Elliott: ICYMI Ken Singleton's best day in baseball
Yankees YES broadcaster Ken Singleton, who said Monday that 2018 will be his final season, and former Blue Jays RHP David Cone.
New York Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton decided Monday that this year would be his final year. He posted on Twitter:
Singleton’s decision to step down reminded us of one of the most memorable in our My Best Day in Baseball series.
My Best Day in Baseball
Ken Singleton
Now a New York Yankees broadcaster, Singleton played 2,082 games, spanning 15 seasons in the majors with the New York Mets, the Montreal Expos and the Baltimore Orioles.
His best day in baseball?
“It was April 23, 1981,” Singleton said. “The Orioles played a doubleheader at Comiskey Park.
Singleton hit three hits -- two homers off Rich Dotson -- drove in three runs in the opener and in the second game had two more hits, including a homer against Francisco Barios and two more RBIs. So, a three-homer, five-RBI day.
“After the game my cousin drove me to the hospital see my grandfather -- Walter Hathaway -- who had just had a stroke,” Singleton said. “He couldn’t speak. I walked in the room and a tear trickled down his cheek.
“My grandmother Quinella looked up and said ‘He has a tear in his eye because he’s happy to see you, not because you hit three homers against HIS Chicago White Sox.’
“My grandmother lived to 101 and gave a 20-minute speech when she turned 100, an amazing lady. It was a great day, even if we were swept 18-5 and 5-3,” Singleton laughed. “I played right the first game and didn’t have a ball hit to me. John Lowensten was in left and everything was hit his way. He was running around for nine innings.
“After the game he said ‘He hadn’t spent that much time alone in the corner since his high school prom.’”
Tony Bernazard homered off Orioles starter Scott McGregor, while Harold Baines and Bill Almon each tripled. Lamar Johnson and Greg Pryor both doubled in the opener.
In the nitecap, Baines drove in a pair, while Jim Essian and Rusty Kuntz doubled off Steve Stone.
Ken Singleton played three seasons for the Montreal Expos.