The Dave Kingman Thread

[swainer]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Truly amazing Bob!!!! You have a better collection than Kong himself! Thanks for sharing! Just awesome!

Peace!

John

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

My three earliest Kingman game used bats.

Top is an Adirondack 154X; 36" from the 68-70 labeling period. The bat is specific to 1970, Dave's first pro season in Amarillo (Texas League). This is one of the first bats to be attributed to Kingman as a ML player.

The knobless or "flared bat" is a rare H4 model. 6 bats were ordered in '70 and another 6 in '72 being 36"/36 ounces and 36"/38 ounces respectively. This model was never ordered again by Kingman beyond '72.

The bottom bat is a W215 model, ordered in '72 and '73. The pictured bat has a fascimilie sig "David" and would have been ordered in '72, vs the next featured bat which says "Dave" and remained that way thru his professional career. The orders matching this bat were the 3rd and 5th orders making this likely ordered in mid '72.

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Dave Kingman Game Used Bats:

Top: Another W215; this one from the 75-75 labeling period and indicative also from the facs. signature. This bat was from Kingman's '73 season to which there were 2 orders; Apr. 1 for 2 bats and Apr. 9 for 10 bats.

Middle: Also from the 73-75 Labeling Period, a very rare model H174C. Two orders totaling 16 bats in July of 1975. (From a collector standpoint, I found this bat and the H4 previously mentioned, on ebay over a 2 week period back in like 2003 or in that area of time. Never again in 30 plus years have I seen either model surface. Both were very expensive for that time - or now.)

Bottom: The standard go-to of his career - a S2. 2 of the 3 bats shown here depict Kingman's tenure using cupped-end bats. His Mets and Cubs days he seemed to use them more than not.

[gorilla777]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Bob, this is a really great player collection, one of the most complete that I've seen. Plus, with you and Dave actually being long-time friends, it's pretty hard to beat.
Thanks for showing all these items…

Ben

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Dave Kingman Game Used Bats Continued.

Years ago I'd spoken to Dave about the Adirondack bat; as he is pictured using them with pretty much every team he played for except for the A's. I brought it up because of the difficulty of finding them as a collector. Very elusive indeed. The S2 was his weapon of choice. I suppose the other models and brands were experimentation.

2 Adirondack model 220A, the top photo being a cupped-end and the middle being a solid as the only difference.

Lastly, a very rare order of the model J93 (a model used often by Reggie Jackson). Kingman ordered J93's on 7/5/74 (12) and 1/11/75. What makes this bat unique to me is the fact it is 37" long!!! A real tomahawk! I recall finding this in an old SCD ad back in maybe the late 80's or early 90's. Have not seen another since!

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Bob, this is a really great player collection, one of the most complete that I've seen. Plus, with you and Dave actually being long-time friends, it's pretty hard to beat.
Thanks for showing all these items…

Ben

Thank you Ben. Appreciate the kind words. Still more to come. Just takes awhile to photograph and describe.

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Dave Kingman GU Bats:

3 Bicentennials. The top is a solid-end S2, middle a cupped end S2, and finally the third is a M110 also cupped end.

One Kingman characteristic shown here is the red-ring identifier atop the knob of his gamers. He seemed to do this in the mid to later 70's, possible early 80's... primarily first 3 years with Mets and some Cubs days. The top bat does not have the ring...probably given that the 2 in 26 on the knob is written over to display a 36.

The bottom bat was sought after for many years and is very rare - coming from a single bat order on April 9, 1976 of just 6 bats! This one survived and spent many years in the collection of pitcher Tommy John until the collection was eventually auctioned and secured by good friend and collector Ben Thornhill - who helped this old guy out. Much, much appreciated!

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Dave Kingman All-Star Bats: Very pleased to have these in the collection. '76 Philly, '79 Seattle and '80 LA

[NYRangers]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

I can't get enough of this thread. Kong was one of my favorite Mets during some bleak 1970's seasons. Thanks for sharing! John

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

I can't get enough of this thread. Kong was one of my favorite Mets during some bleak 1970's seasons. Thanks for sharing! John

John - thanks so much for the nice comment. There is MUCH MORE to come. Just takes a lot of time to get the stuff out to photograph etc. I had not had much feedback so was afraid people really were not that interested. Might be a younger base of audience here on the forum too that doesn't appreciate vintage as much as we do! I usually post pics during the day as I'm off on medical for a few more weeks following surgery. Thanks again and drop me a line via email anytime.

RK

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

John - thanks so much for the nice comment. There is MUCH MORE to come. Just takes a lot of time to get the stuff out to photograph etc. I had not had much feedback so was afraid people really were not that interested. Might be a younger base of audience here on the forum too that doesn't appreciate vintage as much as we do! I usually post pics during the day as I'm off on medical for a few more weeks following surgery. Thanks again and drop me a line via email anytime.

RK

I'm also looking forward to seeing more. Your Kong collection is amazing!

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

I'm also looking forward to seeing more. Your Kong collection is amazing!

Thank you sir. I'll be adding pieces daily to the site.

RK

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

Dave Kingman 1976 All-Star Presentation Bat

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

1979 and 1980 Dave Kingman All-Star Presentation Bats

[skyking26]

Re: The Dave Kingman Thread

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)