Mike Kingery as a Speaker
Mike Kingery played professional baseball for 17 years. During that time, he played with the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. Throughout his career, he nearly won the National League batting title before the strike shortened the season in 1994 (he was batting .349 at the time). At one point, he (along with Roberto Mejia) hit the first-ever back-to-back home runs at Coors Field. He played alongside All-Star outfielders including Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Dante Bichette, and Larry Walker.
Mike was born in St. James, Minnesota in March, 1961. Later that year his family moved to Atwater, Minnesota. Mike was a highly decorated athlete when he graduated from Atwater High School in 1979, winning All-State awards in football, baseball, and track & field. Consequently, he was signed as a free agent out of high school by the Kansas City Royals. Over time, Mike progressed through the Royals’ minor league system and eventually earned a starting spot in rightfield in 1986. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1987 where he played centerfield, only to give way to Ken Griffey, Jr.
In 1982, Mike married his wife Chris. Chris and the growing Kingery family traveled with Mike throughout their 15 years in baseball. They settled in Minnesota after Mike’s retirement from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996. The Kingery family now lives near Mike’s hometown of Atwater. Mike and Chris have 8 children; Rachel, Anna, Michelle, Rebekah, Elizabeth, Abigail, David, and Joshua. The most important thing in life to Mike is his relationship with Jesus Christ. During the 1980 baseball season in Sarasota, Florida, Mike became a Christian through the ministry of a small Baptist church.
Mike is a well received motivational speaker. Using his life experiences in baseball and the experience of raising a large family, he relates valuable insights and engages any audience with his good nature and humor.
Contact Mike to set up a speaking arrangement.