Some players hit home runs. Ken Singleton hit milestones, records, and hearts, all with the quiet patience that made him one of baseball’s smartest hitters.
Ken was born on June 10, 1947 (79 years old) in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Mount Vernon; he grew up across the street from Yankee Stadium, never imagining he would one day call Yankees games from inside the booth.
Over 15 major league seasons with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles, Singleton stacked up 2,029 hits, 246 home runs, and a .282 batting average. He was a three-time All-Star, the designated hitter on the Orioles’ 1983 World Series championship team, and the runner-up for the 1979 American League MVP.
His greatness was never just about batting. In 1982, he won the Roberto Clemente Award for sportsmanship and community service, and in 1986 the Orioles honored him with a place in their Hall of Fame.
Then came a second act. From 1997 to 2021, his calm voice and trademark home run call, “This one is gone,” made him one of the most trusted broadcasters in Yankees history on the YES Network.
Quick Facts of Ken Singleton
| Full Name | Kenneth Wayne Singleton |
| Profession | Former MLB player, baseball broadcaster |
| Age | 79 years old |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1947 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Birthplace | Manhattan, New York, USA |
| Current Address | Baltimore area, Maryland, USA |
| Gender | Male |
Ken Singleton Early Life and Education
Ken Singleton was born in Manhattan and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. His parents, Joe and Lucille Singleton, raised him and his younger brother Fred.
Joe worked at the General Post Office Building near Madison Square Garden, while Lucille worked as an insurance underwriter. Ken watched his first major league game at Ebbets Field when he was four years old, and his father, a baseball lover, kept the games on television at home.
The family home in Mount Vernon had once belonged to the family of former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca.
Education
Singleton graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1965, where he played both baseball and basketball. After high school, he enrolled at Hofstra University on a basketball scholarship.
He averaged 18 points per game as a freshman and hit .327 for the school’s baseball team. His talent on the diamond eventually pulled him away from basketball and toward professional baseball.
| School | Mount Vernon High School |
| Alma Mater | Hofstra University |
| Highest Qualification | Attended on an athletic scholarship; left to pursue professional baseball |
Ken Singleton Personal Life
Ken Singleton has largely kept his family life private, but key details about his marriages, children, and famous relatives are well documented.
Wife
Ken Singleton has been married twice.
Current Wife: Suzanne Molino
Singleton married Suzanne Molino in 1991. He had become a well-known sports broadcaster by the time they married, first working in Montreal and then joining the Yankees broadcast team a few years later.
The couple settled in the Baltimore area, where Singleton is believed to still reside today.
Previous Wife: Colette Saint-Jacques
Singleton married Colette Saint-Jacques in January 1974. She was a Quebec native whom he met at the Montreal Forum, the famous home arena of the Montreal Canadiens, during his playing days with the Expos.
The couple bought a home in Quebec together after their wedding. They had two sons, Matthew and Justin, during their marriage. The couple later divorced, though the exact year and reason for the split are yet to be updated.
Children
Ken Singleton is the father of four children, two sons from his first marriage to Colette Saint-Jacques, and two more children from his second marriage to Suzanne Molino.
Son: Matthew Singleton
Matthew was born in November 1976, during Ken’s early years with the Baltimore Orioles. He grew up around the ballparks where his father played. Details about his education and profession are yet to be updated.
Son: Justin Singleton
Justin is the most publicly documented of Ken’s children because he followed his father into professional baseball. He was born in 1979 during the Orioles’ opening home stand of their “Orioles Magic” season.
Justin signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and worked his way up through the minor league system as an outfielder, peaking at the Triple-A level.
Son: Dante Singleton
Dante was born to Ken and his second wife, Suzanne Molino, after their 1991 marriage. He has largely stayed out of the public eye.
Daughter: Jellica Singleton
Jellica is Ken’s only daughter, also from his marriage to Suzanne Molino. Like her brother Dante, she has kept a low public profile. Details about her are yet to be updated.
Parents
Ken’s parents are Joe and Lucille Singleton.
Father
Joe Singleton worked at the General Post Office Building near Madison Square Garden until he retired. He was a baseball fan who passed his love of the game to his son. Other details are yet to be updated.
Mother
Lucille (Hathaway) Singleton worked as an insurance underwriter. She and her husband retired and later moved to Maryland to be near Ken. Other details are yet to be updated.
Siblings
- Brother, Fred Singleton: Ken’s younger brother Fred is an accomplished athlete in his own right. He co-captained Penn State’s 1974 IC4A championship track team as a hurdler.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wives | Current wife: Suzanne Molino Ex-wife: Colette Saint-Jacques |
| Children | Sons: Matthew, Justin, Dante Singleton Daughter: Jellica Singleton |
| Parents | Father: Joe Singleton Mother: Lucille (Hathaway) Singleton |
| Siblings | Brother: Fred Singleton |
Ken Singleton Career
Ken Singleton built one of the most quietly impressive careers in baseball, first as a patient and powerful hitter, then as a beloved broadcaster.
The Mets and Minor League Years (1967 to 1971)
The New York Mets chose Singleton in the first round of the January 1967 draft with the third overall pick.
He signed with the team for a $10,000 bonus after a strong season at Hofstra. He developed through the minor leagues with stops in Winter Haven, Raleigh-Durham, Visalia, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Tidewater, earning All-Star honors in the Texas League in 1969.
He made his major league debut with the Mets on June 24, 1970, at age 23. Mets first baseman Donn Clendenon helped him refine his hitting approach, advice he credited for his early power.
Breakthrough with the Montreal Expos (1972 to 1974)
On April 5, 1972, the Mets traded Singleton, along with Tim Foli and Mike Jorgensen, to the Montreal Expos for slugger Rusty Staub.
His breakthrough came in 1973 under hitting coach Larry Doby. That season, he played all 162 games, batted .302 with 23 home runs and 103 RBIs, and led the majors with a .425 on-base percentage.
In 1972, doctors discovered his poor play was caused not by food but by an allergy to the Expos’ wool uniforms, and he hit .274 that season after switching to double knit jerseys.
Baltimore Orioles Stardom (1975 to 1984)
On December 4, 1974, the Orioles acquired Singleton and pitcher Mike Torrez from Montreal for Dave McNally and Rich Coggins.
In Baltimore, he became one of the American League’s best hitters. In 1977, he hit a career-best .328 with a .438 on-base percentage, made his first All-Star team.
In 1979, he posted career highs of 35 home runs and 111 RBIs and finished second in American League MVP voting to Don Baylor while leading the Orioles to the AL East title. He made the All-Star team again in 1981 and won the Roberto Clemente Award in 1982.
In 1983, playing alongside Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, and Jim Palmer under manager Joe Altobelli, he won the World Series with the Orioles, famously drawing a bases-loaded walk in Game 4 to force in the tying run against the Philadelphia Phillies. He played his final game on September 25, 1984, and collected his 2,000th hit that season.
Broadcasting Career (1985 to 2021)
After retiring, Singleton moved smoothly into broadcasting. He worked as a weekend sports anchor for WJZ TV in Baltimore through 1988 and called Toronto Blue Jays games on TSN in 1985 and 1986.
From 1987 to 1996, he was a television and radio commentator for the Montreal Expos.
In 1997, he joined the New York Yankees broadcasting team, first on MSG and then on the YES Network, working beside play-by-play announcer Michael Kay for more than two decades. His trademark home run call, “This one is gone,” became a fan favorite.
He also called World Series and All-Star games for Major League Baseball International, which reached more than 200 countries. After several postponed retirement announcements, he officially retired from the Yankees booth on October 3, 2021.
Ken Singleton Awards and Achievements
Ken Singleton earned recognition both on the field and for his community work throughout his career.
Key Wins
- Three-time MLB All-Star in 1977, 1979, and 1981.
- World Series champion with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983.
- Roberto Clemente Award winner in 1982 for sportsmanship and community service.
- Inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1986.
- American League Player of the Month for April 1981.
Key Nominations
- Finished second in American League MVP voting in 1979, behind Don Baylor.
- Finished third in American League MVP voting in 1977, behind Rod Carew and Al Cowens.
Ken Singleton Controversy
Throughout his 15-year Major League Baseball career and his 37-year run as a television sports commentator, Ken Singleton has maintained a remarkably clean, respected, and controversy-free reputation.’
Unlike many figures in professional sports, he was never involved in major personal scandals, legal issues, or disciplinary action.
The very few times his name has appeared alongside standard sports debate or minor clubhouse friction include the following:
- Critiques of Earl Weaver’s Antics: As a star player for the Baltimore Orioles, Singleton occasionally joined teammates like Rick Dempsey in expressing mild frustration that manager Earl Weaver’s intense, profane arguments with umpires could sometimes distract the team from its performance on the field. However, this was typical clubhouse dynamic, and Singleton maintained deep professional respect for Weaver, even speaking at his funeral.
- The Reggie Jackson Decision (1982): Before the 1983 season, Orioles General Manager Hank Peters consulted veteran leaders including Singleton, Eddie Murray, and Jim Palmer on whether the team should acquire superstar Reggie Jackson. The players openly doubted the need for Jackson, believing the existing roster was strong enough. Peters skipped the signing, and the Orioles went on to win the 1983 World Series, after which Singleton famously poured champagne on Peters’ head, jokingly telling him, “I told you we didn’t need Reggie.”
Ken Singleton Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Ken Singleton is around $1.5 million.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $1.5 million |
Ken Singleton Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
The following are the physical stats of Ken Singleton:
| Height | In centimetres: 193 cm In meters: 1.93 m In feet & inches: 6 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 95 kg In lbs: 210 lbs |
| Hair Color | Grey |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
Ken Singleton Social Media
@YESKenSingletonInteresting Facts About Ken Singleton
- He was actually a natural left-handed hitter as a young boy but switched to batting right-handed because all the other kids on his street did, before becoming a switch hitter.
- His crossed preferences do not stop there. He throws right-handed, writes left-handed, eats left-handed, shoots basketballs left-handed, and bowls right-handed.
- During his early Expos days, doctors wrongly blamed chocolate ice cream and seafood for his health problems before discovering he was allergic to the team’s wool uniforms.
- During the 1981 baseball strike, he interned and worked at Baltimore’s WBAL TV, getting an early taste of broadcasting.
- Bill James’s wife, Susan McCarthy, named him one of the best-looking players of the 1970s in the Historical Baseball Abstract, and Singleton sent her a thank-you card.
- He sits on the Board of Directors of the Cool Kids Campaign, a nonprofit in Towson, Maryland, and hosts its Celebrity Golf Tournament every June.
- His vision was measured as better than 220/20, and he once said he judged pitches by speed rather than by the spin of the ball.
FAQs
How old is Ken Singleton?
Ken Singleton is 79 years old. He was born on June 10, 1947.
What is Ken Singleton famous for?
Ken Singleton is famous as a three-time All-Star outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles and later as a longtime Yankees broadcaster on the YES Network.
Did Ken Singleton win a World Series?
Yes. Ken Singleton was the designated hitter for the Orioles when they won the 1983 World Series.
Is Ken Singleton in the Hall of Fame?
Ken Singleton is a member of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, inducted in 1986. He is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Is Ken Singleton related to Doc Rivers?
Yes, Doc Rivers, the famous NBA coach, is Ken Singleton’s cousin.
Who was Ken Singleton traded for?
The Mets traded Ken Singleton to Montreal in 1972 in the deal that brought Rusty Staub to New York.
What were Ken Singleton’s career stats?
Ken Singleton hit .282 with 2,029 hits, 246 home runs, and 1,065 RBIs in 15 seasons.
Is Ken Singleton still broadcasting?
No, Ken Singleton retired from the Yankees broadcast booth after the 2021 season.
