Weekend Rewind: Kingman hits inside-the-park HR

Known for his long, majestic home runs, Kingman raced the bases in St. Louis for his first-and-only career in-side-the-park home run.

Dave Kingman hit 442 major league home runs, but it’s the one he hit at old Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 10, 1982 that may be the most entertaining of them all.

It’s was Kingman’s only inside-the-park HR of his career.

With one out in the eighth inning and the Mets clinging to a 1-0 lead, Kingman faced Cardinals reliever Doug Bair. The Cardinals outfield — Dane Iorg, Willie McGee and George Hendrick — all shifted to left.

On the first pitch of the at bat, Kingman lifted a towering fly into right field that Cardinals outfielder George Hendrick could not catch up to and the ball dropped onto the artifical turf and took a big hop into the corner where it played pinball.

Kingman, all arms and legs, raced around the bases. As he turned third base and was waved home he nearly face planted on the turf.

“The only thing important is that you win the game,” Kingman told reporters after the game. “Besides, I'd rather hit them out of the park.”