Oakland Athletics: The Top 50 Oakland A’s of All-Time

#33: Dave Kingman

Some might disagree with Dave Kingman as a name on this list. After all, his career .236 average is hardly impressive. But with the Athletics, he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year and even received MVP votes in 1984, after becoming the designated hitter for the A’s. He hit 35 homers and collected 118 RBIs as he powered his way into Oakland lore.

Kingman continued to impress in his final seasons with the A’s, hitting 30 home runs each year as he continued to display his slugging ability.

That said, Kingman’s personality was questionable at best. He is accused of harassing female reporters, whom he believed did not belong in the male-dominated world of baseball, especially in the locker room. In 1986, he was fined after sending a rat to the press box for Sue Fornoff, who wrote for The Sacramento Bee at the time of the incident. Despite his success on the field, the Athletics told him that any similar behavior would result in his release – an admirable move on their part.

Next: Top 50 Oakland Athletics: #32