WHY I THINK KEN SINGLETON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK KEN SINGLETON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Ken Singleton was a pretty fair hitter during his time, batting .282 lifetime while averaging close to 20 homers and 100 walks per season. All things considered, he falls a little short of the Hall of Fame as a player, but he has also been calling baseball games for almost 40 years, and has become quite popular. Between his playing skills and broadcasting career, I think he could be in the Hall of Fame. Ken Singleton started his career with the New York Mets in 1970, batting .263 in 69 games. He reached rookie status in 1971, hitting 13 homers in fewer than 300 at bats, and was traded to the Expos at the end of the year. Singleton had a breakout season in 1973, batting .302 with 23 homers and 103 RBI’s and topping the Majors in OBP. He came over to the Orioles in 1975 and made an immediate impact, batting .300 with 118 walks. Singleton remained in Baltimore for the next decade, and became a local hero. He earned his first all-star selection in 1977 when he batted .328, and his second in 1979 when he hit 35 homers. That season he helped the Orioles to the postseason, batting .375 as they downed the Angels in the ALCS and .357 in a losing cause against the Pirates in the World Series. Singleton had another fine season in 1980 (104 RBI’s) and was an all-star again in 1981. Singleton had been a fine defensive rightfielder, and was coming off a perfect season in 1981, but as his speed deserted him, he was used almost exclusively as a DH for the rest of his career. He did well in 1982 and 1983 but slipped in 1984, batting .215 with six homers. Singleton retired after the season to call Expos games, which he did until 1997. Since then he has been calling Yankee games, and has become the best in the business. Singleton announced his retirement on October 2, 2021. 

Ken Singleton was a fine player and a famous broadcaster. To this day he remains a hero in Baltimore and a favorite in New York. He would be an okay Hall of Famer. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,082 season high: 162 in 1973 led NL: 162 in 1973 

At Bats career: 7,189 season high: 586 in 1975 

Hits career: 2,029 season high: 177 in 1980 

Doubles career: 317 season high: 37 in 1975 

Triples career: 25 season high: 4 in 1975 

Home Runs career: 246 season high: 35 in 1979 

Runs career: 985 season high: 100 in 1973 

Runs Batted In career: 1,065 season high: 111 in 1979 

Stolen Bases career: 21 season high: 5 in 1972 

Walks career: 1,263 season high: 123 in 1973 

Strikeouts career: 1,246 season high: 118 in 1979 

Batting Average career: .282 season high: .328 in 1977 

On Base Percentage career: .388 season high: .438 in 1977 led NL: .425 in 1973 

Slugging Percentage career: .436 season high: .533 in 1979 

Total Bases career: 3,134 season high: 304 in 1979 

Sacrifice Hits career: 29 season high: 4 in 1970, 1972, and 1978 

Fielding Percentage career: .980 season high: 1.000 in 1981 led AL RF: .986 in 1977, 1.000 in 1981 led AL OF: 1.000 in 1981 

Double Plays career: 17 season high: 3 in 1973 led AL RF: 2 in 1981 

Putouts career: 2,684 season high: 285 in 1975 

Assists career: 82 season high: 21 in 1973 led NL RF: 21 in 1973 led NL OF: 21 in 1973 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-won the Roberto Clemente Award in 1982 

-finished second in the AL MVP Award voting in 1979, third in 1977, tenth in 1975, 21st in 1980, 23rd in 1981, and 34th in 1978 

-finished ninth in the NL MVP Award voting in 1973 

-led the AL in plate appearances (714) and times on base (295) in 1975 

-led the AL in intentional walks in 1979 (16) and 1983 (19) 

-won a World Series ring with the Orioles in 1983 

-holds the MLB record for hits in consecutive at bats (10), set in 1981 

-also played 246 games in leftfield, three in centerfield, and 102 as a pinch hitter 

-won two AL Player of the Week awards and one Player of the Month award 

-led his league’s rightfielders in games three times and twice led all outfielders