coveted awards and was presented to Kingman by the Maryland Professional Baseball Players Association after the 1979 season ('80). Created in 1956 in honor of Maryland’s favorite son, Babe Ruth it was originally called the “Sultan of Swat Award” to honor the player with the greatest “slugging average”—combining home runs and runs batted in, it has been presented to some of the greatest hitters in the game’s history including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose and Johnny Bench. Kingman posted numbers for the Cubs in 1979 worthy of a Crown (48 HR/115 RBI/.613 SLG. This glorious looking crown is truly fit for a king with six be-jeweled baseball diamonds circling the golden metal headband and crushed red velvet center head covering. The Maryland Professional Baseball Association’s diamond shaped logo is affixed to the golden diamond on the front of the crown just above the engraved raised text reading: “Babe Ruth Crown Presented to Dave Kingman for Outstanding Batting Achievement 1979 Maryland Professional Baseball Players Association.” There are three sections of engraved text on the back of the crown reading: “1979 National League All-Star Team,” “1979 Batting AVG.288 Home Runs 48, 115 R.B.I. This is the actual award given to Dave Kingman, it is not a replica .
Great pickup on the crown, Bob!
Thanks Ben!
Congrats Bob! Glad to see the Crown is in hand and where it belongs. Now about that selfie of you wearing it.....
Peace!
John
Recently made a deal which included this 1968-69 Kingman Alaska Goldpanners (Tony Oliva model) Louisville Slugger game used H&B bat.[/B]
Damn! That Crown is a work-of-art! Glad it is in your possession.