Steve Kemp was an up and coming power hitting OF who played for the Detroit Tigers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a 22 year old rookie in 1977, he hit .257, 18, 88 in 151 games for the Tigers. After playing in 159 games in 1978, hitting .277, 15, 79, he had his best career seasons in 1979, 1980 and 1982. 1981 was the strike shortened season where his production, like many others, dropped because of the layoff and the split season.
1979 was Kemp’s breakout season as he hit .318, 26, 105, with a .941 OPS and 149 OPS+. He hit .293, 21, 101 in 1980, before dipping to .277, 9, 49 in 105 games during the 1981 season. After that season, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the trade that sent Chet Lemon to the Tigers. He hit .298, 19, 98 in a career high 160 games for the White Sox in 1982.
Free spending George Steinbrenner decided this was the lefty compliment to Dave Winfield and provide the team with some needed power. As a 28 year old turning 29, he was...
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