Ken Singleton began his career with the New York Mets in 1970, where he was a backup, but there was something special there. The Montreal Expos saw it, as they traded their most popular player, Rusty Staub, for him.
While Ken Singleton first established himself as a frontline starter in Montreal, it was his 1974 trade to Baltimore that transformed him into one of the most feared and disciplined hitters in the American League. The Expos’ decision to part with the switch-hitting outfielder remains one of the most regrettable moves in their history, as Singleton would spend the next decade becoming a cornerstone of the Orioles' offensive philosophy.
A three-time All-Star (1977, 1979, and 1981), Singleton combined steady power with a surgical approach at the plate. He reeled off four consecutive 20-home run seasons between 1977 and 1980, peaking with a career-high 35 homers in 1979—a season in which he finished as the American League MVP runner-up. His value, however, was anchored by a legendary batting eye. Singleton recorded three .300 seasons and posted an elite on-base percentage of .400 or higher four times. He was a perennial fixture on the league leaderboards, finishing in the AL top ten for OBP eight times and in the top ten for OPS six times.
Singleton was the veteran presence that helped steer Baltimore to the 1983 World Series title, providing a professional approach that defined the "Oriole Way" during his penultimate season. He retired in 1984, leaving the game with 1,455 hits, 182 home runs, and a sterling .284/.388/.445 slash line in a Baltimore uniform. Inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1986, Singleton remains the gold standard for switch-hitting excellence and plate discipline in franchise history.
