Dave Kingman was one of baseball’s most dramatic power hitters, known for launching monster home runs that left heads spinning. He once hit a shot estimated at over 530 feet, putting him among the longest ball hitters in history. Kingman’s reputation was that of a “tape measure” slugger who struck out often but crushed the ball when he made contact. He never gained entry to the Hall of Fame despite hitting 442 home runs in his career.
David Arthur Kingman was born on December 21, 1948, in Pendleton, Oregon. His family later moved to Mount Prospect, Illinois, where he attended Prospect High School. While in high school, he excelled in multiple sports, he was a standout in baseball, basketball and football. He was drafted by the California Angels in 1967 straight out of high school but chose to attend the University of Southern California (USC) instead. At USC he began as a pitcher and then shifted to hitting full time when his coaches saw his power hitting potential.
While in college, he played for the USC Trojans at the University of Southern California after a year at Harper College. He started out as a pitcher but then moved into hitting and playing the outfield full time. In 1969, he recorded an 11-4 win-loss pitching record with a 1.38 ERA and batted .250 with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs. In 1970, he hit .355 with 9 home runs and 25 RBIs for USC as a hitter only, helping his team to a national championship.
Dave Kingman made his major league debut on July 30, 1971 with the San Francisco Giants and played there through 1974. His height and power made him stand out early, as he became known for hitting very long home runs.
He moved on to several teams during his career, including the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. Among his best years was 1979, when he hit 48 home runs and led the National League.
Over the course of his 16-season career, Kingman hit 442 home runs and had 1,210 runs batted in, finishing with a batting average of .236. His approach was very much about power: while he hit many home runs, he also struck out often and did not have a high batting average.
As of 2025, Dave Kingman’s estimated net worth is around US $5 million. He made most of his money from his long Major League Baseball career, where he played for teams like the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. His income came from player salaries, performance bonuses, and endorsement deals during his active years. After retiring, he also earned from public appearances and baseball-related events.