Steve Kemp

Professional baseball player 1977–88.[33]

What is Steve Kemp known for?

Steve Kemp, an accomplished American professional baseball player, was born in San Angelo, Texas, on August 7, 1954. As an alumnus of Arcadia High School, CA, he's a notable figure in the school's history due to his remarkable career in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played as an outfielder for several prestigious teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.

In his professional career, Kemp, a left fielder, debuted in MLB on April 7, 1977, for the Detroit Tigers, and his last MLB appearance was on May 24, 1988, for the Texas Rangers. Throughout his career, he was known for his impressive statistics, contributing a .278 batting average, 130 home runs, and 634 runs batted in. These figures underscore his significant contributions to the sport and the teams he was part of.

Notably, Kemp's best performance was during his stint with the Tigers in 1979, where he recorded a .318 batting average with 26 home runs and 105 RBIs. His stellar performance earned him the Tiger of the Year award from the Detroit Baseball Writers Association and a spot on the 1979 American League All-Star team.

Apart from his professional MLB career, Kemp also participated in international competitions, representing the United States in the 1974 Baseball World Cup and the 1975 Pan American Games. Even after his retirement, Kemp continued his passion for baseball by playing a season in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

Interestingly, before embarking on his successful professional career, Kemp was the first overall selection in the January phase of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft, which was a testament to his talent and potential in the sport. He only played one season in the minor leagues, and by the 1977 season, he was already a major player in the Detroit Tigers' starting lineup.

Feel free to explore more about Steve Kemp and his impressive baseball career through resources like MLB's official website or Baseball Reference.