Top home run hitters in Chicago White Sox history
By Phil Watson
White Sox all-time home run hitters – No. 11: Ron Kittle
140 home runs from 1982-86, 1989-90, 1991
Ron Kittle played three tours with the Chicago White Sox after signing with the club as a minor-league free agent in September 1978. Kittle made his major league debut for the White Sox on Sept. 2, 1982, and connected for his first home run a month later, hitting a two-run shot off Frank Viola of the Minnesota Twins in the top of the first inning on Oct. 2, 1982.
That set the stage for a huge 1983 season, during which Kittle hit 35 home runs and was named both an All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year. But he would never return to those heights during the remainder of his 10 major-league seasons, parts of eight he spent with Chicago.
He hit 32 homers in 1974, but slashed just .215/.295/.453, and followed with 26 in 1985 and 17 in 1986 before he was sent to the New York Yankees in a July 1986 trade as part of a six-player deal.
He returned to the Sox as a free agent in November 1988, hitting 11 homers as a part-time first baseman/designated hitter and clubbing 16 in 1990 before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in July 1990. He came back to the White Sox a final time as a free agent in June 1991, but was released in August of that year.
His last home run came two days before his release, when he hit a two-run shot in the top of the ninth inning off Detroit Tigers closer Mike Henneman at Tiger Stadium in an 11-9 loss in the first game of an Aug. 13, 1991, doubleheader.