New York City native Ken Singleton was selected by the Mets as the third overall pick in the 1967 first-year player draft. He progressed quickly in the minor leagues and made his big league debut in 1970.

In his two seasons in the Big Apple, the switch-hitter had 600 plate appearances and posted a respectable .369 on-base percentage. Ten days before the start of the ’72 season, the Mets sent him to Montreal in a four-player deal that brought Rusty Staub to New York.

Singleton’s three years in Canada were highlighted by a breakout 1973 campaign. Playing in all 162 games he hit .302, with a NL best .425 on-base percentage. His 23 homers, 110 RBI, and 100 runs scored led the Expos. His efforts resulted in the first of four top-10 finishes in MVP voting.

A wrist injury in July caused his numbers to dip in ’74, though he still got on base at a .385 clip. At the winter meetings the Expos dealt him to Baltimore where he played for the next ten seasons.

It was with the Orioles that Singleton found lasting success.

In the collection is this pair of autographed Topps cards featuring Singleton with the Mets and the Expos.

Once in Baltimore, Ken Singleton’s career took flight.

Manager Earl Weaver put him in the leadoff spot in ’75 and Singleton responded well. His 176 hits and 118 walks led the Orioles. Singleton hit an even .300 with a .415 on-base percentage and a 153 OPS+.

Team announcers and writers voted him the Most Valuable Oriole. National baseball scribes gave him his second top-10 MVP finish.

Singleton’s decade in Baltimore included three All Star appearances and the 1983 World Series title. He was named in American League MVP balloting in six of his ten seasons as an Oriole, finishing third in 1977 and second in 1979.

Singleton’s finest season came when he posted career highs in average (.328), on-base percentage (.438), and OPS+ (165) in 1977.

His final season came with the O’s in 1984. Two years later Singleton was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame along with Cooperstown man Jim Palmer.

His career numbers include 2,029 hits, 317 doubles, 246 homers, and 1,065 RBI. Singleton’s lifetime batting average stands at .282 while his on-base mark is .388.

Advanced metrics reflect positively on his career as well. His 132 OPS+ is equal to that of Cooperstown men Tony Gwynn and Joe Morgan. Singleton’s 41.8 career WAR is the same as Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella.

Shown here is an autographed 1972 Ken Singleton in Action Topps baseball card.

Ken Singleton built a distinguished 15-year major league career from 1970 through 1984. The switch-hitting outfielder combined patience, power and consistency throughout his time in the majors. He collected 2,029 hits, 246 home runs and 1,065 RBIs during his career.

That RBI total deserves greater attention when viewed alongside two Hall of Famers. Singleton finished two RBIs ahead of fellow MVP Hack Wilson, who drove in 1,063 during his career. Wilson also owns baseball’s single-season RBI record, driving in 191 runs for the Cubs in 1930. Singleton finished with the same 1,065 RBIs as NL great Kiki Cuyler, further highlighting his run production.

A three-time All Star, Singleton reached his career high with 111 RBIs for Baltimore in 1977. He also produced triple-digit RBI seasons in 1973 and 1975. His top 10 RBI seasons totaled 858, giving him a decade’s worth of consistently strong run production. That sustained performance helped make Singleton one of Baltimore’s most dependable offensive players.

On September 24, 1999, the Rangers’ Juan González reached and surpassed Singleton’s career RBI total. González entered that night with 1,063 RBIs before launching three home runs against Oakland. His five-RBI performance carried him to 1,068, moving him past Singleton and Cooperstown men Wilson and Cuyler.

Shown here is the Rangers lineup card from González’s historic three-homer game, signed by González.